Work methods and staff ethics.
Children are given a place in Bahay Aurora following discussions with and pending approval from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Children may be placed here on a temporary basis, a form of crisis shelter, or for a longer period of residence. It is obviously of great importance that newcomers to the complex fit in with home’s residents.
The children who are placed in care at the Bahay Aurora centre come from a most unstable and difficult background. Most of them have been through very negative experiences. Parental love and guidance have been seriously lacking. In an attempt to turn their situation around the children placed in Bahay Aurora need plenty of love and attention combined with professional care. It is hoped that the family atmosphere in the complex will help the children to feel at home.
Care of these children lies with a large group of staff and volunteers, general supervisors, house mothers and fathers, assistants, social workers and teaching staff.
A security guard for the night time hours and a handyman for the numerous repair jobs complete the team.
A team meeting takes place on a daily basis and, in the presence of the social worker, each individual child is discussed and appraised once a week. An individual care plan is put together for each child and educational goals are included in this. The daily discussions are based on the individual care plans for each child. Weekly meetings also take place between the group leaders and the management to discuss more general care approaches etc.
In addition to the above a general meeting takes place twice a year at which all members of staff are encouraged to air their views. This has a positive effect on the general working atmosphere and motivational levels for all those involved in Bahay Aurora.
Ideally, and wherever possible, the aim is to eventually return these children to the home situation or with family. In situations where this is not feasible the children remain in the care of Bahay Aurora for a longer period.
The children are prepared in every way for their eventual departure from Bahay Aurora.
The length of a stay varies greatly per child. Much thought is given to the children who remain for a long time in care, regarding how best to rebuild their lives and
prepare them for an independent future. In these cases further education and the learning of a trade prove preferential. When these youths finally leave the care of the centre to commence their independent lives it is with the knowledge that they can always turn to the staff of Bahay Aurora for any support necessary. This again echoes the ideal family situation
Ella
Rona
Maylen , social worker
Julie Ann
Norson