Taranaki Women’s Refuge VolunteerApplication Form

Full name______

Address______

Phone/s______

(Include mobile phone no. if you have one)

E-mail address______

(if applicable)

Please indicate the areas that you feel that you would like to become involved in:

Phone roster
Client call-outs
Childcare
Safe house/grounds maintenance
Fundraising
BOT

Do you have?

A vehicle?
A phone?
An HT Licence?

Other skills or resources that may be useful? Please provide details below:

______

______

______

We provide full training and resource materials for dealing with crisis call-outs and phone rostering.

I understand that I am being employed in a voluntary position and that Taranaki Women’s Refuge is under no obligation to offer me paid work at any time.

Signed______Date______

Volunteer Application 2009

Code of Behaviour

BVS 1

Statement of Purpose

All Refuge employees are expected to maintain a professional relationship with refuge residents which establishes boundaries in respect to friendship or intimacy. Refuge members should not take on case-work activities with women with whom there is any prior relationship other than a professional relationship.

Conduct which threatens the personal health, well-being or security of clients or staff, or which endangers plant or property is outside of acceptable behaviour.

Guidelines have been established to provide for the efficient and orderly conduct of employees at Taranaki Women’s Refuge. These guidelines are not intended to cover every possible situation, but more to highlight examples of conduct which is considered unacceptable. The organisation reserves the right to add to, amend or delete any of these guidelines.

Guidelines

The following are examples of the type of actions and behaviour that the organisation would consider to be actions of inappropriate behaviour:

  1. Acting in a negligent or careless manner in the carrying out of duties; or consistent inefficiency or incompetence in the performance of duties
  1. Using threatening or obscene language while in a workplace situation, or during work hours
  1. Failing to observe safety, health, smoking or hygiene rules/instructions, or working in an unsafe manner, or failing to make proper use of safety equipment when such equipment is installed or provided
  1. Misuse or unauthorised use of refuge property or equipment, including unauthorized or improper use of computer systems, including the internet and e-mail functions

Volunteer Application 2009

  1. Repeated lateness or lack of application to assigned tasks
  1. Unauthorised absence from work or leaving the assigned place of work without permission
  1. Preventing or interfering with another employee carrying out their work functions
  1. Failure to follow all organisational policies or procedures
  1. Reporting for work in such a condition as to be unable to perform the required duties in a safe and proper manner
  1. Posting offensive written or visual material on notice boards, computer systems or elsewhere on the premises
  1. Failing to report promptly any workplace accident or incident
  1. Acting in an official capacity in a manner which brings the organisation into disrepute; or failing to act in an official capacity which results in bringing the organisation and/or employee into disrepute
  1. Acting otherwise within the category of serious misconduct, but where the particular case is such as to fall short of requiring dismissal in that particular instance

Volunteer Application 2009

Code of Conduct

BVS 1

Statement of Purpose

All members of Taranaki Women’s Refuge are expected to treat clients and colleagues with consideration and respect at all times. Violence or abusive behaviour towards residents, clients or other refuge workers is not acceptable and may be reason for instant dismissal.

References

Constitution

Individual Employment Agreement/Position Description

Terms of Employment

All Policies and Procedures

Guidelines

All employees are expected to abide by the Conditions of Employment which prohibit the use of alcohol or drugs within the Refuge - convictions for alcohol or drug abuse may be reasons for instant dismissal

Sexual harassment of Refuge clients or colleagues is unacceptable, and sexual activity with Refuge residents is prohibited absolutely

Discriminating behaviour towards Refuge clients or colleagues on the grounds of race, class, religion or sexual orientation is unacceptable

Confidentiality must be maintained regarding the location of the safehouse, client information and members personal details

Visitors are not permitted at the safe house

A Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreement form must be signed by all members of the organisation

All members are expected to abide by the philosophy of the organisation, including all Terms of Employment, the Constitution and all Policies and Procedures

Unapproved misuse of petty cash, or the unapproved borrowing of any Refuge property is not permitted

Employees are expected to attend work at the contracted times, and failing to do so without reasonable explanation is a breach of the IEA

Paid employees are expected to perform the duties described in their position description to the best of their ability and to an agreed standard

By signing this agreement, volunteer advocates confirm their understanding that as volunteers there is no agreed remuneration and no commitment by Taranaki Women’s Refuge to offer paid employment at any time

I understand the need for a Code of Conduct, and agree to abide by the terms above.

Signed______

Dated______

Volunteer Application 2009

Code of Ethics

BVS 1

Statement of Purpose

Refuge is a women-based organisation which has, as its guiding principles, a policy of creating a violence-free environment and community, of providing support and ensuring empowerment for all women and children, the establishment of parallel refuge facilities for and by Maori women, and the development of culturally appropriate and complementary services within refuge’s own structures for women of different cultures. Parallel development is a partnership between cultures which enables each to develop services which are both culturally appropriate and complementary. The NCIWR recognises and accepts Tino Rangatiratanga mo te Iwi Māori.

Guidelines

  • Refuges and their employees must maintain each client’s right to a relationship of mutual trust, privacy and confidentiality. No information shall be recorded or released without the knowledge of the client
  • Refuges and their employees should actively demonstrate a commitment to women and children and show tolerance and respect for individual views and philosophies
  • Refuges have a responsibility to ensure that each client has as much information as possible in order for her to be able to make informed choices and her own decisions
  • Refuges should ensure that women are available for initial contact and that all women involved in Refuge participate in the decision making
  • Refuges should work towards their membership reflecting the ethnic composition of the women they work with
  • Refuge shall be organised so as to allow and encourage the development of refuge services within their own structure for and by tangata whenua women and women of different cultures
  • Refuges shall work actively in support of the principles of parallel cultural development
  • Refuges shall work actively to support and maintain the visibility of lesbian women in Refuge and shall include workshops on homophobia in refuge training programs
  • Refuges have a responsibility to actively promote the interchange of skills, ideas and information, and to provide support and ongoing training for all women working in refuges. All training shall be culturally appropriate
  • Refuges shall respect differing opinion and practices of sister refuges, and express criticism appropriately and responsibly
  • Refuges should promote and share opportunities for knowledge, experience and ideas with each other

Volunteer Application 2009

Code of Practice

BVS 1

Statement of Purpose

This Code is consistent with the Constitution and Code of Ethics, and outlines the standards of service adopted by TWR.

Women’s Refuge is a women-based organisation, established primarily to provide safety and protection for women and their children who are victims of domestic abuse. Refuge is committed to creating a violence-free environment, and this commitment is reflected in all our services and practices. We aim to provide the best possible care for all women and children in the Taranaki area who use our services.

All advocates who works for Women’s Refuge are valued for their work in supporting women and children, and all refuge advocates are responsible for the following practices:

The Refuge Safehouse

Taranaki Women’s Refuge undertakes to provide:

A safe, secure and violence-free environment

An environment which recognises and is sensitive to the cultural needs of all residents

Clean, comfortable, warm and well-maintained surroundings with good quality furnishings and equipment

Information for residents, outlining the services available through refuge, house rules and the complaints procedure

24-hour emergency contact phone numbers

A telephone for residents to make outgoing calls

Emergency needs – food, clothing, toiletries, infant needs and other essentials

Women and Children

Taranaki Women’s Refuge undertakes to provide:

Information, support and referrals so that women can make informed decisions

Active support for their decisions

Culturally appropriate services, as each woman shall advise

Services and support appropriate for lesbians and their families

Confidentiality and privacy

Responsible use of information provided by clients

Clear information about resources available from Refuge andfrom other agencies in the community

Assistance to women to use these resources

Clear information to women and children regarding their responsibilities while in Refuge, including Safehouse Rules and Policies

Support to women in the community who are affected by family violence, but who do not need safe house accommodation

Education/Prevention Work

Taranaki Women’s Refuge undertakes to carry out education and prevention work in the community by:

Providing and maintaining advocacy services

Raising awareness of family violence issues wherever/whenever possible and increasing TWR profile through public speaking engagements

Networking and sharing information with other appropriate community organisations and agencies

Maintaining the good reputation/credibility of Refuge at all times

Administration and Management

We recognise that efficient management and administration practices are essential for maintaining quality services, and the confidence of funding providers. We will ensure that the following practices are in place:

Effective human resource management, including recruitment, contractual obligations and employee accountability

Accurate and timely recording of all information, including client data

Effective and efficient office procedures

Accurate records maintained of all financial transactions, and monthly financial reports presented to all appropriate meetings

Annual collation of accounts and audit of financial transactions

Regular forwarding of statistics to National Office

Provision and encouragement for all advocate training and any other training deemed necessary

Ensuring employee compliance and familiarisation with all refuge policies

Regular evaluation of practices and services

Supervision, monthly reports and annual performance appraisals to monitor employee performance standards

Volunteer Application 2009

Confidentiality and Non Disclosure Agreement

Statement of Purpose

Information collected for the purpose of processing employee and service users’ case management notes is to be treated as private and confidential.

All client files must be locked away in a secure place, and kept for at least 2 years.

Information relating to the location of the refuge safehouse, employees’ personal telephone numbers and addresses and NCIWR contact lists are confidential to the organisation, with the exclusion of publicly available numbers and business addresses.

None of the above information shall be released to members of the public. Outside agencies (Police, CYFS etc, have a process to go through before they are able to access any information that is confidential to the organisation).

Discretion must be used when discussing matters relating to refuge work/clients outside the office.

Reference

The society shall use the following references to determine any disciplinary action for non-compliance of this policy:

Signed Individual Employment Agreement(if applicable)

Terms and Conditions of Employment

Disciplinary Action Procedure

Signed Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreement

Volunteer Application Form (if applicable)

Agreement

I ______hereby agree to keep private and confidential, all information relating to Refuge business. I understand that the safety of my team members and the women and children who use our services may depend on my ability to manage and maintain discretion and confidentiality. I undertake to fulfill the conditions of this agreement as set down by Taranaki Women’s Refuge.

Signed ______Dated ______

Volunteer Application 2009

CONSENT TO DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION

Licensing & Vetting Service Centre

Police National Headquarters

PO Box 3017

WELLINGTON 6140

I,......

(Surname)(Fore Names)

......

(Maiden or any other names used)

Sex ………….. (M/F) Date and place of birth ......

Nationality ...... Residential address ......

Suburb...... City ......

NZ Driver License Number ......

hereby consent to the disclosure by the New Zealand Police of any information they may have pursuant to this application, to Taranaki Women’s Refuge. I understand that any record of criminal convictions I might have will automatically be concealed if I meet the eligibility criteria stipulated in Section 7 of the Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Act 2004.

Signed ...... Date ......

COMMENTS OF THE NEW ZEALAND POLICE

A stamped, self-addressed envelope must accompany all requests

Volunteer Application 2009

Volunteer Application 2009