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 Welcome P6 Your CRB check P2-3 Our commitment to you P7 Equal opportunities for all P4 Your commitment to us P7 Safeguarding Confidentiality P5-6 Your Health & safety P8 Recovering Expenses

Insurance P9 Affecting your benefits Dealing with an accident P10 Notes or emergency Volunteering safely in other peoples homes Driving your own car

Contact details of your supervisor/mentor Your Sure Start Childrens Centre contact is.. Name:- Contact number: Out of hours/emergency contact Notes:

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. Please check the National Centre for Volunteering website - www.volunteering.org.uk For further updates.

Welcome 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: 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 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.

Your commitment to us

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. 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. Insurance 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. Dealing with an accident, incident or emergency 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.

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 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. Your CRB check 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. Driving your own car 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).