8.4 Examples of good practice when signposting
You may already have experience of signposting clients to other organisations. We are going to think now about what makes an effective signposting activity.
Activity 5
Think of an example from your own volunteering or that you have seen from other volunteer’s work. What made the signposting effective?
Comment
You may have thought of a number of different things needed to ensure a successful signposting activity. The volunteer needs to know what issues are faced by the client and what they want to achieve. They need to explain clearly to the client why Support Through Court is unable to help with that issue. They will need to know what other organisations can help the client achieve the support or outcome they want and whether they have the capacity to take on further clients at this time.
Finally, they will need to communicate this clearly to the client and give accurate information, so the client knows how to get in touch with the organisation and any additional information or steps the client needs to know about, to be able to access the support from that organisation.
Support Through Court seeks to empower the client to take responsibility for their own court case and to make their own decisions. When you signpost clients to other organisations, you will therefore usually give the client the information about what the organisation can do and how to contact them. It is then up to the client to contact the organisation if they wish to do so.
Did you know?
Volunteers have a duty of confidentiality not to pass on information they have obtained through their volunteering to third parties, unless in specified limited circumstances. You therefore should not pass on information about a client to another organisation unless you have the client’s consent.
8.3 Where to signpost clients to