e-References allow the reference to be completed online with the resulting reference uploaded directly to the database. It saves the need for telephone or paper contact.
Requests can be sent to referees automatically through the system or manually via email.
To send requests automatically, on the volunteer's approval page, select either All Outstanding or the specific referee from the Send for references from field.
Press Send to complete the request.
If a custom email approach is required, the e-Reference link can be copied into an email for a specific referee. You may wish to use this route if one referee is providing a reference for multiple volunteers, e.g. a church leader in a new church. In such a case they may prefer one email with multiple links rather than a flurry of separate emails each with one link.
Each link is specific to a single volunteer and will not work for another volunteer or if the correct referee details are not provided.
Upon opening the link, referees will be directed to an online form, where confirmatory details and details of the reference will be requested.
Example e-Reference Email:
For the form itself, the referee must complete the reference code (using the prebuilt link will populate this automatically for them). This ties the e-reference to the volunteer. And they must use the email address loaded in the volunteer's approval page. If one of these is missing then the e-reference will not be accepted. Please check for typos.
Once they have filled out all fields and submitted, an email will be sent to the CVM (RACs in Edinburgh & Lothians) and a PDF generated in the volunteer's documents.
The reference won't be automatically marked as accepted. It is for the recipient to check the quality and acceptability of the reference before marking it accepted.