Life in the Houses

Last Up-dated:

09 September 2008

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Introduction and General Aims

The aim of life in the houses, is to provide a stable, secure and supportive environment, where the children can relax, feel at home and learn to live with others in a mutually beneficial way.

Co-workers and children live in an extended family setting, where all aspects of domestic life are shared. Every child will be assigned a keyworker, who is responsible for their care, support and supervision throughout the day, under the guidance of the house parent.

The houses are organised in such a way, that they can provide a homely, familiar environment, in which each child, depending on individual needs and abilities, can gradually acquire the social and personal skills necessary for him/her to grow into meaningful adulthood.

Role of House Parent

The House Parents’ role is multi-faceted, covers all aspects of home-making, and is an indispensable part of the curative education we provide.

The main tasks are as follows:

1. Overall responsibility for the house
2. Supervision and support of Keyworkers although Houseparents also act as keyworkers to certain pupils
3. Provision of care, counselling and befriending to the children in the house. This involves the careful building of relationships, wherein the children can feel safe and at ease, and feel that all co-workers are accessible and approachable.
4. Ongoing liaison with parents and other professionals.

The task obviously requires a flexibility, commitment and willingness to respond as and when the need arises, which is over and above any job description. The considerable demands of the job are acknowledged, and support and supervision is provided in an ongoing manner by the wider Core Group.

Through example and guidance, the children learn to care for their own personal hygiene.

Many children need and will continue to need a high degree of personal care and support, and this is given with an awareness of their need for privacy and dignity.

A healthy lifestyle is encouraged and promoted and individual health needs are met in an appropriate and responsible manner. (See Medical Section)

Introduction

Ochil Tower School fosters an attitude of mutual respect, care and social responsibility amongst its community members. A harmonious therapeutic ethos promoting an holistic approach to education and social therapy is upheld. Relationships between children and young adults with each other or towards co-workers are expected to be supportive and caring. Particular emphasis is placed on the importance of co-workers providing good role models to pupils through how they behave in relating to each other and towards youngsters in their care.

Co-workers are made aware of sexual issues that can arise when involved in caring for children and young adults. Particular attention is paid when intimate care is required and especially when opposite sexes are involved. Attention is given to the privacy of the child as well as the type of physical support and help they may require by a co-worker of specific gender.

It is Ochil Tower's policy to respond to individuals in an age-appropriate manner by providing the necessary support, understanding, care, education and training. These are given in an environment in which the forming of friendships and relationships is fostered. It is aided further by sensitive observations shared between co-workers which lead to individual support where necessary. These basic attitudes are backed up by the Steiner Curriculum where sex education is not taught in isolation but is part of the whole school curriculum as a course curriculum subject. Specific individual sex education is only provided after consultation between co-workers, and parents, and authorities. There is no fixed age when this begins but it is considered individually in relation to the pupil's needs and level of awareness.

Play and Leisure

The immediate environment in Ochil Tower is ideal for outdoor play and long walks, and full advantage is taken of this. There are a wide range of good quality books, toys and games available in each house, and social and cultural trips outside school hours are undertaken on a regular basis. The children are well integrated into the local community, and regularly use local facilities, shops, library, coffee shops, etc..

Pocket money is supplied on a weekly basis.

We put considerable emphasis on the importance of sharing meals together, the aim being that the mealtimes will be orderly, relaxed, pleasant, social events. The children gradually learn to wait while 'grace' is said and food shared out, to be aware of the needs of others, to handle food and utensils as skilfully as possible, and to initiate and join in conversation.

Good quality food is a priority and the meals are always wholesome, nutritious and well presented. As far as possible, we use organically grown fruit and vegetables from our own gardens.

Our routines for the purchasing of food, preparation and consumption of meals are flexible when necessary, and older, and sometimes also younger, pupils have the possibility of involvement. The main meal of the day is set, and recorded one week in advance, although there is flexibility with regard to individual dietary needs and preferences.

When possible, older pupils can prepare their own snacks, and access to simple food is always available when necessary. Nonetheless, some of our pupils require guidance in relation to diet and regularity of eating habits, and to allow them unrestricted access to food would be inappropriate.

Depending on individual ability and needs, the pupils help with general household tasks, although the initial emphasis, particularly with the younger child is on the care of his or her own room and personal belongings.

Our aim is to live together in such a way, that our lifestyle is imbued with interest in and regard for each other. This in turn helps the children to develop a social awareness and social skills which will allow them to socialise in any situation in a natural and friendly manner.

By providing an environment which is healthy, ordered and wholesome, we hope to encourage the development of relationships of mutual respect and openness, which will help the children to grow into responsible adults.

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