Management

Last Up-dated:

24 Januar 2008

Introduction

Ochil Tower operates within its own legal structure, but also has connections to other professional bodies the wider Camphill Movement. These have a clear influence on every aspect of life and work, from Ochil Tower’s particular ethos to its management structure.

In this area Ochil Tower operates within a local and world-wide network of like-minded Communities and ventures.

The following is a list of some of the organisations and groups on which Ochil Tower is represented:

The activities and responsibilities of the above bodies are primarily focused on mutual support and development of the impulse of the Camphill and the Anthroposophical Curative Movement.

Ochil Tower has as its primary task the care for and education of pupils with special educational needs. Through this activity a wide range of links are formed:

The aim of these links is to support the individual pupil and enhance the care and education provided in Ochil Tower.

... a legal body and charity

Ochil Tower, established as a Camphill School in 1972, operates as a company limited by guarantee and is a Scottish Charity with its own Management Council.

The property at Ochil Tower, as well as at the two other places, Camphill Blair Drummond (a training place for young adults with additional support needs) and Corbenic Camphill Community (a village community for adults with additional support needs), is owned and managed by Camphill Central Scotland Trust.

The purpose of these bodies, as well as Ochil Tower’s own Management Council, is to support, facilitate and supervise the activities of the Community and the school.

Co-workers, Employed Staff and Others

To support the education, care, therapy and Community Life at Ochil Tower, the efforts and involvement of a considerable number of individuals is necessary. Many individuals, with a variety of skills and experience, are involved in maintaining and developing the work with the children and young people.

A short outline is given below of the 3 main groups of people involved with the work at Ochil Tower.

Co-workers

1. Introduction

Co-workers in Ochil Tower are drawn from all walks of life and come from many countries, European and others. They come with a variety of skills and experiences, each sharing the wish to live and work in a way outlined in the Mission Statement of the Camphill Community and its Aims and Objectives.

2. Short-term Co-workers

Young people often join Ochil Tower for a period of a year. They give valuable help within the residential setting and in the classroom.

Such a year can be a valuable experience for short-term Co-workers in living and working with people with additional support needs and in Community Life. Some would then go on to take up further training in their country of origin. For others, it can provide a stepping stone in taking up more permanent responsibilities in Ochil Tower or an other Camphill Community.

3. Core Group Members

Core Group Members are expected to show the willingness to be fully involved in all aspects of life in the Community and an ability to develop an overall responsibility for Ochil Tower. Because of natural differences in age, ability and personal qualities, this process needs to be a dynamic one, giving each individual the possibility to develop personal and general skills for the benefit of the Community.

With a number of people, Ochil Tower has entered into a more standard arrangement of employment. Whilst employees would be expected to demonstrate the relevant skills and to be in general agreement with the aims and objectives of Ochil Tower, they would not be expected to join the Community.

There are a considerable number of other individuals that are involved with Ochil Tower in a professional or voluntary capacity, as parents or friends. Their involvement would range from providing professional support (e.g. Medical Consultant, Architect, Accountant, Social Workers, etc.), acting as non-resident Council Members or providing support for Open Days.

Group Management

The management style inherent in the Camphill way of life has been named Group Management. This style of management is demonstrated in every aspect of Ochil Tower's activities.

The definition for the Camphill style of management is as follows:

This means that no one individual is senior to all others and in overall charge, and that the functions and responsibilities of the person called ‘named manager’ in other organisations, is shared by a group of individuals.

Aims and Responsibilities

The Core Group in Ochil Tower is the group of more senior, long term Co-workers.

The Core Group Members are responsible for supporting and developing the ethos of the Camphill Community with it aims and objectives outlined in Section A, 2 and A, 3, and for creating the appropriate spiritual, social and physical environment based on the ideals of Anthroposphy and the Camphill Community. New members are appointed by the Core Group.

Leadership is essential in creating enthusiasm, achieving short-term aims and developing long-term strategies and is therefore an important factor at all levels of Ochil Tower’s management structure.

Within the Core Group, responsibility for leadership does not rest with an individual but is the obligation of each Core Group member. In daily life, during the regular weekly meetings, or at extended retreats, there is ample opportunity to foster and display this quality.

General Introduction

Introduction

As outlined in 1) Organisational Structure, the responsibility for the spiritual, cultural, social and economic well being of Ochil Tower rests with the Core Group. The responsibility for the day-to-day management is an integral, yet specific aspect of life at Ochil Tower, is carried by the Joint Co-ordinators.

For each working group a chairperson, Co-ordinator or for the area of Child Protection / Health & Safety, a Child Protection Officer is appointed. The chairpersons, co-ordinators and Child Protection Officer are to be Joint Co-ordinators. It is this person’s responsibility to show leadership, chair meetings, co-ordinate the agenda, keep an overview of all the activities within the area and co-ordinate support and supervision for each member.

Each chairperson or Co-ordinator is accountable to, and receives support and supervision from the Joint Co-ordinators.

Each chairperson or Co-ordinator is required to present, at regular intervals, information to, consult with, and seek reflection from, the Joint Co-ordinators.

Joint Co-ordinators

The Joint Co-ordinators are jointly responsible for the management of Ochil Tower and are accountable to the Management Council, the Care Commission and other statutory bodies.

Jointly they would need to demonstrate an awareness of all management issues, relevant legislation and guidelines and the ability to act decisively and effectively in any given situation.

Individually they would need to show the ability to carry overall responsibility for Ochil Tower and demonstrate relevant skills and experience to manage the specific areas of responsibility each Joint Co-ordinator has been allocated.

Each Joint Co-ordinator, acting within a frame of consensus, is authorised by the other Joint Co-ordinators to carry out the obligations inherent in the areas of work for which he or she accepts responsibility and is given the mandate to ensure that decisions taken are implemented according to agreed policies and standards. The Joint Co-ordinators are jointly responsible for setting standards, ensuring that all are aware of these standards and that they are implemented. They are also responsible for taking appropriate action where there is a failure to comply.

For a list of Joint Co-ordinators and their respective responsibilities see General Information

The appointment of a Joint Co-ordinator is not dependent on age or length of stay, but on a willingness and ability to take both specific and overall managerial responsibility for Ochil Tower.

Approval will be sought from the Management Council and the Care Commission for the appointment of Joint Co-ordinators or in the case of other changes (departures, re-allocation of responsibilities, etc.).

The Council of Management delegates the responsibility for the Supervision and support of Joint Co-ordinators to appointed Council Members. Council Members with specific knowledge, experience and expertise are chosen to support and supervise individual Joint Co-ordinators in their work.

An annual appraisal of each Joint Co-ordinator will take place where the representatives of the Council will be provided with the following information:

An appraisal of present performance and future professional development will carried out.

The members of the panel will be well informed of the responsibilities and challenges faced by the Joint Co-ordinator and be available should questions or problems arisen in the future.

The Management Council has legal responsibility for the management of Ochil Tower. It has a Constitution and keeps minutes of meetings which record formally the decisions taken. The financial aspects of the work of Communities are recorded on an ongoing basis and audited annually by an external, professionally qualified auditor.

The Management Council is responsible for ensuring that there is adequate support and supervision for the safe and efficient operation of Ochil Tower and that procedures are in place to deal effectively with matters such as health and safety, discipline, employment procedures and the expressing of a concern by pupils and/or their representatives. The Management Council hears appeals in matters of Co-worker grievance and discipline and is the final arbiter in such matters. Pupils and/or their representatives have recourse to the Local Authority if a matter of concern to them has not been dealt with to their satisfaction by the Council of Management.

Membership of the Management Council comprises of Joint Co-ordinators and other Core Group Members (Resident Council Members) and non-resident members. Non-resident members may be invited to join the Council because they are knowledgeable about the work of Ochil Tower or because their particular professional expertise and knowledge of the work of Camphill enhances the work of the Council and benefits Ochil Tower. The Chairperson and other office bearers are elected by the Management Council.

The Management Council has formal agendas for meetings, meet on a regular basis and make decisions based on recommendations made by resident members on behalf of the Core Group and the Joint Co-ordinators.

Decisions taken are binding on all members of the Management Council and Co-workers. Responsibility for implementing decisions is delegated by the Management Council to the Joint Co-ordinators or if appropriate, to the Core Group

A decision may need to be altered at a later date but only after it has been discussed again by the Management Council.

In emergencies, advice from the Chairperson of the Council may be sought by members of the Core Group or the Joint Co-ordinators.

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