Expectations & Privileges

Saint John’s Hospice welcomes you to our dedicated and caring volunteer staff. Volunteers are an essential part of Saint John’s Hospice and our mission to provide life-sustaining services to homeless men of Philadelphia. To help make your volunteer experience a successful and rewarding one, we have outlined some of our expectations of volunteers as well as what volunteers can expect from Saint John’s Hospice.

EXPECTATIONS OF ST. JOHN’S HOSPICE VOLUNTEERS:

Regularly and openly communicate with your supervisor about your experiences, concerns, and questions.
Please refrain from taking pictures or filming residents or day services guests. Only pictures of you and/or your volunteer group is permitted.
Attend training sessions as recommended by your supervisor.
Notify your supervisor of absences in advance.
Fulfill the time commitment of the volunteer position.
Respect the privacy and confidentiality of residents and day services guests.
Avoid giving residents and day services guests advice about personal or family problems. Residents can be directed to their caseworkers to discuss these matters.
Maintain professional boundaries while working as a volunteer. Treat all residents and day services guests with fairness, dignity and respect.
Talk to your supervisor or the volunteer coordinator about ways to improve the volunteer program. Your constructive criticism is desired and appreciated.

PRIVILEGES OF SAINT JOHN’S HOSPICE VOLUNTEERS:

To be appropriately assigned to a meaningful position.
To receive orientation, training and on-going supervision.
To be given the opportunity to be evaluated and to evaluate your volunteer position.
To be treated as a member of the Saint John’s Hospice staff.
To receive recognition as a Saint John’s Hospice volunteer.