Induction sept13

VOLUNTEER INDUCTION

INTRODUCTION TO AUSA

WHAT IS AUSA? •  Representa9ve body which is the voice of ALL students at the University of

Aberdeen WHO IS AUSA? •  You! 15,000 students, Execu9ve CommiMee, Council

WHERE IS AUSA? •  Butchart, ASV, Foresterhill, Hillhead

WHAT DO WE DO?

Your Aberdeen University Students’ Associa9on (AUSA) will make a posi9ve difference to the

Student Experience at the University of Aberdeen.

AUSA MISSION AND VISION

Our values and principles inform everything we do and should always be considered in the course of

your volunteering.

AUSA CORE VALUES AND PRINCIPLES

AUSA CORE VALUES AND PRINCIPLES

Our values and principles are: •  To be Student led. •  To be democratic. •  To embed equality and diversity in all procedures, practices and

activities of AUSA. •  To ensure sustainability is embedded into all AUSA activities and

practices. •  To be environmentally conscious. •  To provide value for money.

REPRESENTATIVE STRUCTURE

STAFFING STRUCTURE

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Aberdeen University Students’ Associa9on (AUSA) is commiMed to providing safe and well organised

volunteering opportuni9es and therefore takes very seriously the Health & Safety of all of its volunteers and service users. AUSA reviews on a yearly basis the health

and safety procedures it has in place for all volunteers and service users including upda9ng and implemen9ng any

relevant/ necessary training.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

•  All volunteers shall, for the purposes of health and safety will be subject to the rules and regula9ons as outlined in the AUSA Health & Safety policy in line with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974.

•  All areas within AUSA that involve volunteers will produce annual risk

assessments/ codes of prac9ce, copies of which will be held centrally by AUSA and available to volunteers/ service users upon request.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

•  Responsibility for Health & Safety within AUSA rests with its Trustee Board who defers delegated authority for this to the General Manager. The General Manager will take all reasonable and prac9cal steps to ensure that the union is compliant with all statutory obliga9ons whilst striving to maintain a system of best prac9ce within all areas of AUSA ac9vi9es including volunteering.

•  AUSA will provide volunteers with any Personal Protec9ve Equipment

(PPE) that maybe required for the volunteer to carry out the du9es/ tasks within their role.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

•  Volunteers must abide by all policies and procedures and follow all instruc9ons given to them by AUSA/ AUSA staff member responsible for the area in which they are volunteering.

•  In order to maximise the safety and enjoyment of your volunteering

there is a need to be aware of your personal safety and the safety of other people around you. As a volunteer with AUSA you have the right to be safe whilst volunteering. You also have the responsibility not to endanger yourself or others through your ac9ons.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

•  All AUSA volunteers should be aware of University of Aberdeen emergency procedures.

•  If you have an emergency on campus, then call SECURITY on x3939 on

an internal phone or (01224) 273939 from an external phone or mobile – do not call the emergency services. If you are involved in an emergency at another loca9on you should follow any local procedures, failing that you should call the emergency services on 999 or 112 (for abroad).

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Discovering a Fire •  If you discover a fire, aMempt to ex9nguish it ONLY if no personal risk is

involved. •  Fire Alarms are located throughout the Butchart Centre. •  Leave by the nearest, safest exit – these will be shown to you during a

tour of the Butchart at the end of this induc9on. •  The fire assembly point is on University Road directly across from the

Butchart Centre.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Accidents within Butchart Centre In the event of an accident you should: •  Let a member of AUSA Staff know as soon as possible. •  A First Aid Kit is located at Recep9on on the ground floor of the

Butchart Centre. You should also complete the Accident Report book located at Recep9on.

•  Where medical assistance is required, and no member of AUSA Staff is available ring SECURITY on x3939

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Accidents outside of Butchart Centre/ University In the event of an accident in this case you should: •  If necessary call the Emergency Services. •  No9fy the supervisor/ AUSA staff member responsible for overseeing

your role. •  Where the supervisor/ AUSA staff member is not available no9fy

University Security on (01224) 273939.

INTRODUCTION TO VOLUNTEERING

Confiden;ality •  Aberdeen University Students’ Associa9on (AUSA) is commiMed to

confiden9ality. Nothing personal that another individual tells us within our service will be shared with any other organisa9on or individual outside of AUSA without permission.

•  The volunteer will maintain confiden9ality whilst volunteering and aier they

have ended volunteering with AUSA. •  We believe that the principles of confiden9ality must be integrated across all

aspects of our services, opera9on and management.

INTRODUCTION TO VOLUNTEERING

Defini9on: •  ‘AUSA understands confiden1ality to mean that no informa1on

regarding a volunteer or other individual shall be given directly or indirectly to any organisa1on or individual external to the Students’ Associa1on, without consent to disclose such informa1on’

All volunteers should ensure that no discussions rela9ng to an individual will take place outside of the Students’ Associa9on premises.

RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT AS AN AUSA VOLUNTEER? •  A comprehensive induction to your role. •  Support and supervision from a named contact. •  Training where appropriate. •  A fun, supportive & positive environment that ensures you enjoy

volunteering. •  To be treated with respect, courtesy and fairness regardless of gender,

sexual orientation, age, parental or marital status, disability, religion, colour, race, ethnic or national origins, or socio/economic background.


•  To say no to any tasks you don’t feel comfortable with. •  Recognition and thanks. •  The right to refuse to carry out any request you consider

unreasonable. •  We will ensure your safety and you will be insured when

undertaking volunteering with us. •  To be paid reasonable out of pocket expenses by prior

arrangement.


IN RETURN WE ASK THAT YOU: •  Act as an Ambassador for AUSA and not bring its work into disrepute. •  Adhere to the AUSA policies and procedures outlined within this

document. •  Attend appropriate training and meetings. •  Are open and honest in your dealings with AUSA. •  Treat fellow student volunteers and staff with courtesy and respect. •  Have fun – we want you to be happy and enthusiastic about your

volunteering. •  Let us know if you wish to change the nature of your contribution. •  Let us know if we can improve the service and support that you receive. •  Respect confidentiality.

GRIEVANCES

It is important if you feel dissa9sfied with any maMer rela9ng to your volunteering there is a means by which you can air your grievance and have it resolved. While a formal procedure exists, nothing prevents you from seeking to resolve the maMer of concern by informal

means, without there being a wriMen record.

If you wish to pursue the maMer as a formal complaint/grievance, you should follow the procedure below –

•  In respect of a complaint/grievance against a fellow student or volunteer, contact the

AUSA Volunteer Co-‐ordinator in the first instance and they will explain the process in line with the complaints/disciplinary procedure as outlined in the AUSA Cons9tu9on.

GRIEVANCES

•  In respect of a complaint/grievance against an AUSA staff member, in the first instance you should put it in wri9ng to the AUSA General Manager. They will then deal with this as outlined in the AUSA employee handbook.

•  In respect of a complaint/grievance against an external organisa9on, contact the AUSA

Volunteer Co-‐ordinator in the first instance and they will raise the maMer with the organisa9on and follow their procedures.

•  If you have a complaint/grievance against AUSA in general that can’t be resolved, you can choose to then raise it with the University of Aberdeen. You should put your complaint/grievance in wri9ng to the University Secretary who will then inves9gate this in line with University and AUSA procedures.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

SALTIRE AWARDS FOR YOUNG VOLUNTEERS: •  Details of the Sal9re Awards (for volunteers aged 12-‐25) and how to register for

the Awards are available at hMp://www.sal9reawards.org.uk/ •  The sal9re awards help encourage even more young people to volunteer and

give them good recogni9on. Volunteers will receive cer9ficates for their contribu9on and as an added bonus can also claim Reward Points on their Young Scot Card

•  Sal9re Awards are available for volunteering for one-‐off events, regular volunteering and long-‐term volunteering up to 500 hours.


AUSA AWARD: •  For students who have completed the Saltire Award and want to

continue logging their hours or for students who don’t fit the criteria of the Saltire Award.

•  You will receive a certificate signed by the AUSA President and the AUSA General Manager just prior to your graduation


KING’S AWARD: The Kings' Awards are for Students who actively engage in student activities and ensure their continuous existence. Almost all student activities participants are eligible: •  Society members, including committee and non-committee members. •  Volunteers for the Charities Campaign, including, but not limited to, Bookends Volunteers

and Student Show volunteers. •  Students active within Student Media such as Gaudie and ASR. •  Active members of council. •  Niteline and Vegbag volunteers & other volunteers such as Dirty Weekenders participants

and other AUSA affiliated groups except sport. •  You are eligible for any of the two levels. If the awards committee decides you have not

met the criteria you may receive a commendation. You can only receive one level once throughout your time at university.


Students Taking Ac1ve Roles (S.T.A.R) Award •  The STAR Award provides you with a framework to support your skills and aMribute development

outside the classroom. It is also an opportunity to achieve recogni9on for your contribu9on to a wide range of Students’ Associa9on, on-‐campus/peer support and community-‐based/volunteering based roles affiliated with the University. It has been designed around five, employability-‐related Aberdeen Graduate AMributes.

•  Any registered University of Aberdeen student can par9cipate in the STAR Award! All you need is to hold a recognised role and register at the start of the academic year.

•  The Award is split up into Gold, Silver and Bronze recogni9on, with each role being recognised at a certain level.

•  As well as holding one of the recognised roles, and par9cipa9ng in this role regularly, you will: •  Complete one Skills Development and one Interview Skills workshop. •  Reflect on your development and achievement of Aberdeen Graduate AMributes in your STAR

Award Pormolio, within MyAberdeen.


Students Taking Ac1ve Roles (S.T.A.R) Award •  Undertake a unique competency-‐based interview. •  To complete the STAR Award, you will share your STAR Award Pormolio with a two-‐person

assessment panel which normally comprises of a member of University staff and an employer. Your assessment panel will also conduct your competency-‐based interview.

•  Your applica9on for the STAR Award will be judged on both the strength of your Pormolio submission and interview performance.

•  You can register for the STAR Award at the start of the academic year. You will need to fill in an applica9on form and aMend a short briefing session to find out more about the STAR Award.


Enhanced Transcript One of the rewards of volunteering through AUSA is that you the ac9vity you end genng involved

with in terms of volunteering may be eligible to be recognised and recorded on your Enhanced Transcript.

What is it? •  The Enhanced Transcript is a single comprehensive record of a learner’s achievement at a higher

educa9on ins9tu9on. It will be an electronic document, which will adhere to a common structure and be verified by the University. Ini9ally the Enhanced Transcript will only apply to undergraduate students, although it may be widened out to other levels in the future. It is a na9onal ini9a9ve so Universi9es across the country will be issuing Enhanced Transcript documents. At Aberdeen University all those who graduate from 2014 onwards will be issued with an Enhanced Transcript document.


Enhanced Transcript The Enhanced Transcript contains informa9on iden9fying the holder of the qualifica9on, and

informa9on on the ins9tu9on and the na9onal higher educa9on system. It includes informa9on on the qualifica9on, its level, details of each of the modules or units studied, the form of assessment (9med examina9on, essay, project, disserta9on etc.), marks awarded, and their rela9ve weigh9ng towards the final summary mark or grade.

•  More importantly in terms of AUSA and volunteering it also includes informa9on on ac9vi9es

carried out by the student which do not carry credit towards their award, but which if approved for inclusion can be verified by the ins9tu9on. This includes prizes, volunteering, widening par9cipa9on ac9vi9es, addi9onal study (e.g. languages), involvement in sports & socie9es etc.

•  The idea is that future employers will be able to look at an Enhanced Transcript document

before/aier an interview, and be able to understand the applicants’ qualifica9on from their University and what co-‐curricular ac9vi9es they par9cipated in, and what transferable skills they have obtained.

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Induction sept13

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