The following guidance supports Community Volunteers (CVs) and Community Volunteer Coordinators (CVCs) as they provide practical and emotional support to members of the serving community. The Serving Community Officer (SCO), a SSAFA employee, will provide support to those volunteers.
This information should be read alongside the flowchart at Appendix 1 (green side).
Support Request Process
1.When the CVC or CV receives a request from a member of the community to provide support, they will ask that the client completes this ‘Request for support’ consent form. This is received by the Serving Community Support Team to store securely on SSAFA’s systems. The form can be completed by the beneficiary directly, or the CVC/CV/another welfare provider on behalf of the client.
2. If consent has already been received via SSAFA’s RAF Personal Support and Welfare Service or a SSAFA Regional Office, then consent does not need to be requested again. An email to the Serving Community Officer to confirm consent has been given will be all that is needed.
3. The Community Volunteer Coordinator will review the request and consider who the most appropriate Community Volunteer to allocate will be. The team will make contact with a fully trained and vetted CVC/CV to begin their support.
4. A copy of ‘Notes for Clients’ is given to the client by the Community Volunteer Coordinator or Community Volunteer.
5. The Community Volunteer provides support. This can be one-off support or over a period as agreed with the client.
6. When support concludes, the Community Volunteer or Community Volunteer Coordinator completes the Community Volunteering Summary (MS Form). This information will be stored securely on SSAFA’s systems by the Serving Community Support Team. Anonymised data from these collated forms will be used to demonstrate statistical data of the great work our CVCs/CVs undertake throughout the year.
7. On receipt of the summary, the Serving Community Officer will send the client an optional evaluation form to complete.
8. Results from the evaluation will be shared with the Community Volunteer Coordinator.
Requests from those who live in locations without an SCT, unaccompanied families, or Reservists and their families
In addition to the local process, those who live in locations without an SCT, unaccompanied families, or Reservists and their families can also access Community Volunteer support.
1.The client should complete the SSAFA Request for Support MS form, to give consent, and this will be received by the Serving Community Officer.
2. The Serving Community Officer will review the request and identify a Community Volunteer to see if they could provide the support requested.
3. If it is not possible to provide support, the Serving Community Officer will inform the client and advise them of other sources of support.
4. If it is possible to provide support the Community Volunteer will contact the client and provide ‘Notes for Clients’.
5. The Community Volunteer begins support.
6. When support concludes the Community Volunteer completes the Community Volunteering Summary (MS Form).
7. On receipt of the summary the Serving Community Officer will send the client an optional evaluation form to complete.
8. Results from the evaluation will be shared with the Community Volunteer.
Support & Supervision
If a CV or CVC requires support before, during or after the Community Volunteering has been given, the employees in the Serving Community Support Team are on hand should you wish contact us - [email protected].
Appendix 1
