Volunteer and Work Experience Policy - Devon Partnership NHS Trust

permitted in clinical areas of the Trust. Placements can be in clinical areas for those over 18
years of age.
3.4. Volunteering – A volunteer is anyone who without recompense performs an activity at the
direction and on behalf of the Trust on a longer term basis e.g. generally over 2 weeks.
Volunteers may be involved in a range of activities and can work alone provided they have
the appropriate checks complete e.g. CRB. This can include students on placement, or
anyone who wants to give their time e.g. clinical psychology students or service users and
carers involved in Trust activities as volunteers. This will be on an ad hoc basis and the Trust
will try and accommodate all requests where possible. Placement length will be at
manager’s discretion and will be reviewed every 6 months.
4. Practice Guidelines
4.1. The following guidelines deal with practical aspects of the involvement of volunteers and
work experience students. More detailed information, including copies of the various related
policy documents, can be obtained from the Intranet or from Employment Services.
4.2. In line with the management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, Regulation 19
(2)(a), to reduce the risk of exposure to violent or aggressive behaviour the Trust does not
offer work experience or volunteering opportunities to anyone under the age of 18 in
clinical areas of the Trust.
4.3. All volunteers / work experience students will be issued with an honorary contract - This is
not a contract of employment. They cover the responsibilities of the Trust towards
volunteers / work experience students and the role of volunteers / work experience students
towards the Trust. They include:
Conduct; (Dress code, Acceptable Behaviour Policy etc.)
Location;(and information about what the Trust does)
Induction & training;
Supervision;
Health & Safety issues
4.4. All expenses incurred are the responsibility of the volunteer unless local arrangements have
been agreed e.g. travel expenses for volunteer counsellors or service users providing
voluntary activity.
4.5. All volunteers are covered by the Trust’s insurance policies whilst they are on the premises
or engaged in any placements on The Trust’s behalf. Volunteers are covered by the Trusts
NHS Litigation Authority Scheme which covers Clinical Negligence, Employment Liability,
Public Liability and Damage to Trust Property.
4.6. No area would be asked to facilitate the placement for more than one work experience
student or volunteer at any time. Any area can decline to facilitate a student if their workload
is high or if the manager considers that there is a specific clinical reason why it would not be
appropriate to facilitate a student placement.
5. Recruitment
5.1. The Trust will recruit volunteers and work experience students in a professional manner and
on a pro-active basis, with the intent on broadening and expanding community involvement.
Volunteers will be recruited without discrimination in line with the Trust’s Equal Opportunities
Policy and Single Equality Scheme. The principle behind recruitment and selection will be the
individual’s suitability to perform the designated assignment. The following principles apply:
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