Approved Resource Friends are Resource Friends who undertake a streamlined approval process to be able to provide practical resources to families on their own. This is an updated role that we hope will enable skilled volunteers to provide practical help individually in a safe way.
The approval steps required for Approved RF are as follows:
- Application Form
- Volunteer Acknowledged for Resources
- Enhanced DBS (without ‘Home Check’)
- 1 Verified Reference (preferably from a church/community leader)
- A short Volunteer Assessment to be held over a coffee conversation
- Peer Review
- Approval panel
Approved Resource Friends will have the option of attending training, but this is not required.
Once they have applied, the potential Approved RF should be invited for a coffee conversation to create belonging and be a valuable teaching moment to help them understand the role, Safe Families’ values and their role in safeguarding families. It is also a crucial opportunity for us to get to know the volunteer and understand their motivations, skills and how we can best utilise their skills.
CVMs are encouraged to use their professional curiosity to ask questions that help satisfy the Bio and Suitability Summary sections, and then be able to ask and answer the checklist questions.
In the Biographical Section, CVMs should ask questions that help us understand:
- Names
- Jobs + relevant skills they are willing to offer (these should be added to the volunteers ‘Preferences’ section too)
- Wider Family
- Church they attend if applicable
- Rough location and range of locations they are willing to work in
- Availability
In the Suitability Section, you should ask questions that help you to be able to express your opinions and recommendations as a result of your conversation. It should include:
- Motivations for volunteering
- Their understanding of Safe Families and their role of supporting a family
- Skill level offered (e.g., amateur carpenter vs professional joiner)
- Anything that we need to be aware of, and anything that needs reemphasising to the volunteer
- CVMs overall recommendation/caveats for the volunteer
You must then be able to answer the checklist items (and so may want to hold these as a conversation with the volunteer regarding their role in safeguarding, awareness that there are no expenses, and any concerns they might have about the role).
Please note, to become Family Friends and Host Homes, Approved Resource Friends must complete the remaining steps of the normal approval process i.e. 2 further references, attending training, and a full Volunteer Assessment.