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Protective factors in making volunteering a protective factor Marion Findlay Volunteer Centre Edinburgh

Protective factors in making volunteering a protective factor Marion Findlay Volunteer Centre Edinburgh

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Protective factors in making volunteering a

protective factor

Marion FindlayVolunteer Centre Edinburgh

“The Restricted Patients Team is keen to ensure that patients are involved in activities which will promote social inclusion, reduce the likelihood of developing negative symptoms and which can be a "protective factor" for future .........”

Letter from Principal Medical Officer (Forensic Psychiatry) to all health boards, Dec 2012

What are protective factors? Presence or absence of a particular factor

which protects against risk or ill health

• Stable housing• Steady employment• Positive sense of self• Healthy beliefs• Supportive social networks• Sense of trust• Resilient personality traits• Pro-social involvement• Strong attachments and

bonds

• People who support you• Self knowledge• Structured day• Meaningful roles and

routines• Resilience• Safe environment• Treated with respect• Work• Good communication• Drug and alcohol free

Volunteer Centre Edinburgh

• Part of Edinburgh’s Third Sector Interface• Promote, develop and deliver volunteering

services• Equal responsibility to individuals who

wish to volunteer, organisations, referrers• Part of network of VCs across Scotland

Health & Wellbeing Team• Established 1984 (mental health, but now cover all additional support needs)• Pioneer in inclusive volunteering• Royal Edinburgh Hospital – Volunteer Hub 2008 • Staffing

Volunteering is the giving of your time, skills and energy

to help someone outside your family for no financial

reward.

Types of voluntary work

• Office Work• Advocacy• Animals• Human rights• Arts• Befriending & Mentoring• Campaigning• Lobbying• Caring• Support Work• Catering• Charity Shops• Community Development• Management Committees• Information Technology• Conservation• Counselling• Disaster/Emergency Relief• Driving

• Escorting• Finance• Fundraising• Home Based volunteering• Justice• Languages• Library Work• Business Management• Marketing• Public Relations/Media• Online volunteering• Play schemes• Children’s Clubs• Practical/DIY• Research/Policy Work• Residential Volunteering• Sports• Outdoor Activities• Tutoring• Youth work

36% of Edinburgh’s population have volunteered in past year

37% employed39% permanently retired33% other

49% volunteer at least once a week

Scottish Household Survey 2012 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/08/5277/downloads

Health & Wellbeing Team – 2012/13

79 new clients32% volunteer29% progression to other positive

destination

68 “returning” clients

Contrast with figures for 2001/01 – 312 new clients

Royal Edinburgh Hub – since 2008

289 patients; 48% placed into volunteering

40% of all in-patients within the rehabilitation service have secured voluntary work

75% of referrals from forensic services have been placed

REH in patient opportunities

• Bird feeding • Administration• Practical / DIY• Petty cash• Painting• Refreshment

helper

• Car washing• Food co-op• Library• Gardening• Advocacy• Stockroom

Make less

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ease

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ependency

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ependence

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...0.0%

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50.0%

60.0%

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80.0%

90.0%

100.0%

Decreased dependency on clinical / support staff

Longer

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Increased ability to cope with change / crisis

Few

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Reduced dependence on alcohol or non-prescribed medication

Increased physical fitness / activity

Bett

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Volunteering has made their health worse

Health Gain - Referrers views

“It keeps me healthy”

“Gives me an identity, new friendships, laughter and purpose”

“It has saved my life”

“Made my dad proud of me for the first time in my adult years”

“I feel that I am valued for who I am; this isn’t something I am used to”

“Investing in Volunteers” assessment, August 2012

“The Volunteer Hub enables our patients to try out work in a familiar and supported environment - a crucial step in helping people build or develop skills for work, and gain the confidence to try out new things. This has helped introduce the idea of work early on in the patient’s journey. It is essential in helping people to move on and engage with volunteering or paid employment in the wider community“

Occupational Therapist

What are the current challenges?

• More people available to volunteer

• Limited capacity to accommodate support needs of potential volunteers • Limited capacity to identify, develop and support new volunteering opportunities

• Loss of specific volunteer management posts• Short term funding

Pre-volunteering processes

Assessment of skills/abilities/limitations/risks

Graded & paced activities "Enabling employment through tailored support", Occupational Therapy News (Bradford 2012) "Towards work in forensic mental health: National guidance for allied health professions. Review to government by Jean McQueen" (School of Forensic Mental Health 2011)

Understanding & disclosure of relevant personal information

External relationships

Protective factors for referrers

Do background research on volunteering & possible opportunities

Ensure client has clear understanding of volunteering

Ensure organisation has clear understanding of client

Be prepared to give the organisation guidance & support about particular issuesrelated to client

Protective factors for referrers (cont)

Assist client with application and provide reference

Arrange taster shift or trial period

Support client on initial volunteering sessions – be a “buddy”

Do not abandon

Protective factors for organisations

Clear framework for volunteer engagement

Volunteering policyEffective processes for recruitment and selection of volunteersVolunteering agreementsVolunteer task/role descriptions Risk assessments for each task descriptionEffective training and support for volunteersCode of conductProcess for dealing with complaints & disciplinary issues

Protective factors for organisations

“I haven’t enough time to support volunteers with additional needs”

Checklist for supportive volunteering http://www.volunteeredinburgh.org.uk/organise/Inclusive_volunteering/inclusion

Guidelines on alternatives to volunteeringGuidance on exit strategies

Dementia Group Volunteering

Homeless Project Volunteering

Overseas Volunteering

Farm Project Volunteering

Conservation Project Residential

Volunteering

Conservation Project Residential

Volunteering

Conservation Project

Volunteering

Health access course

Sense of Belonging

Community Knowledge

Cycling GroupCycling

Climbing

Socialising

Holiday

Volunteer Centre Edinburgh3rd Floor, 24 Torphichen StreetEdinburgh0131 225 [email protected]@volunteeredinburgh.org.uk

Royal Edinburgh Hospital – Volunteer HubMorningside TerraceEdinburgh0131 537 [email protected]

www.volunteeredinburgh.org.uk