Volunteering in social care: a new report
We’ve published a new report to help better understand how volunteering contributes to social care in Wales.
We commissioned the research study last year to gather insight from volunteers, social care staff and other stakeholders around their experiences of volunteering.
About the research study
The research was funded by Welsh Government's Volunteering Wales Strategic Grant, administered by the Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA).
It was carried out by the University of South Wales, the Welsh Institute for Health and Social Care and the Centre for Charity Effectiveness at Bayes Business School.
“WCVA is proud to support the publication of this important research. Volunteers play a vital, yet often under-recognised role in supporting both individuals and services in the sector. This study helps us understand the benefits and challenges related to volunteer involvement and we look forward to applying the findings to enhance volunteer engagement and improve outcomes across the care system.”
- Lynne Connolly, Helpforce Cymru Manager, WCVA.
The focus of the research was volunteering in residential care homes supporting older people in Wales. The team used different methods to gather evidence, including a rapid evidence review, qualitative case studies and an online survey.
Findings
The report found that care homes value the roles volunteers play in their settings. These roles are often focused on spending quality time with residents in a way that’s not always possible for paid staff. Volunteers enhance social care by increasing the range and depth of relationships available to residents, as well as broadening the range of activities they can engage in.
The researchers also found that the ongoing management and support of volunteers takes considerable time, energy and skill. Several care homes involved in the research didn’t have the capacity or resources to do this as effectively as they’d like.
Volunteers enhance social care by increasing the range and depth of relationships available to residents, as well as broadening the range of activities they can engage in.
The research shows that volunteering in care homes works best when volunteers and organisations are well matched in terms of values and ethos. And when systems are in place, both in terms of policy and funding, that support volunteering.
What can we learn from the report?
The findings set out in the report help us understand more about things like:
- the scale of volunteering in residential care homes in Wales
- who volunteers and why
- different roles volunteers play
- how to recruit, train, manage and support volunteers
- the benefits and challenges of volunteering
- what needs to change in policy and practice to enhance the value of volunteering.
Find out more
You can access the full report here: Understanding the role of volunteering in social care.
