General Volunteer Application

Volunteer Program Policies Individual/ Long Term

The House of Ruth Maryland depends on committed volunteers in its efforts to help victims of domestic violence.  To ensure that victims receive the highest quality of services and that volunteers have a positive and productive experience, we have developed the following policies:

The House of Ruth Maryland agrees to:

• Be responsible for the recruitment, timely communication, orientation, education of their impact and holistic nature of the volunteers work of all volunteers
• Serve as the liaison between the volunteers and paid staff, which include:
•  prepare staff members to accept and respect the volunteer as a co-worker
•  furnish a written job description for each position open to volunteers
• Guide and assist volunteers during their scheduled work hours
• Train volunteers to a level that will permit them to begin their work confidently
• Provide volunteers with safe and dignified working conditions equal to those of paid employees.
• Ensure all volunteer data is secure and confidential
• Educate and train volunteers on hours logging through volunteer database and the impact hours have on HRM programing and mission fulfillment.
• HRM agrees to empower volunteers to advocate for themselves in an inclusive, provide relevant feedback in a safe, and respectful manner.
• HRM agrees to effectively regularly evaluate and communicate concerns regarding the volunteer, the agency reserves the right to dismiss any volunteer based on unsatisfactory performance, or an egregious acts that are not in line with agency culture statement or puts staff, clients or community members at risk (please refer to policy).

The Volunteer agrees to:

Onboarding

• Submit Valid State ID, conflict check, background check(s), and reference checks as required for the safety of clients, staff, and community members.
• Complete all orientation/training requirements for position
• Become thoroughly familiar with the House of Ruth Maryland Maryland’s policies, procedures, expectations both written and oral, that have been set forth for volunteers

• Respect the function of the paid staff and to contribute fully to maintaining a smooth working relationship between paid staff and volunteers
• Provide feedback and suggestions to staff and Volunteer Coordinator in order to increase the effectiveness of the program
• Carry out assignments in good spirit; seek the assistance of their immediate supervisor or the

Volunteer Coordinator in any situation requiring special guidance; and consult with the

Volunteer Coordinator before assuming any new responsibilities that affect the organization

• Accept the right of the House of Ruth Maryland Maryland to dismiss any volunteer for poor

performance including poor attendance

• Volunteers will commit to continuing education through attending 4 trainings per year.

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Expectations

• Exercise caution when acting on behalf of the House of Ruth Maryland in any situation,

and to protect the confidentiality of all information relating to the House of Ruth Maryland and our clients which includes :

            Turn off location while volunteering at secure locations

            Do not post any photos of undisclosed locations, clients, volunteers

            Do not publicly call “shelter” shelter, refer to the building as the Weinberg Center

            Do not bring any individual who has not been screened and cleared by HRM staff

            Never give proximity locations of undisclosed locations

            Do not recognize clients outside of time of service

            When posting to social media about HRM please be cognizant that you are representing HRM.

• Meet the time commitment agreed upon of chosen position and clearly communicate any changes with adequate notice (24-48 hours) to your supervisors

• Approach/interact with all clients in a dignified, respectful manner starting from a perspective of Trauma Informed Care. 

• Be knowledgeable of HRM comprehensive services and programing including but not limited to the statewide scope as well as the varying levels of intervention, advocacy and prevention services that we provide.

• Represent HRM at all times in an inclusive, areligious, apolitical manner.

• Volunteers should always be respectful, enthusiastic, and adaptive of position requirements, agency needs and staff request as HRM continues to evolve.

• Volunteers are to respect the boundaries set in place by HRM.

• Volunteers can not provide clients with personal contact information.
• Volunteers can not socialize outside of volunteer program parameters
• Volunteers can not provide transportation, housing, or financial goods to clients. They must be distributed by HRM staff as they are grant affiliated and tracked. Due to it being a breach of ethical and industry standards.   

Communication

• Notify the immediate supervisor if unable to work as scheduled as soon as possible (24-48 hours) so they may find a substitute
• Relay and communicate in a timely manner either orally or in a written format questions, concerns, suggested improvements as it relates to the volunteer position, program, or agency.
• Notify the immediate supervisor or volunteer coordinator at least two weeks in advance of

any resignation, request for leave of absence or change of volunteer commitment

Performance Problems and Disciplinary Actions

Supervisors are responsible for communicating to their volunteers the job responsibilities, measures of accountability, attendance expectations, and performance requirements. 

In general, volunteers receive verbal or written warnings of unacceptable behavior or performance and are allowed some time and support to improve. 

House of Ruth Maryland supports an atmosphere of open discussion of complaints between volunteer and supervisor.  Should a volunteer take exception to a disciplinary action, (s)he may discuss it with the Community Relations Manager.

In instances of gross misconduct, warnings may not be possible or desirable for the overall interests of the Agency, the clients, and the community.  This section serves as a warning to all volunteers that engaging in any of the following behaviors will not be tolerated and may result in immediate discharge:

• Physical assault of threat of violence to any client, staff member, volunteer, or business contact.
• Theft of donations, food, equipment, vouchers or supplies.
• Possession or use of a weapon.
• Conviction for a criminal offense relating to violence, child abuse, or theft.
• Racial, sexual, or other harassment of a client, staff member, volunteer, or business contact.
• Violation of the confidentiality policy that results in harm to a client or staff member.
• Drug dealing or use of a non-prescribed drug or alcohol on the job.
• Any reckless or deliberate action that endangers the physical or psychological well-being of a client.
• Reckless or deliberate action which damages the reputation of the Agency.

The above list is representative of the types of behavior that will not be tolerated and is not intended to be an exclusive list. 

Should a volunteer be accused of engaging in any of these behaviors, House of Ruth Maryland will investigate the incident(s) and take appropriate disciplinary action up to and including immediate discharge.

The agency accepts the service of all volunteers with the understanding that such service is at the sole discretion of the agency. Volunteers agree that the agency may at any time, for whatever reason, decide to terminate the volunteer’s relationship with the agency. The volunteer may at any time, for whatever reason, decide to sever the volunteer’s relationship with the agency. Notice of such a decision should be communicated as soon as possible to the volunteer’s supervisor.

I understand and accept the terms of this document.  I agree to abide by all House of Ruth Maryland rules and policies.