Sheffield Compact: Strengthening the Relationship between the Voluntary and Community Sector & Sheffield City Council & NHS

The Compact Code of Practice for Volunteering has now been approved by the Joint Compact Board for Sheffield – read excerpts below or download the whole thing from the list of documents on the right…

Introduction

The new Volunteering Compact Code of Practice sets out principles and undertakings for public sector organisations and Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) organisations in Sheffield around good practice for volunteering and how to work together to support voluntary action. Each section in this Code outlines a key topic that covers volunteering, and provides undertakings for Public Sector organisations and VCS organisations to help improve volunteering and resolve potential problems. The code has been developed as part of the Sheffield Volunteering Strategy, following consultation with representatives from organisations across Sheffield, including both the Public Sector and the VCS. It is one of four Codes of Practice complementing the Sheffield Compact(s), the others covering Partnership Working, Consultation, and Funding.

Code of Practice Undertakings

Public Sector Undertakings

• Promote the economic and social benefits of volunteering, such as building skills, experience, employability and social cohesion, and support activities that motivate people (including their own staff) to volunteer.
• Consult voluntary and community sector organisations regarding the impact of new policies and procedures on volunteering activities and funding.
• Share information and support initiatives that provide accessible information about local and national volunteering issues across the city.
• Explore possibilities of working with existing volunteering infrastructure organisations locally before setting up new structures.
• Employ fair and transparent procedures on dealing with volunteer involving organisations.
• Consider making available funding to promote, support and recognise volunteering across the city in accordance with all applicable Sheffield City Council policies and procedures.
• Recognise and promote the contribution of volunteering in raising the quality of public life and delivering, in partnership, national agendas for the city.
• Recognise the importance of volunteers on management committees and trustee boards.


Voluntary Sector Undertakings

• Recognise the importance of good volunteer management and allocate resources accordingly. Ensure that all staff who recruit, induct, and manage volunteers receive appropriate training and support.
• Recognise the contribution of volunteers internally and externally in annual reports etc.
• Recognise trustees’ contributions and provide the appropriate training for such roles.
• Ensure that the relationship between paid workers and volunteers is mutually beneficial and that paid workers are fully aware of the areas of work undertaken by volunteers.
• Recognise the individual needs and motivations of volunteers and offer flexibility where possible.
• Ensure that volunteers are protected under the relevant organisational policies and procedures.
• Be willing to share with other organisations relevant work / research which is being / has been undertaken with regards to volunteering.

Mutual Undertakings

• Work together to identify and reduce barriers to volunteering and community involvement.
• Comply with all relevant legislation.
• Work together to develop, implement, and share good practice in volunteering, recognising that effective volunteer management requires investment and commitment.
• Commit to and promote volunteer management best practice with all partners
• Recognise the contributions of volunteers through active promotion and accreditation.
• Undertake external promotion to increase volunteering.
• Comply with all relevant legislation.
• Monitor and report to all parties on the implementation of the Code.
• Encourage communication and positive partnership working between organisations to improve the quality and the variety of volunteering activities offered, and make best use of resources.
• Recognise that organisations should not directly replace previously paid posts with volunteers.
• Recognise where any proposals are put forward that require funding from Sheffield City Council, this would need to be agreed at Cabinet.