Hands-On Volunteer
Handbook
This handbook provides
information about being a
volunteer in Sure Start Childrens
Centres in Gedling
About Sure Start Childrens Centres in the
Gedling District.
Childrens Centres are purpose buildings where child-focused and family
based activities and services are delivered.
The aim of the Childrens Centre is to provide all local families with
young children the facilities and support they need.
Childrens Centres are available for everyone. They are designed
especially for mums and dads expecting a baby or for anyone who cares
for a child aged between 0 and 5 years old. All children aged 0-5 are
welcome.
As well as providing new experiences, information and advice Childrens
Centres give families the opportunity to make new friends with other
local families.
What is volunteering in Gedling Sure Start
Childrens Centres?
Volunteering in Childrens Centre Services is set up to help parents take the
steps they want to take towards learning, training, getting a job or moving into a
career. Parents are helped to record their progress, reflect on what they are
doing and are involved in supervision. Volunteers are trained and have a formal
arrangement with a Childrens Centre about what they do. Volunteers give their
time regularly. Volunteering should help the volunteer take steps towards
achieving their dream or aspiration. All Volunteers will agree to a Criminal
Bureau Records Check.
P2
P2-3
P4
P5-6
Welcome
Our commitment to you
Your commitment to us
Your Health & safety
Insurance
Dealing with an accident
or emergency
Volunteering safely in other
peoples homes
Driving your own car
P6 Your CRB check
P7 Equal opportunities for all
P7 Safeguarding Confidentiality
P8 Recovering Expenses
P9 Affecting your benefits
P10 Notes
Contact details of your supervisor/mentor
Your Sure Start Childrens Centre contact is..
Name:-
Contact number:
Out of hours/emergency contact
Notes:
Welcome
Affecting your benefits?
Is there any maximum number of hours a volunteer on Job
Seekers Allowance can volunteer for?
No. However, you must be actively seeking work. That means you
should be available to attend an interview and be available for
work.
I am having problems with the benefits office because of my
volunteering; what can I do?
Occasionally volunteers do have problems convincing their benefits
advisers that they are volunteering and not working. If you have
problems, ask your supervisor to help you provide evidence of your
volunteering, and appropriately support you.
Should I inform my Benefits Adviser when I start
volunteering?
If you are in receipt of benefits it is a good idea to let your advisor
know, but this is entirely up to you.
We are delighted you are interested in volunteering with us at Sure Start
Childrens Centre Services. Many people find Childrens Centres
exciting and energising places to volunteer in and they offer a wide
range of volunteering opportunities. The Childrens Centre in the
Gedling District work together so volunteers are valued by ensuring that
the ways in which volunteers are recruited, trained and supported is to
the National Investing in Volunteers Standard.
Volunteers are an essential part of the life of a Childrens Centre and
make their own unique contribution: new skills, points of view, and
different life experiences. Volunteers are encouraged to contribute to
Childrens Centres by making suggestions, asking questions and taking
part in Parent Forums, Outcome Groups, and Local Advisory Groups.
Our commitment to you
We are grateful for the time, enthusiasm, skills, knowledge and diversity
you bring as a volunteer. In return we are committed to giving you the
support and supervision that you need to do your volunteering. We will:
Please check the National Centre for Volunteering website www.volunteering.org.uk
For further updates.
Give you a warm welcome and provide you with relevant induction
and training to be an effective volunteer
Provide regular supervision and opportunities for you to give
feedback
Pay your volunteer expenses ( see page 8)
Work with you to make your volunteering rewarding and
enjoyable.
Dont forget you can arrange to meet or talk with your supervisor or
named person at any time, if you have any worries or concerns about
your volunteering.
If you would like to know more about our commitment to volunteers
please ask your supervisor for a copy of the Childrens Centre
Volunteering Policy.
Enjoy Volunteering with us
These guidelines are designed to help you enjoy your Volunteering and
do it safely.
Your supervisor may give you additional guidelines for your particular
role.
DOS
Do make sure you know what is expected of you.
Do make sure you know health and safety regulations such as fire
precautions, personal safety etc.
Do tell your Supervisor if you see anything you think could be
dangerous e.g. wet floors, trailing wires etc.
Do tell your supervisor if you are worried that a child/adult may be
at risk or harm.
Do walk away from any violent situations your personal safety is
a priority.
Do claim agreed expenses monthly.
Do ask for guidance if you need to write or make a phone-call to
outside organisations on behalf of a service user.
Do tell your supervisor if you have any difficulties with your
volunteering or if you need a break
Do enjoy your volunteering!
DONTS
Dont take on too much
Dont make promises that you cannot keep or are not authorised to
make
Dont take on responsibility for tasks that are not part of your role
Your commitment to us
Your volunteering can make a real difference to peoples lives. To help
this happen we expect you to be committed to the tasks you have
agreed to do, for as long as you wish to volunteer and within the policies
and procedures summarised in this handbook and explained during
induction and training.
Can I tell confidential information to anyone
else?
You should always talk to your supervisor if you are worried about
something to do with your volunteering, particularly if you think a service
user is at risk or about to harm someone else, and especially where
children are involved.
Sometimes this can be difficultfor example; if a service user you are
working with asks you to keep a secret and then tells you something that
worries you. It is important to let service users know that you might have
to talk to your supervisor about certain things.
If you are unsure about confidentiality, please do talk to your supervisor
about it. You can also get a full copy of the relevant Confidentiality
Policy .
Recovering expenses
Any appropriate out of pocket expenses incurred as a result of your
volunteering will be reimbursed by the Childrens centre. Please ask
your Supervisor for an up to date list of these expenses. Inland revenue
does not allow us to pay any other expenses.
How to get your money back
To get your money back you must have a receipt for everything you
spend. Write down what you spend on the expenses form given to you
by your supervisor, attach all the relevant receipts and hand it in, and
your supervisor will make sure you are reimbursed.
Equal opportunities for all
Sure Start Childrens Centres are against discrimination and committed
to working equally with people whatever their sex, marital status, race,
colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion, ability, age or sexual
orientation.
This statement means:
You can expect to be respected as a volunteer, and treated
without discrimination, whatever your backgrounds or beliefs.
You are expected, as a volunteer, to treat people with respect and
without discrimination.
You can get a full copy of our Equal Opportunities Policy from your
supervisor.
Confidentiality
Please feel free to tell people that you are a volunteer. However, do
remember that volunteering is a position of trust. If you are working with
Sure Start Childrens Centre service users, you will learn personal
information about them, i.e. that they use our services, anything else that
they choose to tell you.
Confidentiality means keeping this
information to yourself.
You may also learn information about Sure Start Childrens Centres, our
staff and volunteers. This information is also confidential and should not
be shared with others, including other volunteers, staff, family, friends,
outside agencies or the press.
Help us to help you
Please remember that by signing the Volunteer Agreement, you agree to
volunteer within Sure Start Childrens Centres policies and procedures,
including the following boundaries. These have been designed with the
safety of you and service users in mind.
DOS
Do be reliable. If you cannot make an arranged time, please let
your supervisor know.
Do respect people and their views, whatever their background or
beliefs.
Do avoid getting into arguments.
Do respect confidentiality (see confidentiality section for more
information)
DONTS
Dont give your contact details to service users unless this is part of
your role.
Dont lend, borrow or give money as this can lead to awkward
situations.
Dont accept money or gifts if offered as this can lead to
misunderstandings.
Dont get involved in sexual or close personal relationships with
service users.
Dont use language or actions that could be seen as aggressive,
abusive or discriminatory.
Dont put yourself forward to other agencies as a professional
worker from Sure Start Childrens Centres.
Your Health and Safety
Sure Start Childrens Centre in the Gedling District all work towards a
healthy and safe environment for all our staff, volunteers and people who
use our services. This means:
We take care to maintain our buildings and provide safe working
conditions for our staff and volunteers.
We will not ask you to do any dangerous activities.
We ask you to let us know if you see anything dangerous on our
premises, or during your volunteering activities.
If the emergency is in the form of difficult or aggressive behaviour, you
should assess the situation with care before attempting to intervene. Your
own safety is a priority and you should leave the scene if things seem to be
out of control. In such situations please call the emergency services first,
using 999, and report to your supervisor afterwards who will need to write an
incident report.
Working safely in other peoples homes
We are not able to check every place you may visit in the course of your
volunteering or always be present to supervise your activities. We do
ask you take care at all times.
You can get a full copy of the relevant Health and Safety Policy from
your supervisor.
It is important to bear in mind that aggressive and violent behaviour can
be caused by people feeling that there is an intrusion into their private
lives. If you find yourself working within a service users home, follow
some simple guidelines to ensure that you are safe. For example, go in
daylight where possible, ensure colleagues know where you are going,
take your mobile phone with you and if you feel at risk leave as soon as
possible. For full guidance, please talk to your supervisor.
Insurance
Your CRB check
All volunteers within Sure Start Childrens Centres in Gedling District are
covered by the governing bodys public and personal liability insurance if
they are engaged in agreed volunteer activity. Your personal property is
not insured within this agreement.
All volunteers working with children or having regular contact with
vulnerable adults, must present a satisfactory Disclosure from the
Criminal Records Bureau (CRB).
Your supervisor will help you to do this once you have successfully
completed the rest of the application process.
Dealing with an accident, incident or
emergency
Driving your own car
Please make sure you are aware of the emergency procedures for the
centre/building you are working in.
If you are volunteering at an outreach venue and anything goes seriously
wrong you must contact your supervisor or named person as soon as
possible to let them know exactly what happened. They will help you to
deal with the situation.
In the unlikely event of an emergency, please give priority to ensuring
your own safety and then as far as possible, the safety of others.
We expect that all volunteers who drive as part of their role with Children
Centres in Gedling District, drive responsibly, safely and within the law.
Before you do any driving as a volunteer you need to:
Inform you insurance company that your vehicle is being used for
voluntary work (there should not be any extra cost).
Show your supervisor a letter from your insurance company
confirming the above.
Show you supervisor your driving licence, original MOT certificate,
and insurance certificate (your supervisor will take photocopies).
