TVC15 wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 31, 2020 8:57 pm

Bump

Anyone had their confirmation back ?
I got mine today and downloaded the app but it’s quite confusing what to do next (to me at least)

They have used an old app rather than build a new one as there is stuff on there from a cardiac responders volunteer scheme.

Anyone who has sussed it out any advice would be appreciated

I got confirmation email this morning & am on the app, so far NO callouts in the 5 hours I have been on duty today, which hopefully is good news. You just login with the details you used for good sam on your initial sign up.

claretdj wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 31, 2020 9:54 pm

I got confirmation email this morning & am on the app, so far NO callouts in the 5 hours I have been on duty today, which hopefully is good news. You just login with the details you used for good sam on your initial sign up.

Yep cheers for that - done the same and been on duty for 4 hours without a call out. Just thought there would be more to it - but sounds like we just wait.

28 hours and nothing. Hoping that they start using it soon

An early email I received said they wouldn’t be doing anything until after the 31st March. All seems a bit hit and miss at the moment, as I’ve not had confirmation and signed up pretty much immediately.

Got my confirmation of acceptance e-mail today and downloaded the app.

From the 'around me' tab seems there are quite a few responder volunteers nearby.

Will be 'on duty' at the weekend but just wondering if anyone on the forum who has signed up has had any "shouts' yet and how did it go?

Vintage Claret wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 02, 2020 7:08 pm

Got my confirmation of acceptance e-mail today and downloaded the app.

From the 'around me' tab seems there are quite a few responder volunteers nearby.

Will be 'on duty' at the weekend but just wondering if anyone on the forum who has signed up has had any "shouts' yet and how did it go?

I have been on duty for 38 hours & not 1 call out, which I'm taking as positive news in my area!

Well done to all of you! Proud to know you albeit virtually.

Likewise, 84hrs now on duty without a call out.

Wasn't sure it was working so I made a call in to check the app was working ok. It is and as Dushanbe said, was told it would start being used more throughout April.

d[-_-]b wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 02, 2020 9:33 pm

Likewise, 84hrs now on duty without a call out.

Wasn't sure it was working so I made a call in to check the app was working ok. It is and as Dushanbe said, was told it would start being used more throughout April.

Likewise up to 80 hours ready for a call. Nothing yet

Tell you what tho. Have you pressed the siren button yet?? Scared the living daylights out of me

dpinsussex wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 02, 2020 11:10 pm

Likewise up to 80 hours ready for a call. Nothing yet

Tell you what tho. Have you pressed the siren button yet?? Scared the living daylights out of me

Yes I did that !
It was an app built originally for the cardiac volunteer responders so guess you need to get their attention quickly when they need to respond !

I've been signed up 60 hours, likewise nothing.
As others ,when I first logged on it seemed there were a few nearby.

Still not had my acceptance email as yet

same here Damo

I've had an e-mail saying the photo of my driving licence wasn't clear enough so they were unable to validate my identity. They suggested reapplying when applications reopen in a few weeks time.

Well, at least I tried!

Wile E Coyote wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 02, 2020 11:50 pm

same here Damo

Just received my email. They must be getting through the applications slowly. I did apply quite late (2 days after it opened)

From the email I have just had it looks like it could be starting pretty soon.
Stand by yer beds lads and lasses !

Just had my acceptance today and also found out im being furloughed from 14th April so should have a lot more capacity to help

Quick question when I registered I signed up for 2 of the 4 options but I selected the wrong one. For those using it can you configure which of the different roles youre available to do and which ones you dont wish to do?

Not sure you can configure it as such DA, but from the e-mail I received today it says you may get alerts for tasks you didn't apply for so you can accept or decline whichever ones you choose.

I think maybe because the situation seems to have escalated so quickly and they've had such a huge number of volunteers it may be more of a 'scattergun' approach requesting help than they had originally envisaged (not a criticism just an observation)

Vintage Claret wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 03, 2020 11:57 pm

Not sure you can configure it as such DA, but from the e-mail I received today it says you may get alerts for tasks you didn't apply for so you can accept or decline whichever ones you choose.

I think maybe because the situation seems to have escalated so quickly and they've had such a huge number of volunteers it may be more of a 'scattergun' approach requesting help than they had originally envisaged (not a criticism just an observation)

Makes sense and thanks

Got the confirmation e-mail yesterday saying "we are currently in soft launch and therefore releasing under 1000 referrals a day for the next few days - so please don't worry if you do not receive any alerts".

The message has attachments asking us to familiarise ourselves with guidance notes relevant to our chosen role and reiterating the protocols to be utilised.

Stop panicking everyone!

Has anyone had a communication alert ?

Had the Reporting for Duty switch turned on for most of Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and today and absolutely nothing.

Nothing yet for me

Same here. Nothing yet. I suppose that is a good thing. Either there are lots of volunteers or not so many folk need help at the minute. I'll keep on duty all the same just in case.

Has the programme been properly explained and rolled out to the public?

John Johnson 1605 wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 08, 2020 1:54 pm

Has the programme been properly explained and rolled out to the public?

I don't think it's necessary, the public contact emergency services, and they delegate to a first responder. The first responder then accepts, or declines on the Goodsam app.

Thanks Colburn for clarification

Well, at least I can give more volunteer time now if/when required, been informed by my employer I'm now on furlough until further notice..

70 hours gone still not 1 call out, so all must be good I take it.

Anyone had a call out yet? I haven't had a thing yet.

Hmmmmm......?

I’ll go past 100 hours on duty today with nothing. I read earlier in the week that at any one time there were about 1000 active cases nationwide so the chances of being called out are slim.

No call but I have got my car parking permit

On duty for over 400 hours now

I am down as a volunteer nhs driver. I understood this to mean delivering prescriptions and equipment. Been “on duty” for 216 hours so far and not a dicky bird yet. I can only assume that there is not much help needed. Maybe the people delivering food or chatting to people over the phone have been called on more often. Does anybody know?

Another scheme full of people with the best intentions, who are left high and dry by incompetence.

Nonetheless, it makes wonderful propaganda material, alongside 100,000 a day tests, PPE for all....very eventually and ventilators sometime, made by mates, if at all and not the expert manufacturers.

I've just had the call (along with my cohort from university) to help out "on the front lines" as I am studying an Allied Health course.

My name has gone down so it's a waiting game, but we've been told it might be until September.

IanMcL wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 17, 2020 2:35 pm

Another scheme full of people with the best intentions, who are left high and dry by incompetence.

Nonetheless, it makes wonderful propaganda material, alongside 100,000 a day tests, PPE for all....very eventually and ventilators sometime, made by mates, if at all and not the expert manufacturers.

More political point scoring Ian? Not like you eh?

It is called exasperation Fishy!

Believe me, nowhere have you seen me write that Labour would do better.
We are suffering from a generation of professional politicians, who know how to create a soundbite but do not possess the real qualities required, in a national emergency. Instead, they continue measuring by soundbites.

On the app I can see 15 other Responders online within a 5 min walk.

Hopefully isolated people are getting the support they need from family, friends and the community and the NHS have the capacity needed to manage their local logistics so my help is not needed

The way I see it is no news is good news but there are plenty of us on standby ready should we be needed

My alert went off on Wednesday, I called the gentleman who told me I was the 3rd person to call, he thanked me anyway. It was taking him to a hospital appointment

You accept the alert or reject the alert, then get a message with details. All I would say is make sure you have read through the information they gave you, I had in briefly scanned through it and was panicking and quickly reading through it again before ringing the gentleman.

IanMcL wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 17, 2020 3:02 pm

We are suffering from a generation of professional politicians, who know how to create a soundbite but do not possess the real qualities required

I think this is absolutely true.
As you say it’s across the political divide.

400 plus hours and not an alert yet.
Hopefully it’s just a case of a lot more of us than is needed which is not a bad thing.

IanMcL wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 17, 2020 3:02 pm

It is called exasperation Fishy!

Believe me, nowhere have you seen me write that Labour would do better.
We are suffering from a generation of professional politicians, who know how to create a soundbite but do not possess the real qualities required, in a national emergency. Instead, they continue measuring by soundbites.

So far, in Burnley, they haven’t needed any NHS volunteers as the deliverty of prescriptions, food parcels etc is being co ordinated by Burnley Together using Council employees, Calico, BFC in the Community and people who volunteered to help them.

No sound bites, no politicians, no point scoring just people getting on with the job.

Just received this today. Naturally signed up

Dear NHS Volunteer Responder

Firstly, apologies to those of you that are waiting to start volunteering but are yet to receive alerts for tasks. Volunteer tasks are building in the system but not at the desired rate we had hoped for. We have plans in place this coming week to significantly increase referrals (and therefore tasks) so we hope that your volunteering will start soon.

During the development of the NHS Volunteer Responder Programme, we have identified that there is a group of isolated/shielded individuals with significant vulnerabilities and/or cognitive impairments that would like to receive support from NHS Volunteer Responders. These range from individuals with dementia to those with mental health issues to others with significant life limiting health conditions or disabilities. Currently we are unable to support these individuals as we must ensure that they are protected and that we have additional safeguarding in place, including DBS checks and appropriate 'Getting You Started' support materials.

Therefore as a result of this we have now created a new volunteer role called 'Community Response Plus' and we are asking those of you with an existing DBS if you would like to step forward and offer your support.

Community Response Plus Role:
The Community Response Plus (CR+) role will provide the same type of support as the standard role - collection of shopping, medication or other essential supplies for someone who is self-isolating, and delivering these supplies to their home. However, this enhanced role will support individuals who have been identified by referrers as living with a significant vulnerability. This role is currently only available to volunteers living in England.

Eligibility:
To be eligible for the new CR+ role, you must have an Enhanced DBS with Children’s or Adult’s Barred list (or both), dated within the last 12 months.

Additional Guidance
A Getting You Started guide for this role has been developed to give you prior knowledge of what is involved before applying. This can be found at https://www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.u ... e-covid-19 As with all other roles, you must read this guide prior to completing tasks. Please pay particular attention to the Factsheets on 'Supporting individuals with cognitiveimpairment and/or significant vulnerability.'

Data Protection:
As with your existing volunteering role, if you apply for the CR+ role or are accepted by us as a CR+ volunteer, we will need to process your personal data. You can find details of what personal data we will process, how we will use it and other important privacy information in our NHS Volunteer Responder Privacy Notice which is on our website.

In particular, please note that we will only use the information contained in your DBS certificate for the purpose of checking whether you are suitable for the CR+ role. This is a legal requirement, so we will be relying upon a particular condition under data protection law which permits us to process personal data, such as DBS checks, for the purpose of performing our obligations in connection with employment, social security or social protection.

Once we have completed our checks, we will delete your DBS certificate from our records.

Next Steps:
1. Send an email to crplus@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk , with your full name in the subject line.
2. Attach a clear copy of your enhanced DBS certificate and confirm that you would like to be considered for the CR+ role and that you consent to Royal Voluntary Service using your copy DBS certificate to verify your eligibility for the CR+ role. Please reply by Friday 24 th April.
3. If uploading a photograph of your DBS certificate from a mobile device, you may have the option of reducing the image size before attaching to your email. Please select the lowest image size available. If you have an online DBS, a screenshot is acceptable.
4. Royal Voluntary Service will verify your eligibility for the role, and assign you as being approved for this additional role.
5. If eligible you will be automatically matched to referrals for CR+ support in your local area. There is nothing further that you need to do.

Please note – if you submit a DBS certificate for this role and there are offences/convictions included, our Safeguarding Team will assess these against the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and inform you of a decision.

What happens if you cannot verify my DBS certificate?
Due to the volume of volunteer enquiries, we are unable to give individual feedback on the reason(s) for being unable to verify DBS certificates. However, the following are the most common reasons that we cannot assign you to the new CR+ role:
- The DBS was not issued within the last 12 months.
- The DBS was not an Enhanced with Adult; Enhanced with Children or Enhanced with Both.
- The name on the DBS did not match the name entered into the application.
- There were offences and convictions listed that were reviewed by the Safeguarding Team and considered unsuitable.
Alternatively, it may be that the photo of the DBS certificate/update service was not clear enough to be verified.

What if I’m not interested in this new role? Can I still carry out the role/s for which I originally applied?
If you are not interested or able to do the Community Response Plus role, then you will continue with your existing selected role(s) and there is no requirement for you to reply by email. Additionally, if you had previously selected other volunteering roles alongside the CR+ role, you will continue to undertake these alongside the new CR+ role.

Thank you for your interest and your continued support of the NHS Volunteer Responders programme.