Referrals

COVID-19 IMPORTANT INFO REGARDING NEW REFERRALS

 
Dear Key Workers,
 
We are in unprecedented times and therefore we here at The Catholic Worker Farm have had to come up with a plan which allowed us to continue taking in women with no recourse to public funds.  At the same time we need a place to live in which is as free as can be from the Covid-19.  My wife, myself and another guest are considered clinically extremely vulnerable and Covid-19 would most likely be fatal to us.  
 
The women we look after often go in and out of London, use public transport, stay at friends, go to charities and churches.  We have the flu at the farm at least 3 times a year and everyone gets it. We have asked ourselves, can we sustain our work if the women we look after bring the virus back to the farm?
How can we mitigate or avoid Covid-19 until there is a safe and effective vaccine?  
 
After a few weeks of soul searching we came up with the following solution. First, we recognised that there are approximately 1.5 million vulnerable at risk adults who must remain isolated or shielded. It is reasonable to assume that there are women without recourse who should, for health reasons and are at risk, remain shielded.  These women would be appropriate candidates for referral here. 
 
We might also assume that any woman who simply doesn’t mind staying on a beautiful farm and isn’t vulnerable (not wishing to be exposed to Covid-19 on public transport, through friends or otherwise) may also be suitable to stay here as long as she doesn’t wish to leave the farm.
 
We would ask any referred woman to self isolate for 2 weeks in our Guest House before coming into the main house.  The Guest House has an outdoor toilet and cold shower, electricity, wifi and heat.  It is approximately 60 meters from the main house.  We would bring 3 meals a day to the woman.  After two weeks of self isolation she would then be brought into the main house. This would probably be the most difficult thing for a woman, but it is essential so as not to infect others.
 
We now have space for several women in the main farm house and more space to come.  Please call Scott first on 07983 477819 and then fill in our referral form after given the go ahead.
 
Please share this info with your colleagues.
 
 
Below is a list of conditions from which would place people at risk from the NHS Website 
 

People at high risk (clinically extremely vulnerable)

People at high risk from coronavirus include people who:

  • have had an organ transplant
  • are having chemotherapy or antibody treatment for cancer, including immunotherapy
  • are having an intense course of radiotherapy (radical radiotherapy) for lung cancer
  • are having targeted cancer treatments that can affect the immune system (such as protein kinase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors)
  • have blood or bone marrow cancer (such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma)
  • have had a bone marrow or stem cell transplant in the past 6 months, or are still taking immunosuppressant medicine
  • have been told by a doctor they you have a severe lung condition (such as cystic fibrosis, severe asthma or severe COPD)
  • have a condition that means they have a very high risk of getting infections (such as SCID or sickle cell)
  • are taking medicine that makes them much more likely to get infections (such as high doses of steroids)
  • were born with a serious heart condition and are pregnant
 
 

People at moderate risk (clinically vulnerable)

People at moderate risk from coronavirus include people who:

  • are 70 or older
  • are pregnant
  • have a lung condition that’s not severe (such as asthma, COPD, emphysema or bronchitis)
  • have heart disease (such as heart failure)
  • have diabetes
  • have chronic kidney disease
  • have liver disease (such as hepatitis)
  • have a condition affecting the brain or nerves (such as Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy)
  • have a condition that means they have a high risk of getting infections
  • are taking medicine that can affect the immune system (such as low doses of steroids)
  • are very obese (a BMI of 40 or above)

Our Referral Process

The Catholic Worker Farm provides food and accommodation to women and children without recourse to public funds.

We accept referrals from all agencies and organisations. To refer someone to us call us on our land line: 01923 777201 or on Scott’s mobile: 07983 477819.

We will then get back to you if we agree to accommodate your client.

Requests are attended to on a first come first served basis. We may however give priority to forced migrants and people in particularly difficult situations.

We are unable to accept self-referrals. If you are homeless yourself and would like to come here, we recommend that you go to the Red Cross our to your key-worker and ask them to contact us.

After discussion with us there are two parts to our Referral Process. The first is that the sending organisation fill in the Referral Form below. The second is that our House Rules are read and understood by the client. We ask that your client signs the House Rules Form and it is also emailed together with the Referral Form to us at the thecatholicworkerfarm@yahoo.co.uk.

Referral Form

IMPORTANT NOTICE PLEASE READ

We ask that you fill in every space within the Referral Form. We are particularly concerned about your client’s mental health as this has proven to be difficult for us to manage, especially in cases where the client has a psychosis i.e. schizophrenia, paranoia, suicidal ideations etc. Where this is the case and your client has been sent to us without the knowledge of either ourselves or the sending organisation, the sending organisation will be asked to facilitate rehousing for your client. This must be agreed by the sending organisation prior to sending us your client. Sending us this Referral Form implies the sending organisation’s consent to the above.

Download Referral Form >>

House Rules Form

IMPORTANT NOTICE PLEASE READ 

The Catholic Worker Farm looks after 20 women and children. We have implemented House Rules in order to achieve a peaceful, cooperative and clean environment.  We ask that the House Rules are read to your client and agreed to. If they do not cooperate with the House Rules they may be asked to leave. Please download the House Rules Form and ask your client to sign below stating that they understand and agree to the conditions of living at The Catholic Worker Farm.

Download HOUSE RULES FORM »Screen Shot 2018-02-16 at 11.18.15.png

  1. Together we are responsible in keeping our houses clean. If you live in The Farm House you will work one day a week. You start at working 9.30am and work until dinner at 6pm. On this day you will have a 1 hour Lunch Break. The work will usually include cleaning carefully all the common areas downstairs. When the house is clean you will also help with other things, in the garden or the house. You will also be responsible for cooking dinner for everyone who is home. Usually between 5 and 10 people. The dinner should be ready at 6pm.
  2. If you live in Mary House you will have to clean and make dinner for everyone who is home twice a week. You start at working 9.30am and work until dinner at 5pm. On this day you will have a 1 hour Lunch Break. The work will usually include cleaning carefully all the common areas. We are aware that you may have children and of course you have a responsibility towards them as well.
  3. If you live at the Farm House Wednesdays are Community Day so you must be at the house from 9.30am to 6pm.
  4. If you live at Mary House on Wednesday you will have a 1 hour House Meeting at 8.30am.
  5. To make it possible for us to help you move forward you need to share with us information about your legal status and your case. Therefore we will require the contact details of any other keyworkers and your solicitor.
  6. You need to live peacefully with the other people here. If you are violent or if you threaten any of the other people living in the house it is possible that we will ask you to leave without warning.We also have some kitchen rules and we can make other rules when it is necessary. If you break any of the rules you may get a formal warning. If you receive more warnings you will be banned for one or two weeks. After 4 warnings you will be asked to leave.

What we offer

The Catholic worker Farm is a multicultural Community for any homeless woman and child who cannot work or receive benefits. We have two houses, the Farm House and Mary House. In both houses together there is room for 17 women and children in this situation. In both houses there are live-in volunteers. The accommodation is temporary, sometimes with a time limit, and rooms may be shared. We try to love, respect and help each other and remember that we are all brothers and sisters.

This is what you can expect

  • To receive free accommodation, food and toiletries but no money.
  • You can sometimes get English classes, Counselling and opportunity to do nice activities i.e. choir, drumming, yoga etc.
  • We will try to help you with your case and to get a GP

Alternative accommodation

We know a few other places who provide accommodation for people without recourse to public funds. If you know of any other accommodation providers please let us know and we will add them to our list.

In London:

In Bristol:

In Manchester: