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volunteer policy

Withington Child Contact Centre offers a facility where children from separated families can enjoy contact in a neutral meeting place with one or both parents, and sometimes other family members, in a safe and comfortable environment. In order to offer this service, volunteers are needed to:

  • Coordinate the service

  • Keep attendance records

  • Serve refreshments

  • Prepare and clear up the centre on the day

  • Ensure that the centre is secure and safe

When on duty, volunteers come for a Saturday morning from 9:00am to 12:30pm.

  1. If someone wishes to volunteer at the Contact Centre, they should contact the Centre Coordinator for a discussion of what is involved.  Every volunteer at the centre must have a DBS check at enhanced level.  The centre will cover the cost of these checks.  The centre's recruitment activities operate in line with our Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy and the Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy.

  2. Before joining the volunteering team, each new volunteer will be offered an opportunity to observe and discuss the different roles and responsibilities of a contact centre volunteer.  They will also have a chance to ask any questions they may have, and will be given a comprehensive Volunteer Guide which discusses all aspects of volunteering at the centre.  New volunteers will be asked for references.

  3. There will be an informal briefing at the beginning of each session about the families expected to attend that day.  After the contact session, there will also be a de-briefing to see whether any issues arose which should be communicated to the Centre Coordinator.

  4. The activities of the Withington Child Contact Centre are covered by an insurance policy.

  5. Confidentiality is vital to the operation of the Contact Centre and there is a confidentiality policy in place.  No information can be disclosed to anyone outside the Contact Centre, and there is no expectation that volunteers will be required to inform any officials of what goes on.

  6. If a volunteer is experiencing difficulties with any aspect of the volunteering, or if anything is unclear, they should discuss this with their team leader.

  7. This policy is reviewed annually.  It was last reviewed in ​March 2024.

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