SDC Cu criey
Definition
A volunteer is one who gives skills, knowledge, and services to ana
without any provision or consideration of getting remuneration from ithe
agency.
Tasks and Activities
The specific tasks and activities assigned to volunteers differ from agency
to agency. In general, however, these may be classified as follows:
1. Identifying human conditions or problems requiring social welfare
services
2. Initiating and making policy in agencies created to prevent, control, or
treat social conditions
3. Contributing service based on knowledge, skills, and interest
4. Soliciting public and voluntary support
5. Acting as spokespersons and interpreters of agency programs and
problems to which they are directed
Reporting community reaction, critical and positive to the agency's
program
Collaborating in community planning activities for the purpose of
modifying or designing services to meet changing social conditions
Types of Services
Volunteer work, in general, can be categorized in relation to three levels of
functioning:
Executive and policy making, such as the level of the board of trustees
or directors
2. Administration
3. Direct service
i
. ‘ . ‘ ‘ contac’
This section deals with direct service volunteers who come 11 close
with the agency's clients.supervisory Process
Volunteers, though not remunerated for ti servi
ie expected to give their best. toe heir services to the agency,
nsure that agenc
sifectively carried ct a to the satisfaction of ‘oe il
volunteers themselves. Hence, the Crucial role of the s i
os '€ supervisors has to be
Just like the paraprofessionals, the tasks of the volunteers have to be
specified.
1. The supervisors in their administrative role, first and foremost, have to
delineate the functions of the volunte ;
ers from the paraprofessionals’.
2. They have to help the volunteers get “placed” in the agency. This is
done by introducing the volunteers to the professional and clerical staff
of the agency.
3. They have to acquaint the volunteers with the
programs, and services of the agency.
They have to assign tasks along the capacity and expectation of
the volunteers. Tasks assigned should not be too overwhelming for
the volunteers.
Policies, procedures,
4.
Educational Supervision
1. Volunteers may also need to be supported in professionalizing their
relationship with some clients out of self-protection.
2. Conflicts encountered in meeting organizational demands at the
expense of clients’ needs may generate feelings in volunteers of
betraying the interests of the clients. Volunteers may then feel a sense
of being marginalized both by the agency staff and the client group.
These are morale problems calling for supportive supervision.
Volunteers may also need support and protection from their own high
expectations and consequent disappointment.
Who is a volunteer? Explain his/her situation in the organization.
2. What are the types of volunteers? Give examples of task description
for each.
Discuss how and why volunteers need support.