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Volunteer involvement is vital to the Royal College, Specialty Medical Education, Fellowship and, ultimately, patient care. The Royal College Volunteer Engagement Program (VEP) was established to strengthen and improve the support we provide to our backbone - Volunteers.
In October 2020, Council passed a motion resulting in the Royal College formally adopting the Canadian Code for Volunteer Involvement (CCVI), a set of 10 nationally recognized standards and best practices for volunteer involvement, ranging from volunteer roles & recruitment to volunteer recognition. By adopting the CCVI, the Royal College is committing not only to strengthening our volunteer engagement strategy, but also to strengthening the Royal College’s capacity to meet its mandate and contribute to strong and connected communities.
The Fellowship Affairs Committee (FAC) are stewards of the VEP; they provide guidance and direction on the VEP’s plans and priorities, and in December 2020, supported the VEP’s three-year Roadmap, an action plan that operationalizes elements of the CCVI. This work will be implemented as part of the Royal College’s Member Engagement Strategy and progress updates will be provided here.
Want to join us in the journey? Learn how to get engaged as a volunteer.
By 2023, all VEP plans and decisions will consistently consider the standards outlined in the Canadian Code for Volunteer Involvement (CCVI), with a focus on the best practices that will enable more equitable access and diverse participation.
Issue | Action plan & progress |
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There is a need to formally establish volunteer involvement standards so that individual volunteer contributions are meaningfully recognized as integral to delivering the Royal College’s mission. |
We will work towards adoption of industry best practices for volunteer involvement and establish standard VEP measures that connect a Fellow’s motivations for volunteering with the Royal College’s mission. Progress Update
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Issue | Action plan & progress |
The Royal College’s volunteer experience and available support varies by business unit and role. |
We will adopt frameworks and plans that will streamline the volunteer involvement experience, with a focus on understanding and addressing issues of equitable access and diverse participation. Progress Update
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Issue | Action plan & progress |
A Fellow’s ability to engage with the Royal College is determined by a combination of personal, institutional and social factors. Experiences of discrimination, racism and historical trauma are important social determinants of health for certain groups such as Indigenous Peoples, LGBTQ and Black Canadians. Learn more about Canada’s definitions of social determinants of health and why this matters. |
We will begin to understand and address barriers to equitable access and diverse participation within our VEP. We will make informed and meaningful change to our volunteer involvement processes, policies and practices. Progress Update
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By 2023, volunteer orientation and training will be a learner-based model, with a focus on new volunteer orientation and supports for volunteers in leadership roles. Over time, we expect that Fellows will increasingly attribute personal or professional development to their Royal College volunteer experience.
Issue | Action plan & progress |
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56.6% of volunteers are satisfied or very satisfied with the training & support they received. About 20% of volunteers are asked to train or support other volunteers. Only half are satisfied with the support they receive to do so. |
We will engage physicians in the creation of meaningful volunteer learning tools and resources. Focus on the volunteer experience and encourage community. Progress Update
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Issue | Action plan & progress |
Volunteers welcome an increased focus on equity, diversity and inclusion, so long as training and support is practical and resources are relevant. Recognize that many institutions are already providing this to Fellows. |
We will embed volunteer training with practical, meaningful equity, diversity and inclusion support that’s appropriate to the individual and relevant to the volunteer role. We will focus on providing tools and support for those who we ask to identify or recruit volunteers. Progress Update2020
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By 2023, access to volunteer opportunities will start being more equitable, and participation more diverse. The depth and breadth of perspectives and knowledge that Fellows bring to their volunteer roles will start to show through the activities developed or informed by volunteers.
Issue | Action plan & progress |
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We are committed to addressing valid concerns raised around equitable access and diverse participation in the Royal College’s volunteer activities. |
We will build momentum and capacity so that changes made to the recruitment & screening process address issues of equitable access and diverse participation. Progress Update
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