1. Working in partnership with Somerset County Council
Somerset You can Do Services working in partnership with
Somerset County Council

2. The Practicalities The Volunteer Agreement Equal Opportunities
Confidentiality
Reliability
Expenses
Support supervision and training
Insurance
Health and safety
Somerset You can Do Services working in partnership with
Somerset County Council

3. The Practicalities Complaints and compliments Gifts and bequests
Smoke free working policy
Ending your volunteering
Somerset You can Do Services working in partnership with
Somerset County Council

4. Equal Opportunities SCC’s Statement
Somerset County Council positively values diversity and celebrates cultural and social differences. Our equal opportunities promise is to provide all services of equal quality that meet your needs and fulfil your rights. You can expect to be treated fairly, with respect, dignity and understanding whoever you are and whatever your background
Read through the statement
Explain 1. that it covers them as volunteers
2. that as they are providing a service they will have to work within the policy
Somerset You can Do Services working in partnership with
Somerset County Council

5. Equal Opportunities. The promise and it’s implications
To promote equal opportunities for all groups
Not to discriminate against any person or group directly or indirectly
That the same range of quality service is offered to all
The implications for Staff and Volunteers:
To respect service users as individuals
Recognise that some individuals belong to groups that may be discriminated against
Work to empower all service users as individuals
Read through the promise and the implications for staff and volunteers.
Allow time for discussion 10 minutes max
Draw out participants understanding of equal opportunities.
Can they give examples of good equal opportunities practice and poor equal opportunities practice
Somerset You can Do Services working in partnership with
Somerset County Council

6. Confidentiality
Confidentiality is about respecting the privacy of the people we work with, both service users and members of staff.
Things to consider:-
Keep information within the placement setting
Only pass information on to staff or SYcD if you feel someone is being abused or is in danger of self harm
Don’t off load on to family and friends
If issues are raised or feelings aroused by your work discuss these with your supervisor
Breach of confidence can damage the trust needed and may lead to dismissal from the service.
Read through statement
Emphasize importance re service users and members of staff.
Remind participants that it is ok to off load feelings with family and friends but NOT information.
See if you can draw out examples of the consequences of breaches of confidentiality Allow about 5 minutes.
Somerset You can Do Services working in partnership with
Somerset County Council

7. Reliability
The work you do is important. Clients and staff are relying on you to keep to your agreed commitments. Make sure that you give as much notice as possible if you are unable to attend because of:
Holidays
Hospital appointments
Sickness
Remind participants that they should be informing the host service not nvb about absences
Somerset You can Do Services working in partnership with
Somerset County Council

8. Expenses Usually paid monthly
Host service responsibility unless volunteering in the Out and About project
Can be paid even if you are claiming benefits including Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance, Job Seekers Allowance, Income Support and Housing Benefit.
Somerset You can Do Services working in partnership with
Somerset County Council

9. Support, Supervision and Training
Regularly as agreed on in your volunteer plan
Opportunity to talk about issues and feelings
One to one or in a group
Opportunity to learn from others with similar experiences
Important when lone working.
Remind participants that support and supervision will vary depending upon where they are placed. In some areas it will be ongoing informal support but in others it will be more formal supervision.
Training
Provide participants with information about any additional training we are able to offer at the time
e.g nvqs
Open university free open learn coursews.
Somerset You can Do Services working in partnership with
Somerset County Council

10. Insurance SCC’s insurance covers: Public Liability Personal Accident
But does not cover:
Loss or damage to personal Property
Motor insurance
Volunteers are covered by these insurances when when carrying out their duties for SCC.
Explain the meaning of Public Liability Insurance-refer to information sheets.
Motor Insurance
If driving as a volunteer need to inform your insurance company
Might have to change cover to include business use
Some companies don’t charge for this change.
Somerset You can Do Services working in partnership with
Somerset County Council

11. Volunteer Drivers
Volunteer driving has special responsibilities and therefore we have to check annually:
Driving licence
MOT
Insurance
and also get you to complete a medical self assessment
have copies of the medical self assessment form to hand to show the participants.
Somerset You can Do Services working in partnership with
Somerset County Council

12. Health and Safety
Volunteers are treated as staff for the purposes of health and safety:
Food Hygiene
Infection
Hypothermia
Protecting your own health
Avoiding injury
If volunteers have colds, or other infectious conditions they should stay at home rather then put more vulnerable people at risk.
If working with older people need to know the signs and symptoms of hypothermia
Refer to volunteer handbook
Somerset You can Do Services working in partnership with
Somerset County Council

13. SCC Compliments & Complaints Procedure
This applies to you as a volunteer and the people you support for us
We welcome your comments on the quality of our service and your suggestions on how it can be improved
Any complaints received will be investigated thoroughly
Somerset You can Do Services working in partnership with
Somerset County Council

14. SCC Compliments & Complaints Procedure
If you have a complaint about the way you or a service user is treated discuss it with your volunteer supervisor first
If you are unhappy with the response you get or the issue is still unresolved contact Somerset You can Do Services
Somerset You can Do Services working in partnership with
Somerset County Council

15. Somerset You can Do Services Comments, Suggestions and Complaints
We hope that most of the time we get it right, and we want to know more about the service you are happy with. We welcome your comments on the quality of our service and your suggestions on how we can improve it
To make comments, suggestions or complaints, please contact the Somerset You can Do Services manager, Bryan Mitchell on or
Somerset You can Do Services working in partnership with
Somerset County Council

16. Gifts and Bequests
Do not accept gifts or bequests of money, jewellery etc
Inform the voluntary services manager immediately if a bequest is made in a will
Do not get involved in helping with or advising about making a will or other legal document
Point out that it is ok for people to accept small gifts like a box of chocolates or bunch of flowers at Christmas etc.
Somerset You can Do Services working in partnership with
Somerset County Council

17. Smoke Free Work Policy
Somerset County Council operates a smoke free working policy. Therefore smoking should not take place in:-
Service users ‘ homes
Volunteer drivers’ cars
Somerset You can Do Services working in partnership with
Somerset County Council

18. Safeguarding Those you Support
What is abuse?
Abuse takes many forms:
Physical
Emotional
Financial
Sexual
Bullying
Neglect
Discrimination
Somerset You can Do Services working in partnership with
Somerset County Council

19. Safeguarding Those you Support
What to do:
To do nothing is not an option
Report it to your volunteer supervisor or your main contact within SCC or Somerset You can Do Services
Somerset You can Do Services working in partnership with
Somerset County Council

20. Keeping Your Records up to Date
Please inform us of :
changes to your address
changes to your emergency contact number
or if you wish to stop volunteering
This enables us to keep our records up to date and to deal with your file in an appropriate way
Somerset You can Do Services working in partnership with
Somerset County Council

21. The Volunteer Agreement:
Responsibilities of Somerset You can Do Services
Responsibilities of host service
Responsibilities of volunteer
Signed by all involved
Includes volunteer plan
Have a blank copy of the three way agreement and volunteer plan for each participant so that they can refer to it as you go through the document. Allow time for discussion
Somerset You can Do Services working in partnership with
Somerset County Council