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A blog for the people who manage, coordinate, and supervise volunteers. Chocked full of useful information to help you create amazing volunteer programs.

Top tags: Volunteer Management volunteer engagement volunteer program Grassroots organizations supervising volunteers volunteer recognition volunteer volunteer managers Volunteer Retention grassroots groups leadership volunteer training best practises in volunteer engagement leaders of volunteers volunteer coordination volunteer programs volunteer recruitment volunteers Free resources Toronto volunteer screening advice How to thank your volunteer non-profits volunteer coordinators volunteer orientation volunteer supervisors volunteerism ways to improve your volunteer program Grassroots Growth

Are You Ready for the New Police Record Check Changes?

Posted By Adam Dias, July 3, 2018

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Criminal record checks are changing this November and it’s important to stay updated so that you can get the information you need to protect your staff, your volunteers, and the people in your care. We’re here to walk you through why and how police record checks are changing and to make sure you’re ready for the shift.

Why change police record checks?

Three years ago the Police Record Check Reform Act was passed, detailing the changes that we’re now facing—this November it will come into full effect, being enforced and standardized across the province. The act was created for three main purposes—to introduce a new option for police record checks, the criminal record and judicial matters check; to protect the privacy of those being checked; and to standardize the record check process and the information available across the province.

How are the record checks changing?

Criminal record check: The most basic form of record check, the criminal record check will go unchanged. It will continue to contain a criminal conviction summary from the local and national database as well as any finding of guilt under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Criminal record and judicial matters check: A new addition to the available options, this check expands upon the criminal record check by also including any absolute discharges from the last year, conditional discharges from the last three years, outstanding charges and warrants, and any court orders that have not been withdrawn and were not made under the Mental Health Act.

Vulnerable sector check: The most comprehensive check available, the vulnerable sector check will include all of the above information as well as any convictions with findings of “not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder” from the last five years.

The vulnerable sector check will no longer include any non-conviction information unless it has been authorized for exceptional disclosure. Non-conviction information will be given if the police check provider has reasonable cause to believe the individual presents a risk of harm to a child or vulnerable person and when the alleged victim was a child or vulnerable person.

Want to make sure you’re getting the most accurate picture of your applicants? Join me at our next workshop on July 19 to learn more about police checks and the Ontario Human Rights Code. Register now!

As Volunteer Toronto's Training Specialist, Sammy Feilchenfeld develops and delivers in-person, online and on-demand training in order to support managers and coordinators of volunteers in Toronto’s non-profit and charitable organizations.

Tags: Background Screening for volunteers how to screen a volunteer Personal Information Protection Police Records Checks Police screening volunteer management volunteer managers Volunteer Police Records Checks volunteer program volunteer recruitment volunteer screening

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Little Bites: Solutions you can snack on - Episode #3 ft. Kasandra James on common questions

Posted By Sammy Feilchenfeld, January 12, 2018

Estimated reading time - 2 minutes. Episode runtime: 12:26 minutes.

Sammy here—your Training Specialist from Volunteer Toronto. Episode #3 of Little Bites is now live with more Solutions you can Snack On!

At Volunteer Toronto, we know volunteer managers, like you, are busy. If you’re looking to save time, on challenges from small to big, we’ll give you tips during every episode of Little Bites. Each month I'll welcome a different guest to talk volunteer management, favourite snacks and great ideas we think you should know about. You can check back here monthly for new episodes on our blog!

It’s a new year and we want to help you get started on the right note. Kasandra James, Volunteer Toronto’s Subscriptions Coordinator, joins me in “The Pantry” to answer the questions you’ve sent in and asked us time after time.

Tune in to learn about recruitment techniques, working with multiple offices/teams/chapters and the big question of police checks for newcomer volunteers. We also bring you some quick answers to help you enhance your volunteer management practice in the “Lightning Round.”

Listen now to hear all about it:

While you listen, here are the 3 main questions (and one of the answers for each) from this episode:

Q. “Recruitment can be tough sometimes for small organizations. Though we are doing pretty well with our numbers, I would like to some tips on how to recruit and outreach to new volunteers when your organization is smaller than most.”

A. Try starting internally with your connections and your volunteer's connections to find new volunteers. Word-of-mouth can help a lot!

Q. “My organization has chapters, and in some cases offices, all across the country. How do we encourage good volunteer management throughout my organization?”

A. Set standards for volunteer management across your organization based on the reality of roles everywhere (what works and doesn’t in each region). Communicate these standards and ensure proper training is provided.

Q. “I ask volunteer candidates to get police checks as part of the screening process. What do I do for newcomer volunteers who may not be able to get a police check?”

A. It's important to not forget the reasons why you need to screen volunteers – If a police check is needed as the volunteer could be working with vulnerable populations, you have to ensure this is completed, no matter what.

Do you have a pressing question you want answered on air? E-mail me at littlebites@volunteertoronto.ca or tweet @VolunteerTO with #VTlittlebites.

Thanks for listening, and keep snacking!

Tags: Accessible volunteer programs Accommodating volunteers advice Assessing your volunteer training program Background Screening for volunteers barriers to volunteering best practises in volunteer engagement Challenges for Grassroots Organizations find a volunteer finding a great volunteer finding volunteers get people volunteering grassroots groups Grassroots Growth Grassroots Leaders grassroots organizations how to be more efficient in your volunteer program how to find great volunteers how to get staff buy-in for volunteer engagement how to get volunteers for your event How to keep volunteers how to motivate volunteers how to recruit volunteers how to screen a volunteer how to supervise volunteers How to thank your volunteer How to volunteer as a newcomer innovative thinking for volunteer management leaders of volunteers Leadership Making you volunteer program accessible to everyon networking non-profits not enough volunteers people management planning for volunteers Police Records Checks Police screening supervise volunteers supervising volunteers volunteer Volunteer Administrators volunteer ambassadors Volunteer Assessment Volunteer assistant volunteer coordination volunteer coordinators volunteer engagement Volunteer evaluation volunteer management volunteer managers Volunteer orientation volunteer program Volunteer Program Policies volunteer programs volunteer recruitment volunteer retention volunteer screening volunteer screening best practices volunteer supervisors Volunteer Toronto Find volunteers volunteer training volunteer-run groups volunteer-run organizations ways to improve your volunteer program

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Screening, dating or both: How to approach your volunteer interview

Posted By Lori Gotlieb, Lori Gotlieb Consulting, May 26, 2016

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

Although volunteer management processes are as varied as the organizations that use them, one process that is usually consistent is the interview. This stage of the volunteer cycle is key to learning about the volunteer: who they are and how they can make a difference in a meaningful way. But standard interviews may not reveal all the unique skills and capabilities that a volunteer could contribute.

If we want to learn about what a volunteer can do for our organization, rather than whether or not they’re a good fit for a specific, defined role, we need to have an open mind to see where the conversation leads. It is your role to set the stage for the interview to encourage dialogue and comfort so the potential volunteer can feel comfortable to discuss their:

Skills
Experience
Motivation
Hobbies
Expectations
Personal goals
Passions

So, the question is: are we taking this time to only screen or are we allowing a conversation to start where each party learns from each other and you “get to know each other”, like on a first date?

The first date concept is more of a conversation, where both parties are exploring the opportunity to partner in a mutually beneficial relationship. These conversations are more exploratory in nature and may require another meeting to agree on a specific role or project for the volunteer.

What can you do to begin this process?

Build an interview process that allows for a blend of exploratory questions and basic knowledge transfer between you and the volunteer to lay the foundation of the conversation.
Keep the conversation going; you may identify a role for the volunteer at that meeting, but you may want to take their information and explore internally where their skills may be of greatest value
Be open to new ideas
Train those who interview to be creative and open-minded

As you start this process and grow this culture of creativity in your volunteer program, you will find that your colleagues will consider how volunteers can be an asset to their programs and reach out to you for your expertise in connecting unique volunteers to unique roles.

Hopefully this will be a beginning of a wonderful relationship!

Lori Gotlieb is the President of Lori Gotlieb Consulting as well as co-developer and faculty member for Humber College Volunteer Management Leadership Certificate. She is a volunteer management expert who provides a unique concierge service to her clients. She is also an internationally published author and workshop facilitator who has taught workshops to many diverse audiences across North America. In 2012, Lori was the recipient of the Linda Buchanan Award for Excellence in Volunteer Management.