Volunteers

CONTENTS

1. Introduction
2. What Volunteers Do
3. Our Commitment to a Quality Service
4. Why Volunteer
5. How to Get Involved

Introduction
 
The Portsmouth Health Improvement And Development Service is a citywide service that aims to enhance and extend the range of help it can offer its users. Volunteers provide time and attention that go beyond statutory requirements and add to the quality of life of those receiving their assistance and support.
 
Nationally, the economic value of formal volunteering has been estimated at more than £40 billion per year. If costed, the time contributed by volunteers to health and social services would amount to £7 billion. The value and extent of the contribution volunteers make Portsmouth's Health Improvement and Development Service and the local communities is hard to measure. In terms of time donated, departmental volunteers give approximately 35,000 hours of service each year. More than 60 volunteers ranging in age from 18 to 80 years are involved in the service. The service also works with groups of volunteers from local companies and students from local colleges and universities looking to gain experience for future careers in social care related fields.
 
The Department and its volunteer service also work closely with private and voluntary sector partners to recognise and promote the contributions of volunteers throughout the city.
 
The volunteer manager, Ian Grimwood, administers the programme. The Team is managed overall by Jonathan Smith.
 
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What Volunteers Do
 
Volunteers are involved in a wide variety of activities. Most assist individuals and families directly. This work may involve befriending and confidence building to develop various skills. They work with children and parents, adults with physical or learning disabilities, sensory impairment or mental health concerns and older persons. Some assist staff in various day centres, family centres and residential homes. Many are involved in special projects such as community gardens, community newspapers and intergenerational projects in local schools.
 
Volunteer drivers are also an essential part of the service, assisting vulnerable people who cannot use public transportation or travel without extra support. Volunteer drivers travel in excess of 250,000 miles for the department each year.
 
Social Care staff can make a referral to the volunteer service on behalf of service users. On average, approximately 700 referrals to the Volunteer Programme are fulfilled each year. Teams within the department can also commission work from the Health Improvement and Development Service to develop projects and resources. Team members are also actively involved in supporting community-led projects across the city and encouraging local residents to become involved. The team supports both informal and formal volunteering opportunities.
 
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Our Commitment to a Quality Service
 
Portsmouth Health Improvement And Development Service has a long history of involving volunteers in the delivery of services that add to the quality of life of its vulnerable service users. In 2000, the department formalised its commitment to volunteers and to preserving the unique quality of volunteer services by adopting a comprehensive volunteer policy. This policy will be updated in 2006 to further improve the standard of the service on offer.
 
The policy clarifies the rights and responsibilities of all three stakeholders: volunteers, service users and paid staff. Volunteers can only be involved with the consent of the service users and must not be asked to undertake tasks that should be done by a paid service such as personal care and housework. Volunteers also never substitute for paid staff.
 
Requests for volunteers are made only by paid staff such as social workers or care managers on behalf of individuals or families with whom they work. Staff must also designate a budget for reimbursing all of the volunteer's out-of-pocket expenses. Staff must also complete a risk assessment to ensure the health and safety of all parties during a volunteer assignment. The volunteer manager will assess the referrals and try to match them with a suitable volunteer.
 
Once a volunteer has agreed to take on the assignment, they are introduced to the referring staff member to discuss in more detail what the assignment will involve. If the volunteer and staff member decide to proceed, then introductions are made to the individual or family. The volunteer manager provides overall support and supervision of volunteers, but the referring staff member must also regularly advise and support any volunteer whom they have involved with a service user. After-hours, emergency help is also available to volunteers. All parties must be kept informed of any changes or concerns. Either party can terminate the arrangement at any time.
 
Volunteers are checked with the Criminal Records Bureau, references taken and given an interview. Training can also be provided for specific kinds of voluntary activities. Volunteer opportunities are extremely varied and flexible. Some volunteers may give a couple hours once a month or week while others may volunteer virtually full time. Volunteers are generally very busy people in their own right, often balancing many other commitments and activities. The department is grateful for whatever the amount of time they are able to give.
 
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Why Volunteer?
 
There are as many reasons for volunteering as there are opportunities available. Your reasons and personal circumstances are important to take into account when considering what type of assignment to become involved in.
 
If you decide to want to become informed in this volunteer programme, the volunteer manager will discuss with you the types of activities you are interested in, any previous voluntary experience you have and what you hope to gain from your experience. Volunteering is very much a two-way process. You have time and abilities to give and it is important for the volunteer manager to know what you hope to gain in return. Thus may mean gaining experience and skills in a particular area, a chance to meet new people or an opportunity to make a difference in the life of a lonely or vulnerable person. Whatever your reasons, the volunteer manager will try to suggest assignments that will best match your skills and interests.
 
If you are interested in providing volunteer transport, the volunteer Manager will be happy to discuss your availability and interests. Transporting people who cannot use public transport or travel on their own is a growing need. Many people, whether young children, adults with disabilities or frail older persons, require special care and attention. Volunteer driving isn't just about providing transport. It involves good people skills and sensitivity to the same degree as other voluntary work within the Service.
 
Perhaps formal volunteering is not what you had in mind. There are many ways to become an active and informed citizen in your own community. The Department is keen to consult with local residents about their the needs and concerns. Your views and involvement are critical to providing services that are responsive to the particular needs in your community. The Team works closely with local residents as well as other statutory, private and voluntary sector partners. The team can often provide information about how interested residents can become involved.
 
The following are quotes from some of the Volunteers' experiences
 
"I befriended a profoundly deaf elderly lady for five years. She never ceased to amaze me with her sense of fun and zest for life no matter what."
Linda, volunteer visitor.
 
"As a befriender and on a one-to-one basis, I have met the most fascinating people with wonderful life histories and stories to tell."
Pat, volunteer visitor.
 
"There can be no greater reward than seeing a smile on a child's face."
Timothy, support group volunteer.
 
"My disabilities prevent me working now from my trade of 40 years.
Volunteering gives me a reason to get up in the morning and keeps
my self-esteem while maybe helping others to keep theirs."
Pete, volunteer driver
 
"It is ideal for the retired. It fills the idle hours and as Hercule Poirot would say, it exercises 'the little grey cells.' "
Tom, volunteer driver.
 
"I volunteer because I enjoy meeting people and doing things that are different and sometimes challenging."
Laurie, volunteer in intergenerational project.
 
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How to Get Involved
 
Portsmouth City Council
Health, Housing & Social Care Directorate
Health Improvement And Development Service
Civic Offices
Guildhall Square
Portsmouth
PO1 2AZ
 
Ian Grimwood
Volunteer Manager
 
Tel: 023 9268 8379
Fax: 023 9268 8393
Email: ian.grimwood@portsmouthcc.gov.uk