1. Investing in Volunteers Introductory Workshop

2. Objectives of Workshop
Familiarise your organisation with the Investing in Volunteers Standard
Outline the 6 steps to achieving the award and the support and guidance available
Clarify the roles and responsibilities of your organisation, the assessor and any local partner
Provide guidance in undertaking the initial self assessment.
Identify the issues to consider when managing the accreditation process within your organisation.

3. About you Your name Your role
What’s great about the volunteering scheme in your organisation?

4. What is Investing in Volunteers?
UK quality standard for the involvement of volunteers within an organisation.
An agreed level of quality.
QUALITY STANDARD
INVESTING IN VOLUNTEERS
UK QUALITY STANDARD for
organisations that involve volunteers
Outlines what a volunteer involving organisation should be doing to reach a certain standard in volunteer management

5. Where did the Standard come from?
Wandsworth Volunteer Bureau, South London no way of knowing if volunteers received good standard of management in placement organisations so developed the Standard – i.e. level of quality expected.
3 neighbouring London Boroughs joined - Wandle Valley Partnership.
3 year pilot was successful Independent evaluation recommended Standard be rolled out across UK.
Guardianship passed to the UK Volunteering Forum.
1995
1998
2003
Successfully running since then, reviewed in 2009.

6. What is Investing in Volunteers?
Based on the four areas of volunteer management
Supporting
& retaining
volunteers
Selecting &
matching
volunteers
Planning for
volunteer
involvement
Recruiting
volunteers
Designed to:
improve an organisation’s volunteer management;
publicly demonstrate and promote commitment to volunteering.

7. Indicators and Practices
The Standard is made up of
9 Indicators 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 9
Practices 5
Practices 5
Practices 5
Practices 4
Practices 5
Practices 5
Practices 4
Practices 4
Practices
in total
Demonstrate you meet the indicator
46 Practices

8. Indicators Indicator 1 There is an expressed commitment to the
involvement of volunteers, and recognition throughout the
organisation that volunteering is a two-way process which
benefits volunteers and the organisation.
Indicator 2 The organisation commits appropriate resources to
working with volunteers, such as money, management, staff time
and materials.
Indicator 3 The organisation is open to involving volunteers who
reflect the diversity of the local community and actively seeks to
do this in accordance with its stated aims.
Read through and give examples at each indicator

9. Indicators Indicator 4 The organisation develops appropriate roles for
volunteers in line with its aims and objectives, which are of value
to the volunteers.
Indicator 5 The organisation is committed to ensuring that, as
far as possible, volunteers are protected from physical, financial
and emotional harm arising from volunteering.
Indicator 6 The organisation is committed to using fair, efficient
and consistent recruitment procedures for all potential
volunteers.
Read through and give examples at each indicator

10. Indicators
Indicator 7 Clear procedures are put into action for introducing
new volunteers to their role, the organisation, its work, policies,
practices and relevant personnel.
Indicator 8 The organisation takes account of the varying
support and supervision needs of volunteers.
Indicator 9 The whole organisation is aware of the need to give
volunteers recognition.
Read through and give examples at each indicator

11. 6 Step Process Step 1 Getting Started Step 2 Self Assessment
Step 3 Development Plan
Step 4 Assessment Visit(s)
Step 5 England & National Quality Assurance (Unsuccessful – Return to Step 3 or Appeal)
Step 6 Achievement of Award!
* Recommend completion within 12 months
* Not a portfolio based assessment

12. Self-Assessment
Compare or measure what you are doing now against the 9 indicators (46 practices)
Evidence to be submitted with Self-Assessment:
3 Pieces of evidence
Frequently referred to
Current (reviewed within 2 years)
Range of formats; written, electronic, photos, leaflets
Focus on written evidence, will get oral evidence at step 4!
Remember – some evidence can be used to demonstrate several practices!

13. Your verdict … Met Partly Met Not Met You carry out the practice
You have identified evidence
Confident its being implemented
Partly Met
Partly carry out practice –
Needs adapting/ improving
Not implemented consistently
Not Met
Do not carry out practice
Little or no evidence
*Remember YOU are responsible for reviewing your policies and practices against good practice.

14. Self Assessment
Have a go!

15. Self-Assessment Who will carry it out?
How will those involved in completing it know what is happening on the ground?
Recommend:
2-3 colleagues, including management committee/Board member.
Carry it out individually first
See Guidance Note for Organisations on
Completing Self-Assessment

16. 6 Step Process - timeline
Step 1 Introductory Workshop ………………………..
Step 2 Complete and hand in Self Assessment …… Verbal and Written feedback from Assessor…
Step 3 Write and hand in Development Plan. …
Assessor’s comments ………………………….
Implement Development plan…………………
Step 4 Arrange Assessment Visit(s) …………………..
Carry out Assessment Visit(s)……………….
Assessor produces Assessment Report ……..
Step 5 England Quality Assurance ……………………
UK Quality Assurance Panel (Endorsed) …….
Step 6 Organisation Receive Award – Celebrate!
Review and plan for sustaining good practice…
Today
6 weeks from today
8 weeks from today
12 weeks from today
3.5 months
By 9.5 months (from date contract signed)
11 months
12 months
13 months
13-16 months
Ongoing

17. Assessor: roles and responsibilities
1.Introduce themselves
to you at the beginning
of the process (Step 1).
4.Identify gaps you need to meet through your development plan.
2. Agree deadlines.
5. Signpost to sources of help and advice
3. Give verbal and written feedback on your self-assessment.

18. Assessor: roles and responsibilities
6. Liaise with Contact Person to arrange assessment visit(s) and interviews
8.Make a judgement about whether your organisation meets the Standard
7.Undertake an Assessment Visit(s)
9.Write an Assessor’s report and submit it to the Quality Assurance Process

19. Organisation: roles and responsibilities
Gain commitment
from and involve
staff, volunteers and Management in the process
Complete a
Self Assessment and a Development Plan
Communicate with Assessor
Complete tasks required to bring practices
and materials in line with good practice advice and resources supplied
Assessment Visit(s) Organise a list of potential interviewees and their availability, a suitable room and any written evidence requested by your Assessor
Respect deadlines

20. Managing the process
How will you manage the process within your organisation?
Communication
Promotion
Ownership
Review
Decisions
Implementing

21. Your Steering Group Who should sit on your group?
How often will you meet?
Face to face meetings?
consultations?
Who sets agendas?
Who circulates papers?
Who takes minutes?
How are decisions communicated?
Will you have a sub group?

22. Potential …
Benefits
Barriers

23. Support and Guidance www.investinginvolunteers.org.uk Resource Pack
Local VC partner
Investing in Volunteers Advisor

24. Restricted Area of the Investing in Volunteers Web Site
Step 1 Getting Started
Step 2 Self Assessment
Step 3 Development Plan
Step 4 Assessment
Step 5 Quality Assurance
Step 6 Achievement of award

26. Benefits
Increased recognition of the time and energy volunteers give to your organisation
A professional approach to managing volunteers
A safe environment through risk assessment, health and safety and other practical measures that hadn’t been in place before
Relevant documentation that volunteers can refer to at any time

27. Benefits
Public demonstration of your organisation’s commitment to volunteering and quality
Raise profile of your organisation
Assist in volunteer recruitment
Reassure funders that their money will be well spent
Boost staff and volunteers’ morale
Display award and use of logo for 3 years

28. Top Tips! Keep your volunteers informed of what is happening.
Make sure all members of your staff and management board understand the procedures.
Allow plenty of time for implementing the Development Plan stage, as it can take longer than anticipated. At the same time, don’t get too bogged down with paper work - get the practice operational.
Keep up to date with current legislation.

29. Top Tips!
Be honest and transparent about the types and numbers of volunteers.
Use expertise from outside of the organisation
Don’t do it on your own, speak to other organisations who have been through IiV
Don’t make it the responsibility of one person to do all the work.
Keep a simple filing system.

30. Objectives of Workshop
Familiarise your organisation with the Investing In Volunteers Standard
Outline the 6 steps to achieving the award and the support and guidance available
Clarify the roles and responsibilities of your organisation and others
Provide guidance in undertaking the initial self assessment.
Identify the issues to consider when managing the accreditation process within your organisation.

31. Thank You