To approve and implement the volunteer policy, providing consistent and clear parameters for the involvement of volunteers in Herefordshire Council services, in line with best practice. To resource the recruitment and support of volunteers and recognise the value that volunteers bring to council services

That:

A:        the policy on involving volunteers in the delivery of council services             (appendix 1) be approved.

There is presently no corporate volunteer policy for the involvement of volunteers in supporting Herefordshire Council services. Several service areas involve volunteers currently and other services are looking to recruit volunteers in the future. This corporate volunteer policy will provide parameters for the way volunteers are recruited and supervised, giving some consistency for volunteers, whichever service they volunteer in and for the staff that work alongside them. The volunteer policy is included as appendix 1.

Not to adopt this corporate volunteer policy for the involvement of volunteers in supporting Herefordshire Council services and each service area to manage involvement of volunteers to their own parameters. This is not advised as the Not to adopt this corporate volunteer policy for the involvement of volunteers in supporting Herefordshire Council services and each service area to manage involvement of volunteers to their own parameters. This is not advised as the volunteer policy will set an overall corporate approach, providing some assurance and standardisation across the organisation, without affecting the flexibility for service areas to customise their involvement of volunteers, according to their service needs.  policy will set an overall corporate approach, providing some assurance and standardisation across the organisation, without affecting the flexibility for service areas to customise their involvement of volunteers, according to their service needs.

There is a revenue resource implication for the involvement of volunteers, including staff time to recruit, train and supervise volunteers. It is best practice, especially in ensuring equality of opportunity that agreed expenses incurred, as a result of volunteering, are reimbursed. For the purposes of this policy, reimbursement will be in line with employee expenses policy. This resource requirement should be offset against the significant resource, skills and enthusiasm that volunteers bring to council services. Volunteer expenses and any adaptive or protective equipment will need to be covered by existing service revenue budgets. Volunteers rarely require IT access, keeping this cost to a minimum. Most training will be provided by staff, backed up by a Volunteer handbook and copies of guidance, relevant to their volunteer role.