Volunteers
are essential for ensuring that the needs of our residents are being met and that they are involved in the local community
and the local community is involved in the houses.
What Volunteers Do
Volunteers undertake a range of roles including:
-
Being a trustee of the society
- Befriending residents
- Arranging social events
- Funding raising
- Monitoring health and safety
- Managing house staff
-
Selecting new residents
- Managing maintenance
- Managing budgets
Practices and Procedures
in Managing Volunteers
The
Abbeyfield Society has made available to local member societies
policies and procedures to enable them to manage and support volunteers
effectively; these policies are the performance indicators for the Abbeyfield
Standard, which is the quality standard of the Abbeyfield Society.
Recruitment
Because of the vulnerability of Abbeyfield residents, great care has to be taken
in the recruitment of staff and volunteers who work directly with residents. Anyone
wishing to volunteer will be required to complete an application form, and references
will be sought from two referees.
Because
of the service we provide to older vulnerable people, we are required
by regulatory bodies to ensure that everyone is vetted by theCriminal
Records Bureau for England and Wales and Disclosure Scotlandfor
societies in Scotland. Anyone applying to volunteer for Abbeyfield with a criminal record will not be automatically barred from volunteering;
each application will be looked at carefully, taking into account the seriousness
and relevance of the offence and the length of time since it was committed before
reaching a decision.
Role
Descriptions
Volunteer
roles are based on identified need. Role descriptions are drawn up and volunteers will be able to discuss
the role at their initial interview.
Supervision
and Induction
Procedures
will be discussed with each volunteer for the safe supervision of work with older people, together
with an induction into the work of the organisation.
Training
Training
and development is offered to volunteers, usually on an area /
regional
basis. As a volunteer-led organisation, the Abbeyfield Society
tries
to allow long-term volunteers to develop themselves and encourages them to move on into management or new
areas of work should they wish to do so. Review meetings are held regularly to discuss the work and
the future
roles of volunteers in the member society.
Equal
Opportunities
Everyone
involved with the Abbeyfield Society has the right to be treated fairly. The society has a written Equal
Opportunities Policy that describes how to protect the rights of residents, staff and volunteers.
Confidentiality
Because
of the nature of our client group, confidentiality is of paramount importance. The Abbeyfield Society has
a confidentiality policy and every volunteer receives a copy.
Health
and safety
Volunteers
need to know how the rules of health and safety apply to their individual voluntary work; information
is given to all volunteers about the rules as part of their introduction to the work.
Expenses
Volunteers
are encouraged to claim reimbursement for all out-of-pocket expenses incurred including travel and
subsistence.
Insurance
Each
individual member society should have insurance protection to
cover
its volunteers. For those societies insured through The Abbeyfield Society scheme (brokered by Haskolls),
the public, products and employers liability policies cover the actions of volunteers working
under the
society’s supervision and control when undertaking activities on behalf of the society.
Societies not insured under The Abbeyfield Society scheme should seek advice from their brokers.
If
volunteers transport residents in the course of their volunteering they should notify their own
motor insurers.
Gifts
and Donations
Occasionally,
residents want to show appreciation by making a gift or
donation
to a volunteer or to Abbeyfield. Whilst wanting to respect the rights of residents, volunteers should
be aware that receiving a gift may cause problems for family members and other residents.
If
a resident wants to give a gift to a volunteer or make a donation, this should be discussed with your
Volunteer Liaison Officer.
Handbook
Each
volunteer will be given a Volunteers’ Handbook which outlines
more fully
all of the issues referred to in this policy.
Other
publications for Volunteers/Trustees of Abbeyfield member societies
There
is a range of booklets entitled Making Sense which are regularly
updated
to ensure that volunteers are fully aware of their roles and for
trustees
to be aware of their legal responsibilities. The titles are:
- The Chair
- The Treasurer
- The Secretary
- Executive Committee Member
- The House Committee
