Good Practice in Volunteer Management
Liz Devaney 2010
Support Supervision
The Person The Task
The main functions of support activities are to :
Focus on the person and help the volunteer to feel good about what they are doing
Show the volunteer that they are valued
Appreciate their expectations and reasons for volunteering
Set up an environment where volunteers feel that they can express themselves.
The main functions of supervision are to:
Monitor and evaluate performance
Clarify priorities
Improve the confidence and competence of the volunteer
Identify training needs
Provide a framework to deal with challenges/ difficulties; and to discuss and reflect on volunteering tasks, responsibilities and progress.
A support and supervision system is a combination of activities and options which ensure the functions of support and supervision can be met.
The system is geared towards the specific needs of the individual volunteers within an organisation.
The support and supervision system should reflect 4 key principles:
Climate
Accessibility
Flexibility
Appropriateness
Direct action
Training
Personal support
Facilitating mutual support
Changing systems
Giving information
Supervisory support
Supervision options include:
Assisting a volunteer to work safely and within their limits
Dealing with any problems regarding the volunteer's performance
Planning and monitoring workplans
Promoting a culture of continuous improvement
Explaining and applying organisational policies, systems and standards
Discussing options for development and/or training
When forming a range of supervision options, it is important to cover the following 3 elements:
Managerial
Educative
Supportive
Managerial, Educative and Supportive supervision helps to make volunteers feel valued
Remember...
However well volunteers are supported on an individual level, they also need thanks and recognition on an organisational level.