Volunteer Induction Handbook

Transcription

1 Volunteer Induction Handbook

2 Table of Contents Ravenswood 3 Principals of Volunteering 4 Volunteer Rights 4 Code of Conduct 5 Child Protection 6 Volunteering Administration 7 Confidentiality & Privacy 10 Work Health & Safety 11 Grievances 12 Appendices Appendix 1: Code of Conduct 13 Appendix 2: Working with Children Factsheet 14 Forms Form 1: Volunteer Registration Form 15 Form 2: Volunteer Confidentiality Agreement 16 VOLUNTEER INDUCTION HANDBOOK 2

3 Ravenswood Welcome and thank you for your generosity in offering to be a volunteer in our school community. The aim of this handbook is to give you an introduction to volunteering at Ravenswood and provide you with information about the school and our expectations of you when volunteering. Volunteers are expected to support the schools Guiding Principles of Respect, Excellence, Compassion and Courage. Ravenswood values the significant contribution that volunteers provide to the school community, and the rich and diverse experiences and expertise you offer. Our volunteers enrich the quality of education our girls experience, and enhance the student centered care provided by our staff. You should review this handbook as part of your volunteer induction. Further training or instruction may be required for specific volunteering roles. VOLUNTEER INDUCTION HANDBOOK 3

4 Ravenswood Guiding Principles The Ravenswood Guiding Principles provide a framework to guide our day to day behaviours as students, staff and members of the Ravenswood community. The Guiding Principles are collectively embraced and consistently applied in all that we do as individuals and as a school. Respect we are fair minded in our thinking and actions and foster acceptance, tolerance and understanding. We are not afraid of what we don t know, and acknowledge and celebrate diversity. Courage we have courage of conviction, confidence to ask the hard questions, to be inquiring of the world, and act independently with resilience in the face of adversity. Excellence we value excellence and the fulfilment of our potential in study & play, individually & in teams, at school & in our community, and in local, national and international contexts. Compassion we are giving of our time and energy, our emotions and friendships, and we foster caring thoughtful relationships. VOLUNTEER INDUCTION HANDBOOK 4

5 Principles of Volunteering Listed below are nationally recognised principles of volunteering which Ravenswood supports: Volunteering benefits the community and the volunteer; Volunteer work is unpaid; Volunteering is always a matter of choice; Volunteering is a legitimate and rewarding way in which people can participates in the activities of their community; Volunteering is a vehicle for individuals to address human, environmental and social needs; Volunteering is not a substitute for paid work; Volunteering respects the rights, dignity and culture of others; Reference: Definitions and Principles of Volunteering Volunteering Australia Volunteer Rights As a volunteer at Ravenswood you have the right to: Work in a healthy and safe environment in accordance with WHS Legislation; Be adequately covered by insurance; Be given a copy of the Code of Conduct which guides behavioural expectations whilst working as a volunteer; Have access to grievance and complaints procedures; Be provided with induction at the school; Have personal and confidential information dealt with in accordance with the principles of the Privacy Act; Be provided with sufficient training to carry out your volunteer role. Ravenswood has the right to: Expect volunteers to represent the school in a positive and supportive manner at all times; Expect volunteers to fulfil their volunteer role to the best of their ability; Choose the most appropriate volunteer to undertake a particular task; Discuss the volunteers performance with the volunteer; Expect clear and open communication; Require the volunteer to respect the privacy and confidentiality of information relating to the school, students and staff in accordance with the principles of the Privacy Act; Require the volunteer to abide by reasonable and lawful direction of staff; Require the volunteer to abide by school policies and procedures. VOLUNTEER INDUCTION HANDBOOK 5

6 Code of Conduct The Ravenswood Code of Conduct outlines a broad standard for the way we manage our own relationships and behavior as employees and volunteers at our school. The school recognizes our volunteers as one of our greatest assets. The Code of Conduct is to guide and enhance the conduct of volunteers in performing their duties within the school. The Code of Conduct sets out the schools expectations with respect to personal conduct and is intended to promote integrity and ethical behavior and to guide individuals dealings with students and members of the school community. The Code of Conduct applies to all volunteers in our school. Volunteers have a duty to read and familiarise themselves with the Code of Conduct and any variations that may be made. A copy of the Code of Conduct is available in the volunteering section of our website and can be found in Appendix 1 of this document. VOLUNTEER INDUCTION HANDBOOK 6

7 Ethical Decision Making There is no magical blueprint for identifying and dealing with ethical dilemmas however at Ravenswood we foster a climate of ethical awareness, conduct and decision making. When faced with a dilemma, volunteers should consider the following: Is the decision or conduct lawful? Is the decision or conduct consistent with the Guiding Principles? Is the decision or conduct in the best interest of the school? Will the decision or conduct harm the reputation of the school? Do I have delegated authority to make this decision? If there is still a concern as to whether a decision or conduct is ethical, volunteers should: Clarify your concerns with the manager who is the point of contact at the school. Give written advise to the school of your concerns. Document your actions on the issue. Child Protection At Ravenswood the safety, wellbeing and protection of our students is our highest priority. Volunteers should be aware that Child Protection Legislation applies to them in the course of their duties as a volunteer and a breach of the Legislation can lead to criminal charges and being barred from working with children by the Office of the Children s Guardian. Volunteer Screening Under the Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012, you may be required to undertake a working with children check (WWCC) with the Office of the Children s Guardian depending on your volunteer role and relationship to the school. Volunteers are legally required to inform the school if they have been charged with any criminal offence which may impact their ability to perform in their role as a volunteer. Volunteers are required to inform the school as soon as an allegation under the Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012 is made against them. This requirement includes any allegation made against you external to the school in which you are volunteering. Refer to Appendix 2 Working with Children Fact Sheet VOLUNTEER INDUCTION HANDBOOK 7

8 Obligations to Protect Children Under the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (NSW) a volunteer who suspects a child has suffered harm from abuse or neglect is required to report the matter to the Principal as soon as possible (within 24 hours) of becoming aware of the harm or risk of harm. If the Principal is unavailable then the report must be made to the Deputy Principal or Human Resources Manager. Volunteers who have reasonable grounds for suspecting a child has suffered mistreatment or that there is risk of significant harm, can lawfully make a report without fear of legal repercussion. Depending on the nature of the situation, the Principal or her delegate may report or identify the concern to the Department of Family and Community Services. A volunteer may also report suspected child abuse directly. Volunteers and the Ombudsman s Act Under the Ombudsman s Act 1974, as a result of being a volunteer in a school, you may be reported to the NSW Ombudsman if an allegation is received that you have engaged in reportable conduct. Reportable Conduct is defined as any sexual offence, sexual misconduct (either involves a child or in the presence of a child), physical assault, ill-treatment or neglect of a child or any behavior that causes psychological harm to a child. The school has an obligation under the Act to investigate any of the above allegations even if the allegation relates to matter that occurred away from your role as a volunteer. A sustained allegation under the Act may lead to criminal charges and may affect your ability to continue as a volunteer, and your ability to obtain a future WWCC. Ravenswood is committed to providing a safe environment for our students. If you become aware that a child protection allegation has been made against an employee or volunteer you must report this to the Principal immediately. VOLUNTEER INDUCTION HANDBOOK 8

9 Volunteering Guidelines Volunteer Registration and Other Forms Registration forms provide the school with the information we require to enable us to contact you or your emergency contact. Forms you may be required to complete include: Volunteer Registration Form (Form 1) Confidentiality Agreement (Form 2) Copies of your driver s license, car registration and other documents may be required depending on your volunteer role. All personal and private information is stored securely and can only be accessed by the Principal or delegate consistent with the Commonwealth Privacy Act 1988 and the Privacy Amendment Act VOLUNTEER INDUCTION HANDBOOK 9

10 Dress Code Volunteers are not required to wear a uniform. The school however does require you to wear comfortable non slip footwear and neat casual clothing suitable to your volunteer role. Some clothing may be offensive to other people and we ask that you consider this when selecting an appropriate outfit. If you role requires you to wear personal protective equipment (PPE), this will be supplied to you with instructions of use. If PPE is supplied, it must be worn at all times. Sign In Process and Identification When volunteering on school premises you must sign in at Main Reception on each occasion that you volunteer. You will be required to wear identification provided to you by the school when volunteering. This may be a lanyard or a badge. The identification should be worn whenever you are carrying out your volunteer role and will identify you as a volunteer. The identification must be returned to Main Reception when you sign out following your volunteering role. Drugs, alcohol and tobacco It is the responsibility of each person to ensure that alcohol and drugs do not impair your work or the safety or performance of others. When volunteering at the school you should not be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Smoking is not permitted on school grounds or in any of the school facilities or whilst you are accompanying students of the school whether it be on school premises or at another venue. Insurance As a volunteer at Ravenswood you are protected by the following insurances: Ravenswood Public Liability Insurance Personal Injury & Accident Insurance for Volunteers (issued by the Uniting Church) Volunteer injury and accident insurance does not cover volunteer s private vehicles. Volunteers should be aware that any private vehicle driven by a volunteer in the course of their providing voluntary services must be comprehensively insured to provide a reasonable level of insurance coverage for the volunteer. Communication Your primary point of contact at the school is the Human Resources Manager however your direct contact may be another manager within the school (for example the Head of Junior School, or the Development & Relationships Manager). VOLUNTEER INDUCTION HANDBOOK 10

11 If you are unsure of anything, the direct or primary contact will be able to clarify any situation or provide you with further information. For your own safety and the safety of others, please ensure that you read and/or understand any information given to you about your volunteering role. Health/Medication Volunteers should never purchase, give medication to or administer medication to a student. If you are required to give food or drink to a student, please check with the staff member responsible beforehand as there may be health issues of which you are not aware. If you are concerned about the students welfare or treatment, please speak to the Principal or delegate. Excursions Risk assessments are completed prior to all excursions. Volunteers will be advised of the details of their role if they attend excursions. Infection Control It is important to be aware of the risk of spreading infection. Prevention of the spread of infection is important especially when working with children. If you have an infection or virus it is important to inform your direct contact prior to commencing your volunteer role as it may be safer for you and our students for you to fully recover before returning to volunteer. Allergies and Medical Conditions You must advise the school of any allergies or medical conditions you have that the school needs to be aware of or that may impact your ability to undertake your volunteer role. You need to be aware that students may have allergies (particularly to nuts) and should familiarize yourself with the schools Anaphylaxis Policy which can be found on our website. Confidentiality & Privacy Confidentiality Whilst you are working as a volunteer, you may receive or overhear confidential information regarding students, staff or other volunteers. Confidential information received in the course of your volunteering must be kept confidential. This is a legal requirement. VOLUNTEER INDUCTION HANDBOOK 11

12 Discussing information you have received during your volunteer role with staff, students, family, friends or other volunteers inside or outside the school is not acceptable. Confidentiality requirements apply to the use of social media and . Privacy Privacy laws protect personal information about volunteers, students and staff. You may need to be told specific detail about a student to enable you to carry out your volunteer role. We will only provide you with information that is necessary for your role. Not all volunteers you are working with may need to be aware of this information, therefore this information needs to be treated as private and confidential. We hope that you will become a valued member of our volunteering community. In order to do this you will need to develop relationships with students, staff and other volunteers at the school. These relationships must however always respect professional and child protection boundaries. VOLUNTEER INDUCTION HANDBOOK 12

13 Work Health and Safety Please refer to the schools Work Health and Safety Policy and Procedure As a volunteer, you have a responsibility under legislation to ensure your own health and safety and the health and safety of those around you at all times. Considerations of safety relate to both the physical and psychological wellbeing of individuals. You must report all incidents, injuries, near misses or hazards that you witness or identify immediately (within 24 hours) to the Human Resources Manager. If a hazard is identified and requires immediate attention you should report the hazard to your direct contact for immediate action. Emergency Procedures In the event of an emergency, the safety of you, and any students in your care is our highest priority. VOLUNTEER INDUCTION HANDBOOK 13

14 In the event of an emergency, you should obey all reasonable and lawful directions of staff and follow their guidance. You should familiarize yourself with the layout of the schools premises and be aware of emergency evacuation and lockdown procedures, evacuation routes and assembly points. Grievances A grievance is a real or perceived cause for complaint. A grievance can be about discrimination, harassment, bullying or any other related decision or behavior which a volunteer sees as unfair, upsetting or unjust. If you are not sure who to raise your grievance with, or would like to talk confidentiality about your concerns please contact the Human Resources Manager. Your grievance will be managed using the following principles: Confidentiality Freedom from unfair repercussions Resolution with a minimum of fuss Fairness Honesty Timeliness. VOLUNTEER INDUCTION HANDBOOK 14

15 Remember if the school is not aware of a problem, we will not be able to assist you resolve it. Issues should be dealt with as soon as possible and with the appropriate person. Discussing a grievance with other staff or volunteers will not resolve the concern effectively. Grievances should never be discussed with students. Setting your limits Sometimes you may be asked to do something that you do not feel comfortable with, or that you think may be beyond your skill level. Do not feel pressured to agree to anything, as a volunteer it is perfectly within your rights to say NO to something that is outside your agreed role. You must say NO to anything that is unlawful. If you are uncertain, please contact the Human Resources Manager. Thank you We sincerely hope that you enjoy your experience volunteering at Ravenswood. Some of the best experiences you can have of your child s schooling, and the opportunity of developing life long friendships can be found in immersing yourself in the school community. There are wonderfully rich and rewarding opportunities for volunteers in our school community and we hope that you make the most of these opportunities. Should you have any questions regarding volunteering at Ravenswood the key contacts are: Mrs Sarah Bate Mrs Liane Leslie Human Resources Manager Development & Relationships Manager sbate@ravenswood.nsw.edu.au llesley@ravenswood.nsw.edu.au VOLUNTEER INDUCTION HANDBOOK 15

16 Form 1: Volunteer Registration Form Volunteer Details (Please Print) Volunteer Name: Male Female Address: Home Phone: Work Phone: Mobile: DOB: Country of Birth: Emergency Contact Details Name: Home Phone: Work Phone: Mobile: Relationship: Health or medical conditions we should be aware of (allergies/medications)? Availability to Volunteer Casual as needs basis: Regular volunteer: Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri AM: PM: Roles Classroom Support Numeracy/Literacy Sports Activities Excursions/Incursions Junior School Events Secondary School Events Carnival Administration Exam Supervision Translating Other: Skills and Interests I declare I will support the Guiding Principles of the school Yes No I declare I will abide by the Policies and Procedures of the school Yes No I declare I am not a prohibited person and I will comply with Child Protection Legislation as it applies to schools in NSW. Yes No Signature: Date: Privacy Statement: All information is managed consistent with the Australian Privacy Principles (APP s) contained in the Commonwealth Privacy Act (1988) VOLUNTEER INDUCTION HANDBOOK 16

17 Form 2: Volunteer Confidentiality Agreement I, acknowledge that in the course of my time as a volunteer at Ravenswood School for Girls, I become an important member of the team of people who work together to support staff and students in the school. I will respect the privacy and confidentiality of all staff and students and will not divulge any confidential information I may receive in the course of my volunteer role. Specifically I will keep confidential information pertaining to student & family information, student academic performance, behavior, disabilities, health information or any other personal and private information. I will respect the rights and privacy of all members of the school and will seek assistance from the Principal or delegate should I become aware of information regarding a child s wellbeing or protection. In this instance, I understand that I should report any concerns to the Principal as soon as possible. Name: Signature: Date: VOLUNTEER INDUCTION HANDBOOK 17