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.