Volunteers Policy
TETNEY PARISH COUNCIL
Volunteers Policy
Introduction
Tetney Parish Council recognises that there can be situations in which volunteers’ help can make an appropriate and significant contribution to the work and service objectives of the Parish Council. This document, defines the term and sets out the principles, practices and procedures which Tetney Parish Council will follow in the appointment, management and control of volunteers.
Definition
Volunteers may be described as individuals who put their experience, knowledge and skills at the disposal of an organisation, free of charge, with the primary aim of helping the organisation to achieve its service objectives and or with the primary aim of bringing some benefit to the local community. In this sense, volunteers are to be distinguished from students, other work placements and secondees, where the primary aim is usually for the student or secondee to obtain certain work experience or to carry out work or research in certain areas.
Principles
In appointing volunteers Tetney Parish Council will adhere to the following principles:
- Volunteers will not be engaged in work which facilitates the loss of an existing employee’s post, nor on any tasks or projects which (within the past two years) were done by paid employees whose posts have since been deleted:
- Volunteers will not be used to do the work of paid staff during an industrial dispute:Current Tetney Parish Council employees will not be engaged as volunteers at Tetney Parish Council.
Recruitment of Volunteers
Volunteers will be selected through the following process:
Step 1
- a role description, outlining the specific tasks, responsibilities and reporting lines of the volunteer;
- terms and conditions including the duration, hours, expenses, insurance, etc, relating to the placement;
- a specification, outlining the relevant experience, skills, knowledge, abilities and equal opportunity awareness necessary to carry out the role effectively.
Step 2
The prospective volunteers will be invited to a meeting with the Clerk and Chairman before the volunteering event. Using the role outline and the specification the parties will have a discussion of the proposed role, of its requirements and of each other’s expectations, with a view to assessing mutual sustainability. Following the meeting, a decision will be made immediately regarding the individual’s suitability for the particular role.
Step 3
Prior to commencing their placement at Tetney Parish Council, each successful volunteer must confirm they are in good health and capable of undertaking the proposed tasks.
Step 4
Prior to commencing their placement at Tetney Parish Council, each successful volunteer shall be formally allocated to a particular Councillor, who will manage and supervise the volunteer throughout the duration of his/her placement at Tetney Parish Council. The manager’s responsibilities will include ensuring that the volunteer receives the following:
- a planned induction to Tetney Parish Council;
- positive feedback on their contribution;
- adequate equipment to perform their tasks effectively.
Equal Opportunities
Tetney Parish Council recognises that the activity of volunteering can provide a volunteer with experiences and opportunities for self and career development. In accordance with Tetney Parish Council’s equal opportunity policy, volunteer placements at Tetney Parish Council will therefore be open to individuals irrespective of race, gender, disability, sexuality, age or marital status. In addition, the specification must set out the equal opportunity dimension and any specific equality requirements of the role. Where, during the panel meeting (see above) a prospective volunteer demonstrates hostility to, or a clear lack of support for equal opportunity policy, s/he will be deemed automatically to be unsuitable for a volunteer position at Tetney Parish Council.
Termination
Where appropriate, the role and placement of the volunteer may be terminated by the Clerk or Councillors immediately, where behaviour equivalent to gross misconduct has occurred. In all cases the volunteer will be entitled to an explanation of the decision and action taken.
Discipline and Grievance
Volunteers will not be subject to Tetney Parish Council’s disciplinary procedures. Correspondingly, volunteers will not have access to Tetney Parish Council’s grievance procedures. However, volunteers will be entitled to use Tetney Parish Council’s complaints
procedure. Where appropriate, the complaint will be investigated fully by the Clerk or Councillors.
Expenses
Volunteers will not encounter any expenses and may not receive payment for any reason.
Insurance
Volunteers will be covered by Tetney Parish Council’s employer’s public liability and professional indemnity where appropriate.
Monitoring and review
It will be the responsibility of the Clerk to regularly review the operation of Tetney Parish Council’s volunteer policy to ensure that it is in accordance with Tetney Parish Council’s equal opportunity policy.
Date adopted:
Signed:
Date for review: November 2015