Recruiting and managing volunteers in the NHS: a practical ...

1 Recruiting and managing volunteers in NHS providers a practical guide NHS England September 2017. Recruiting and managing volunteers in NHS providers: a practical guide In this guide 1. The purpose of this guidance 4. 2. Introduction 9. 3. Commitment to volunteering 12. 4. Creating a framework to develop and support volunteering 15. 5. Developing volunteer roles 21. 6. Inclusive approaches to attracting volunteers 25. 7. Recruiting volunteers 29. 8. Safeguarding volunteers , staff and service users 34. 9. Induction and training for volunteers 38.

2 10. Supporting and supervising volunteers 41. 11. Working in partnership 44. 12. Valuing and recognising volunteers ' contributions 49. 13. Appendices 52. Recruiting and managing volunteers in the NHS: a practical guide | page 2. Appendices The case for volunteering in health and care: strategy and policy 53. Plan on a page' volunteer strategy summary 58. Policy and procedures checklist 59. volunteer managers' guide to getting started 60. Example role description 62. Making volunteering inclusive in practice 64. Gifts and goals template 75.

3 Criminal record checks 76. Partnership memorandum of understanding (MOU) 78. managing risk in partnerships 80. Recruiting and managing volunteers in the NHS: a practical guide | page 3. 1. The purpose of this guidance This guidance offers practical support and information The guidance does not deal with every setting or for NHS providers to enable them to support the context in which volunteers are involved in the NHS. strategic ambition to grow and develop volunteering but the key principles can be applied across settings. in the NHS.

4 It will help providers The case studies and examples included aim to develop the right processes, procedures and illustrate how these principles have been put into frameworks to support quality volunteering practice in a range of settings. opportunities that make an impact Approaches can be applied flexibly to ensure achieve a balance in their approach; ensuring recruitment and management is appropriate for the effective processes for recruitment and nature of the volunteer role and the context in which management of volunteers are in place without it takes place.

5 Creating unnecessary barriers or being too risk- This guidance does not focus on wider public averse participation and public voice. Further information on ensure that the approach is accessible and inclusive, this can be found on the NHS England Involvement there are opportunities for a diverse range of Hub. people and volunteers reflect the communities in which we work. This includes involving people who experience the most health inequalities as volunteering can help to reduce these Who is it for? identify existing good practice and develop a framework based on Investing in volunteers , a This guidance is aimed at NHS providers across a range recognised standard for volunteer management of settings including hospitals, primary care, general also recommended by the Lampard Inquiry as practice and community services .

6 A way for NHS trusts to formally review their It will be most useful for those who have a role in volunteering programmes. Recruiting and managing volunteers , particularly voluntary service managers and volunteer coordinators. However, other personnel may also find it useful in their work. Board members and senior Recruiting and managing volunteers in the NHS: a practical guide | page 4. management who have a strategic responsibility We also recognise that a large number of voluntary, for volunteering may find it useful in shaping the community or private sector organisations work in direction of their approach and implementing a partnership with the NHS and involve volunteers in robust framework to support volunteering in their NHS settings.

7 The guidance may also be useful for organisation. these organisations. Brief 1. Examples of volunteer roles in NHS provider organisations Hospitals Buggy service, mobility support Information stand (signposting and Lifestyle coach Discharge assistant Pet therapy guidance) Mentors Hospital guides/navigators Trolley service Expert patients Respite support Welcome volunteers Administrative support Practice health champions Counselling Governors and trustees Running errands and collecting Community settings Advocacy Hospital radio prescriptions/test results/paperwork.

8 Information and advice First responders Ward and department volunteer Chaplaincy Signposting Befriending/buddying/visiting including specialist roles, for Dementia buddies Organising and running activities/. Self-care example Neonatal family support A&E volunteers social organiser/ community volunteers , Intensive Care, Stroke Expert patients Support with unplanned admissions connectors Ward. Dementia friends Outpatient support Teaching and training roles Bedside buddies, befriending, Speech and language support Discharge support Delivering equipment and supplies reading Hospital to Home escorts volunteer mentors supporting other Transport assistance Dining companions, mealtime Health champion volunteers Falls prevention assistance Occupational therapy activity Mobility volunteer /physical activity This list is not comprehensive.

9 It Shop volunteers , tea or caf volunteers volunteers indicates some of the roles undertaken Primary care & general practice Fundraising by volunteers in NHS providers. Library volunteers GP patient participation group Support with long-term conditions volunteers often operate across both Entertainment/music/arts and crafts/ Social and activity event organisers Peer support roles and health settings. activities Interpreters Care champions, Care navigators Recruiting and managing volunteers in the NHS: a practical guide | page 5. Using this guidance This guidance is linked to relevant Investing in volunteers indicators.

10 This guide is interactive. You can: use the contents page to click through to different sections of the guidance. The home' symbol at the bottom of each page returns you to the contents page. use Figure 1 to identify the parts that are most useful to you. Indicators 1-4 are focused on strategic development of volunteering and indicators, 5-9 are focused on practical delivery of volunteering including how to recruit and manage volunteers . The guide does not deal with the indicators in numerical order but instead is organised around the volunteer journey.