HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

HERTFORDSHIRE LOCAL AND LIBRARIES CABINET PANEL

MONDAY 12 NOVEMBER 2012 AT 2.00 PM

VOLUNTEERING WITH HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Report of the Director of Health and Community Services

Author: Andrew BurtTel: 01992 55213

Executive Member:- Christopher Hayward

  1. Purpose of Report:

1.1To update the Panel on the modernising and development of volunteering opportunities within Hertfordshire County Council services and theplans in place to help secure the engagement of volunteers in the future.

  1. Summary:

2.1Hertfordshire County Council has been modernising and developing its approach to engaging with volunteers.

2.2The Council has expressed its desire to become a leading council in volunteer management and has developed a Volunteer Charter that clearly state the Council’s ambitions and reaffirms its commitment to volunteering

3.Recommendations:

3.1Members are asked to note the Development of the Charter for Volunteering within Hertfordshire County Council and the Council’s ambition to become a ‘Leading Council’for volunteer engagement.

3.2Members are also asked to note the progress on modernising and developing Hertfordshire County Council’s approach to engaging with volunteers.

4.Background:

4.1Hertfordshire County Council has for many years recognised and supported the values associated with volunteering and the contribution that volunteers make within their local communities. It is clear that volunteering can have a key role in developing stronger communities and confident citizens and as such increasing volunteering is recognised in Hertfordshire Local’svisionand Council for the Future’s Work Stream 4: Localism and engagementas a way in which to promote social action through encouraging individuals to play a more active part in society.

4.2Hertfordshire County Council itself has a proud tradition of working directly with volunteers, going back many years. Today that tradition is stronger than ever. In 2011/12 a Volunteering Group was set up to help modernise and develop best and innovative practice around volunteering in the Council with the aim of making Hertfordshire County Council a leading council in volunteer management. The Volunteering Group has developed an annual project plan and initially helped to identify that over 900 people volunteeracross the Council, providing an estimated 60,000 volunteer hours per year. The numbers of volunteers far exceeding previous expectations but which the Volunteering Group hope to build on. Volunteer roles include:

  • Conservation workers
  • Health Walk leaders
  • Helping to provide a home library service to isolated customers
  • Sitting with an elderly or disabled person to give their Carer a much needed break
  • Helping out at events
  • Promoting home safety with the Fire Service
  • Sitting on school admissions appeal panels
  • Archiving important community records and documents
  • Mentoring young people
  • Helping in youth projects
  • Supporting day services for adults
  • (NB in addition there are about 7,000 people who volunteer as school governors and the many parent volunteers who support the walking bus initiatives and other school activities.

4.3Together these volunteers make a real difference to the lives of the people living in the county. The following case-studies offer examples of their impact:

  • At 93 years old, Chester is the Countryside Management Service’s oldest volunteer. He has led over 200 Health Walks, and currently leads a ‘first steps’ walk, for people who need short, easy walks to improve their general fitness, adapt to disability or infirmity, or recover from illness. For Chester being a Health Walks leader has become a way of life.
  • Daniel lives with his mum Lorraine. His mobility is limited and his sight is quite poor, so he needs someone to be with him at all times. Breakaway for Carers volunteer, Lesley, spends two hours a week with Daniel while Lorraine goes to do the family shopping.
  • Cliff was a college lecturer. When he retired, he wanted to use his skills to make a difference to his community. He chose to volunteer with Hertfordshire’s Fire & Rescue Service. He works with some of the county’s more challenging young people. He delivers courses where they learn to work as a team, set boundaries and improve their communications skills. The courses challenge their behaviour and attitudes and help them develop confidence, respect and self-awareness.

4.4Naturally volunteering roles evolve over time but more recently the following schemes have been developed:

  • Trading Standards volunteers
  • School Crossing Patrols
  • Horse Patrols (Herts Fire & Rescue Service)

4.5For the first time the Volunteering Group identified all of the volunteering opportunities available within the Council and sought to promote consistent / best practice in the engagement of its volunteers. A ‘Guide to Volunteering with Hertfordshire County Council’ was produced for those who either currently volunteered with the Council or who were thinking about applying. The Guide tells prospective volunteers about what they can expectfrom the Council, in terms of the standards we set and the support the Council can provide them. It also answers some of the frequently asked questions aroundpractical considerations like expenses, insurance and benefits. Finally, it also sets out what the Council ask of them in return. Full details of the volunteering opportunities within HCC along with then Guide have been published on

4.6Guiding all of these activities has been the Council’s ambition to become a ‘Leading Council’ for volunteer engagement by embedding a modernised culture of volunteering across the organisation and that volunteering opportunities enable individuals to achieve their personal motivation for volunteering, add value to council services and make valuable contributions to their communities. This aspiration has recently been developing into the ‘Charter for Volunteering within Hertfordshire County Council’ attached as Appendix 1. Not only does the Charter state the Council’s ambitions but it also reaffirms its commitment to volunteering and clearly states how volunteering is vital to Hertfordshire County Council. Taking its ambitions for volunteering forward the Council has recently agreed to apply forVolunteer Centres Hertfordshire’s Valuing Volunteer Management6 Point Promisewhich is aimed at raising the standards of volunteer management. Volunteer involving organisations are encouraged to self assess their current policies, practices and procedures in the following areas:

  • Planning for Volunteer involvement
  • Recruitment process
  • Induction-
  • Support and safety
  • Training and personal development
  • Involving, rewarding and recognising volunteers

4.7HCC also supports volunteering activities more widely across the community by promoting the work of the Hertfordshire Volunteer Centres and by commissioning a range of local 'timebanks' in North Herts and Stevenage, Watford and Hertsmere. Timebanking is a tool that enables communities to share their skills to support and learn from each other. Members give an hour of their time and in return receive an hour of another timebanker’s time. HCC continues to work with Slivers of Time, a social business to support volunteering by using their web based platform to make it easy for people to volunteer their spare time in their local community. Slivers of Timehave previously demonstrated their system to this Panel.

4.8The Hertfordshire is Ready for Winners Partnership also has in place post-Games a Legacy Board which will ensure that the legacy ambitions of its partners are delivered and are sustainable. One of these ambitions is 'Healthier and closer communities through increased participation in volunteering', and with the Volunteer Centres Hertfordshire the Legacy Board will look to increase opportunities for volunteering, and to build on the efforts of Hertfordshire volunteers who were either 'GamesMakers' at London 2012 or stewards at the Olympic Torch Relay and Paralympic Flame events across the county. On Thursday 15th November an event is being organised to celebrate the efforts of these Hertfordshire Olympic/Paralympic volunteers, and to offer signposts to local volunteering opportunities in the hope that the county can retain the hard work of these groups of dedicated volunteers in the hope that they will continue to volunteer in their local community, such as the volunteering in sport legacy project 'Sport Makers' that is being promoted by the Hertfordshire Sports Partnership. Representatives from HCC volunteering programmes, Timebanks and Slivers of Time and will be available at the event on 15 November to showcase these activities to those who were inspired by the Games to volunteer.

4.9Summary of Progress:

  • Volunteer Survey conducted in 2011
  • Guide to Volunteering with HCC published on Herts Direct Jan 2012
  • Volunteering opportunities with HCC published on Herts Direct Jan 2012
  • Best Practice Guide for Managers published on Herts Direct Jan 2012
  • Volunteer Scheme Managers meet quarterly to share best practice and support development of new schemes
  • Regular promotion of volunteering opportunities – County Show, Olympics 2012 event, Herts Direct, volunteer centres, and using social media
  • Slivers of Time – working with Fire Service, Breakaway, Trading Standards
  • HCC agreed to sign up to Valuing Volunteering 6 Point Promise – Fire Service and Youth mentoring Scheme already signed up independently.
  • HFRS Volunteer scheme received accreditation as an Inspired2012 program
  • CMS Volunteering Scheme accredited by Investing in Volunteers

4.10Plans for the future:

  • Development of a common approach to the evaluation of the effectiveness of volunteering schemes in relation to the benefits for local communities and individual volunteers
  • Promoting innovation through the creation of an electronic gateway to volunteering opportunities in the Council and possibly across the County
  • Development of further volunteering opportunities
  • Developing plans to celebrate the Council’s volunteers
  • Creation of networking opportunities for the Council’s volunteers through e.g. electronic newsletters, Facebook, Yammer and other electronic media

Background Papers

None

Appendix 1: A Charter for Volunteering within Hertfordshire County Council

1. / Volunteering within the County Council
Hertfordshire County Council recognises and supports the value of volunteering across the county, the benefits of a vibrant voluntary sector and the key role volunteering can have in developing stronger communities and confident citizens.
At the county council we are aware that there are people from all walks of life, all local communities, who can bring their different skills and experiences through volunteering to enhance County Council services.
The County Council believes that as a large employer in Hertfordshire with a diverse set of services, we are able to provide a breadth of volunteering opportunities that will enable individuals to pursue their interests, gain skills, experience and positively contribute to their local community.
Volunteering is vital to Hertfordshire County Council as:
  • volunteers enable us to draw on a wide pool of skills, derived from professional and personal experience, which enriches the services we offer,
  • our customers and service users recognise and value the contribution that volunteers can give – supporting services to Hertfordshire residents, in their own time, without expectation of material reward,
  • volunteers enable us to continue to deliver aspects of our work that otherwise we may not be able to resource,
  • volunteers provide an invaluable insight into the needs of the communities in which they live, thus better informing our work,
  • it’s a pivotal part of the county council’s future vision and corporate plan.

2. / The benefits of volunteering at Hertfordshire County Council
A survey in 2010/11 illustrated that there are variety of motivations and benefits for individuals volunteering for the county council, these included:
  • to do something they really enjoy,
  • to meet new people,
  • to help people,
  • to gain experience and learn new skills,
  • to follow a particular interest,
  • to give something back to the community.

3. / Our commitment to volunteers
Volunteers contribute a great deal to the County Council’s work. As such we aim to value our volunteers and strive to ensure our volunteers:
  • receive support when needed,
  • receive appropriate resources to carry out their roles,
  • are valued and respected by all those in the organisation,
  • feel part of a team that makes a difference to people’s lives,
  • are provided with opportunities to expand their skills and experience,
  • have access to channels and networks that allow their voice to be heard,
  • have the opportunity to contribute to the future direction of services,
  • have their individual contribution and efforts appropriately recognised and rewarded.

The County Council will aim to provide volunteering opportunities that:
  • are accessible and allow people to engage with a range of opportunities,
  • are flexible and take account of the varying availabilities, commitments and skills of people,
  • develop a collaborative culture of volunteering by working with key partners,
  • strive to be innovative where possible,
  • allow people to engage with Hertfordshire County Council services in their local communities,
  • are rewarding for those people who are involved and where feasible enable volunteers to gain new skills and experiences,
  • are part of an environment where both volunteers and their activities are valued.

5. / What we ask from volunteers
We aim to provide our customers/service users with the best possible standards of service. Therefore, we expect our volunteers to support us in this aim by:
  • be accountable for their actions within a supportive environment,
  • recognise the needs of our customers / service users as our primary aim,
  • work to the best possible standards, giving the best of their skills and abilities,
  • take part in appropriate and relevant training and development activities,
  • work in a positive and inclusive way with everyone they come into contact with,
  • work within our equal opportunities and health and safety policies, plus relevant legislation.

4. / The role of volunteering within the County Council
Hertfordshire County Council already engages volunteers in a wide range of services and innovative projects. The work of these volunteers does not substitute for publically funded services but enables the County Council to extend the services it offers to a wider community and to offer additional services that can add value to statutory responsibilities.
There are a diverse range of potential volunteering roles within the Council e.g.: Health Walk Leader, Youth Mentor, Library and Archives Assistant. The county’s schools provide and benefit from volunteer placements. Volunteers add value to services, they bring passion, skills and experiences and a fresh perspective to provision.
The County Council wishes to maximise the potential of volunteering. Ensuring that all departments engage with volunteers where there is potential to enhance and support services. In the future, when faced with decisions on closing a current service due to lack of resources, it may be appropriate to consider whether volunteers could assist in providing an alternative to closure.
5. / Hertfordshire County Council’s Ambition for volunteering
Hertfordshire County Council’s ambition is to become a ‘Leading Council’for volunteer engagement by embedding a modernised culture of volunteering across the organisation. That volunteering opportunities enable individuals to achieve their personal motivation for volunteering, add value to council services and make valuable contributions to their communities.

1