The National Federation of Voluntary Bodies in its human resource work focuses on both employee and volunteer supports. It seeks to ensure that its member organisations are kept abreast of employment and industrial relations related developments and new initiatives related to supporting volunteering.
Employee Supports
There are many benefits to organisations of having a strong human resource strategy in place – mainly provision of a clear sense of organisational direction, sharing of resources and knowledge amongst employees, better equipped, motivated and developed staff and ultimately the provision of a better quality service to those accessing services.
The Human Resources Sub-Committee is a key forum for the sharing of information and best practice on key human resources related issues and initiatives. Through the work of the Sub-Committee, and the regular meetings which are held with the HSE-Employers Agency, organisations are supported to network with fellow human resource professionals and develop common positions on key matters. During the coming year the National Federation of Voluntary Bodies will also continue to work closely with the HSE, in particular with the human resources function, and will continue to participate in the HR Forum which has been established to support those working in the human resources field.
Skill Development
Skill development remains a significant area of work within the overall brief of the National Federation of Voluntary Bodies Secretariat – this brief incorporates a range of initiatives focused on capacity building and professional skills development. The National Federation of Voluntary Bodies, within its overall aims, seeks to support the development of world class services and key to this is ensuring that staff has the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to support those that they are working with. The National Federation aims to provide training and networking opportunities at an inter-organisational level, thus supporting organisations to come together and undertake training on a collective / shared basis.
The Training & Development Sub-Committee will continue to act as a central co-ordination and reference point for a number of the training and development activities undertaken by the National Federation. The Sub-Committee is comprised of highly experienced training and development professionals from across National Federation member organisations.
Volunteering Supports
Volunteering is an integral part of community activity within the member organisations of the National Federation of Voluntary Bodies, reducing the levels of social isolation and exclusion often experienced by people with intellectual disabilities within their own community. The National Federation Volunteering Sub-Committee expertly supports the planning and prioritisation of volunteering needs identified by member organisations, whilst informing the Board of Directors on priority issues, key challenges and recommendations in respect of volunteering at a local & national level.