Toolkit published to support the management of care sector volunteers

Resources and support have been made available to help managers and care providers address key issues surrounding the use of volunteers in the care sector.

The Voluntary Organisations Disability Group (VODG) and National Care Forum (NCF) have launched a volunteer management toolkit to help front line managers find volunteers with the right skills for the roles and ensure they are supported in the work they can provide.

The toolkit provides advice on issues ranging from sourcing and recruiting volunteers in the local community, to measuring the value of volunteers and maximising their potential in the care sector.

Launching the report Rhidian Hughes, VODG chief executive, said:

“Never has it been more important to support frontline managers to build the capability and capacity of volunteers in the sector. Our intention has been to produce a practical resource that will make a strong contribution to sector development”.

Des Kelly, NCF executive director said:

“Not-for-profit care providers have a long and established tradition of working with volunteers to add value to the support services they provide. As the Care Act is implemented and new models of care and support services emerge the contribution volunteers can make will be increasingly important. Our guide will help managers with this vital task.”

Managers organising and overseeing volunteers can access a range of resources such as; Volunteer Investment and Value Audit (VIVA) forms, volunteer role description forms and see a range of tips on the best ways to evaluate the positive or negative impact volunteers have on their care organisation.

The VODG/NCF volunteer management toolkit is supported by Volunteering Matters and Sue Ryder through the Department of Health’s voluntary sector strategic partner programme.

Regional workshops for care providers will soon be made available by the organisations. To download a free copy of the toolkit, including an executive summary, please visit: www.vodg.org.uk or www.nationalcareforum.org.uk.