BE AWARE OF ANY POSSIBLE HARM IN: • Sharing personal information about a previous personal experience with a loved one’s death and dying • Giving one’s phone number to a patient or family member • Staying with a patient/family for longer than the agreed time • Accepting an invitation from a patient/family to a family activity/party • Doing jobs around the patient’s home • Providing clothes, toys or meals to a patient/family • Continuing to visit with a family after a patient’s death. When in doubt, check your organization’s policies or ask your volunteer coordinator for advice. 7. THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ORGANIZATION AND THE VOLUNTEER RESPONSIBILITIES AND EXPECTATIONS OF THE ORGANIZATION To support volunteers in their role, the organization will: • Treat volunteers as valued members of the care team, and treat all volunteers fairly
• Have up-to-date volunteer policies and procedures • Provide an orientation to the organization as well as initial and ongoing training • Give volunteers meaningful assignments that make good use of their knowledge and skills • Ensure volunteers have the information and support to fulfill their assignments
Rights of Volunteers Volunteers are not paid staff. They are giving the hospice palliative care program the gift of their time and skills. Volunteers have the right to refuse assignments and should not feel guilty if, for some reason, they are not able to take on or complete an assignment.
• Have a volunteer coordinator or someone else designated and available to answer questions or talk about issues • Provide appropriate constructive supervision and feedback • Recognize volunteers for their contribution • Organize events to help volunteers deal with loss and take care of themselves (e.g. annual memorial service, retreats).
15
Made with FlippingBook Annual report maker