Volunteer learning -A case study at East Lancashire University Teaching Hospital Trust
16th March 2021
0 Likes
Many thanks to Lynn Hackett, Voluntary Service Manager at East Lancashire University Teaching Hospital Trust, for sharing her thoughts on how the Volunteer Learning platform makes a difference to her volunteering service.
We introduced the Volunteer Learning platform in January 2019, shortly after its launch.
As a trust we were instrumental in developing the Volunteer Learning and worked with Pennine a Healthier Future and our volunteer partners Lancashire Volunteer Partnership and eLearning for Health , to ensure that the learning was volunteer specific, easy to access and as simple as we could make it and that it would encompass all volunteer platforms and not just the NHS.
The benefits are:
- The volunteer has access to their own learning
- They are able to share permissions to different organisations, this can speed up recruitment if the learning has already been completed elsewhere.
- Once completed we only ask them to renew every three years .
- Self-explanatory
- We register them once we have accepted as a volunteer, so they can be completing while their recruitment checks are going through, this way we don’t have to wait for our in-house training in further down the line.
- Each organisation has its own code to share permission
- The eLearning for health also offers free training on various topics and once registered they have access to this , as many volunteers wish to work in the NHS so this can help them develop skills they can take forward .
The Modules we use are:
The following nine modules are mandatory:
- Conflict Resolutions
- Data Security Awareness
- Equality and Diversity
- Fire Safety
- Health and Safety
- Moving and Assisting
- Preventing Radicalisation
- Safeguarding Adults
- Safeguarding Children
The following modules that are optional include:
- Roles and Responsibilities
- Communications
- Child Sexual Exploitation
- Mental Health Awareness
- Fluids and Nutrition
- Resuscitation
When we ask their permissions to sign up to this platform for them, please see below I have copied and pasted the section off the recruitment paperwork, this ensures that they are signed up straightway and it takes away the element of them having to register so effectively once they leave us they are ready to start learning. We have had to assist some of our digitally challenged volunteers but they have been grateful and not put off by the eLearning, volunteers still attend a short morning session to introduce them to the trust , at this moment his has been done virtually.
"Volunteer Learning
As an affiliated member of the Lancashire Volunteer Partnership, we invite you to complete the Volunteer Learning and complete the necessary modules to provide you with information that will be vital throughout your volunteering with us. Once this has been completed you will need to share your permissions with our organisation.
By signing, I agree for my personal information from my application to be copied and used to create an account to complete the set modules.
Sign: _______________________________ Date:______________"
The platform has been a great addition to our volunteer team, as it is easy to access, gives the volunteer control of their learning and they can do it at their own pace while all the NHS recruitment checks are being completed.
We hope you find this article helpful. If you have any questions for Lynn, please post your questions in the forum and tag Lynn in.
You might also be interested in:
Portability and Passporting session