Without a doubt, volunteers have long been a part of nonprofit organizations. They are the final piece of your organization’s puzzle. No matter the cause you support, with the help of your volunteers, you can create a significant positive impact and ensure that your community programs run smoothly and are fully functional at all times. However, volunteer onboarding without a proper background check can put your organization at risk and lead to serious consequences. Your volunteers hold the privilege of serving the community you support, and with that comes great responsibility. They interact with vulnerable groups, and although most of your volunteers have good intentions, some may possess malicious intentions that can lead to legal liabilities for your organization or loss of public trust.
Certain high-profile cases have highlighted the tragic consequences of inadequate background checks. They stand as proof of the fact that background checks are becoming essential by the day as you continue to propel your cause forward with the help of your volunteers. Some may argue that background checks alone cannot ensure security; however, they can become an essential part of your efforts to plan a comprehensive risk management strategy. A well-structured screening process that includes all the necessary criteria to ensure your volunteers don’t have a past criminal record or instances of suspicious, foul behavior can help you put together a trustworthy and qualified team of volunteers. However, one of the aspects you need to focus on is striking a balance between security and inclusivity. Some of your volunteers may seek volunteering as a way to contribute positively to society and make up for their past mistakes. A thoughtful approach can ensure you don’t exclude individuals who may have rehabilitated and continue to maintain high standards of safety.
In this article, we will look at how you can slick protect your community and inculcate the best practices for volunteer background checks. From defining screening requirements based on different roles to ensuring compliance with legal and ethical standards, you can continue to reinforce trust and credibility from your community as well as improve the overall effectiveness of your program.
Strengthening Your Community with Volunteer Background Checks
- Define Screening Requirements Based on the Role
Not all volunteer roles require the same qualifications and the same security standards. Someone working in event planning may not require the same level of scrutiny as someone working with elderly citizens or children. Based on different profiles managed on volunteer platforms, your organization needs to come up with standards that are best suited for each role. Identifying positions that require strict background checks can help your organization put efforts in the right direction and ensure you don’t waste time on additional background checks where it’s not required. Determining the depth of screening based on the responsibilities and level of risk involved can ensure you don’t miss out on minute details and create a comprehensive background check where necessary.
- Obtain Consent and Communicate Clearly
Obtaining consent is not an option; it is an essential part of a background check that ensures the click safety of your community and volunteers. Communicating the purpose and goal of volunteer background checks can help your volunteers understand your motive and help you maintain a level of transparency throughout the process. Explaining how the information will be used and who will have access to it can ensure your volunteers provide you with the right information.
- Check Multiple Sources
A comprehensive background check must involve reviewing local, state, and federal records for any criminal history. Verifying that your volunteers have no history of offenses against vulnerable populations can help enhance the security of your community. Ensuring the volunteer’s identity matches with the information provided can reinforce your trust in your volunteers. Lastly, speaking with previous employees can help you conduct reference checks and assess character as well as reliability.
- Maintain Confidentiality and Data Security
Handling personal information responsibly is a crucial part of background checks. You can store the background check results securely and implement restricted access to the information gathered. By allowing access to all, some may tamper with the information and put your organization at high risk. Establishing a clear policy on data retention and disposal can help you filter out unnecessary data. Informing volunteers of their rights to review or dispute findings can help you conduct background checks without any legal consequences.
- Ensure Compliance with Legal and Ethical Standards
Different states and countries have varying laws regarding background checks. Staying up-to-date with the changing laws or updated laws can help you conduct background checks in a legally correct manner. Avoiding discrimination by applying screening policies consistently across all volunteers can help conduct a fair and inclusive background check. Establishing a process for handling disputes or inaccuracies in background check results is vital.
End Note
Protecting your community is of utmost importance, and implementing fair and thorough background checks is the first step towards it. By following the best practices, your organization can create a safe and secure environment for volunteers and the people they serve. A well-structured screening process can benefit communities from passionate and dedicated volunteers and enhance the overall security of your volunteer programs.
