We really like this policy from Sheffield NHS Primary Care Trust. It gives a strong rationale for involving volunteers, and sets their involvement in a clear context.
Kindly contributed by and copyright to Sheffield NHS PCT
Please note: please bear in mind that this volunteer policy has been created for a specific organisation in a specific context, so should be used as a guide rather than adopted wholesale. For further information, please visit our 'top tips on using the Good Practice Bank'.
The things we find particularly helpful are:
1. The list of areas for potential involvement. While obviously not exhaustive, it gives a useful illustration of the kinds of activities they envisage volunteers being included in which helps staff who perhaps aren’t too clear about the ways in which volunteers might help, and helps potential volunteers, who may have an unrealistic idea of the kinds of roles available.
2. The recruitment and screening process is made very clear, and there is a useful flow chart in the appendices. It is clear that they’ve thought about what will happen if things don’t go according to plan, and there is a helpful checklist of things to have available at each stage.
3. The emphasis on resolving problems and complaints by informal means but with a structured procedure, is healthy. It’s also useful that they acknowledge that sometimes things just don’t work out and we like the way that – even when the relationship has reached an end – they offer to help the volunteer find an alternative opportunity.
4. We like the way that diversity and accessibility are embedded throughout the document and made part of the normal way of working, instead of being an ‘add-on’ in a separate section.
