         |
Table
of Contents |
|
|
|
Printer-friendly
PDF (chapter)
Printer-friendly
PDF (entire document)
|
Role of the Department of Human Resources and Volunteers The productive involvement of volunteers requires a planned and organized effort. The function of the Department of Human Resources and Volunteers is to provide a central coordinating point for effective volunteer placement within the Central Maryland Chapter, and to direct and assist volunteer and employee efforts jointly to provide more productive services. The Department of Human Resources and Volunteers shall also bear responsibility for maintaining liaisons with other volunteer programs in the community and assisting in community-wide efforts to recognize and promote volunteering. The Department of Human Resources and Volunteers shall bear primary responsibility for planning for effective volunteer deployment, for assisting staff in identifying productive and creative volunteer roles, for recruiting suitable volunteers and for tracking and evaluating the contributions of volunteers to the organization. Volunteer Records, References and Privacy The Central Maryland Chapter maintains personnel records of each volunteer which are the property of the Central Maryland Chapter and are confidential. Volunteers are required to notify the Department of Human Resources and Volunteers of any changes in contact information (i.e., emergency contact notification). Volunteers may review their personnel records annually if they wish. They should notify the Department of Human Resources and Volunteers and schedule a time that is mutually convenient to do this. Records may not be removed from the Department of Human Resources and Volunteers.
Volunteer Position Descriptions Every registered volunteer position in the Central Maryland Chapter has a volunteer position description summarizing the principal duties, responsibilities, qualifications and essential work functions of the volunteer assignment. Volunteer position descriptions should be periodically updated to reflect changes in title, assignment or essential work functions. Recruitment and Equal Opportunity Volunteers are recruited by the Red Cross on a pro-active basis, with the intent of broadening and expanding volunteer involvement to assist in mobilizing communities to help people prevent, prepare for and respond to disasters and other life-threatening emergencies. Volunteers are recruited without regard to gender, disability, age, race or other condition. Volunteers are recruited based upon their skills, abilities and suitability to perform volunteer responsibilities. No final acceptance of a volunteer will take place without a specific written volunteer position description for that volunteer. Our volunteer intake process is as follows, the prospective volunteer:
Additionally, some volunteers, such as nurses or disaster mental health volunteers, will need to provide proof of current licensure. Exceptions to these procedures may be made under some limited circumstances such as when the community is experiencing a larger-scale disaster. Volunteers working in blood services complete additional specialized training as required by the Blood Region and Food and Drug Administration regulations. Volunteers serving on military bases or other government installations, may need to comply with additional rules and regulations. Based on a Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Justice, the Department of Defense, and the American Red Cross, November 20, 1990, the American Red Cross is recruiting and assisting certain medical personnel to become Red Cross volunteers for voluntary service in Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs). For the purpose of this program, the term medical volunteer includes those who are licensed, registered, or certified to provide patient care such as physicians, nurses, social workers, therapists, dieticians, pharmacists, medical technicians, EMTs, etc. Interested potential volunteers may receive information and the application forms from the local Red Cross Chapter. To qualify as a Red Cross volunteer, it is necessary to complete and sign the medical volunteer application form and to attend a Red Cross orientation. American Red Cross volunteers working under the direct supervision and control of Department of Defense personnel will henceforward be considered employees of the Federal Government for purposes of the Federal Tort Claims Act. This means that the Federal Government intends to defend and indemnify such volunteers in case they are sued for negligence in the course of their volunteer duties.
Recruitment of Minors (Parent/Guardian Release Form) Volunteers who are 14, but have not reached the age 18, must have written consent of a parent or legal guardian prior to volunteering. The volunteer services assigned to a minor should be performed in a non-hazardous environment and should comply with the appropriate requirements of child labor laws. Service at the Discretion of the Organization The Central Maryland Chapter accepts the service of all volunteers with the understanding that such service is at the sole discretion of the Central Maryland Chapter. Volunteers agree that the organization may at any time, for whatever reason, decide to terminate the volunteer’s relationship with the Central Maryland Chapter or to make changes in the nature of their volunteer assignment. The Chapter permits the volunteer involvement
of qualified relatives of employees as long as such volunteer
involvement does not, in the opinion of the Chapter, create actual
or perceived conflicts of interest. For purposes of this policy,
“relative” may include a spouse, child, parent, sibling,
grandparent, grandchild, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew or corresponding
in-law or “step” relationship or “significant
other” with whom the volunteer has a relationship. The Chapter
exercises sound business judgment in the placement of related
volunteers in accordance
This policy applies to all categories of volunteer assignments. Note: Family members are frequently involved as volunteers especially during episodic volunteer events. Youth volunteers may depend on parental involvement as drivers or chaperones. Family volunteer involvement should be encouraged as long as it does not create a perceived conflict of interest.
Reference and Background Checks The Central Maryland Chapter strives to maintain a safe and productive workplace with honest, trustworthy, qualified, reliable and non-violent volunteers and employees who do not present a risk of harm to their co-workers or others. At the direction of our National Headquarters in July 2006, the Central Maryland Chapter will request that a third party perform background checks on all volunteers eighteen years and older. Based on the specific position a volunteer holds, the Chapter may request additional requirements to the basic background check. An example would be a volunteer who works in our finance office, who routinely drives a Red Cross vehicle or who works independently with youth. These background checks will be performed in accordance with applicable federal and/or state law.
|