Code of Practice

CODE OF PRACTICE FOR VOLUNTEERS

To promote excellence in service and maximise the quality of my experience as a volunteer I will:

CODE OF PRACTICE FOR EMPLOYING VOLUNTEERS

To promote excellence in service and maximise the quality of volunteers' experience, this organisation will:

Recognise my own motives for being a volunteer and ensure the agency is aware of them.

Seek work opportunities appropriate to my skills, interests and aspirations.

Be committed to giving high quality service.

Actively accept opportunities for job training and personal development.

Carry out all work that I agree to do responsibly and ethically.

Speak out about any concerns that might affect my work relationships or quality of service.

See myself as a valued team member with the right to contribute to decisions which affect my work.

Value and support other team members.

Empower our volunteers to meet their own and agency needs.

Offer volunteers work opportunities appropriate to their skills, experience and aspirations.

Provide volunteers with clear duty statements and orientation to their work and the agency.

Offer training and support for volunteers to achieve personal and work goals.

Implement procedures to safe-guard volunteer safety and well-being.

Offer reimbursement or other compensation for out-of-pocket expenses.

Recognise volunteers as valued team members, with opportunities to participate in agency decisions which affect them.

Provide mechanisms to acknowledge the value of contributions made by volunteers.

Volunteers have a right to be provided with:

A copy of the Aims and Objectives of the agency.

Information on policies and procedures of the agency.

Orientation, training and education.

Recognition as a co-worker and team member.

A suitable assignment.

A duty statement and job description.

Information about communication lines within the agency.

Adequate counselling and grievance procedures.

Proper insurance cover.

Appropriate occupational health and safety protection.

Out-of-pocket cost reimbursement.

Appropriate work area and equipment.

Support, supervision, feedback and review.

Opportunities for personal development

Access to relevant decision making processes within the agency.

Appropriate forms of recognition for work done and contribution made.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF VOLUNTEERS

Volunteers have a responsibility to:

Make an informed decision to work as a volunteer with an agency.

Undertake work orientation and training as required.

Work within the duty statement on tasks suitable to their skills and experience.

Behave in an ethical manner

Keep agency and client matters confidential.

Be committed to the agency’s aims and objectives.

Inform the agency when unable to undertake or complete a task.

Use appropriate information channels within an agency when needing information, support, back-up, supervision or review.

Be aware of the limits of their role within the agency.

Be aware of their duty of care.

Be aware of occupational health and safety policies and practices.

Act as a member of the team.

Be aware of protocol when representing the agency.

Commit to achieving results and making an effective contribution to the work of the agency

 

Has your organisation sound volunteer policies? Volunteer ACT can assist you in designing your own volunteer policies, codes and underpining practices. Contact the CEO.