Observations must be completed on-site for in-person and teletherapy sessions. Please email volunteer@speechpathway.net with any questions.
To insure the safety of the clients and families that you will be working with we require all volunteers and observers to provide a state issued ID or passport (school ID is not valid) and a background check. A background check supplied by your university is sufficient if completed within the last year.
If you do not have a background check, you can obtain one through OSBI. We require the following three searches (please check all 3 boxes at the top of the form):
Submit your results in addition to your application. https://osbi.ok.gov/services/criminal-history
This Confidentiality Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into between (“Student”) and Speech Pathway LLC. (“Covered Entity”).
RECITALS:
The parties acknowledge that Student may incidentally or inadvertently encounter, view or access certain Confidential Information maintained by Covered Entity which may qualify as Protected Health Information (“PHI”) or electronic PHI within the meaning of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended, and the privacy and security standards promulgated pursuant thereto (“HIPAA”).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises contained herein, as well as other good and valuable consideration, the parties hereto agree as follows:
Welcome to Speech Pathway (SP). We are delighted that you have chosen to volunteer at our organization and hope that you will enjoy your time with us. As you become familiar with our culture and mission, we are confident you will find the work here very fulfilling.
You are joining an organization that has a reputation for outstanding leadership, innovation, and expertise. With your active involvement, creativity, and support, SP will continue to achieve its goals. We sincerely hope you will take pride in being an important part of SP’s success.
Please take time to review the policies contained in this handbook. If you have questions, feel free to ask a management representative.
Volunteering at Speech Pathway (SP) is on an at-will basis.
This means that either the volunteer or the company may terminate the relationship at any time, for any reason, with or without notice.
Nothing in this volunteer handbook is intended to or creates an employment agreement, express or implied. Nothing contained in this or any other document provided to the volunteer is intended to be, nor should it be, construed as a contract that employment or any benefit will be continued for any period of time. In addition, no company representative is authorized to modify this policy for any volunteer or to enter into any agreement, oral or written, that changes the at-will relationship.
SP provides equal opportunities to all volunteers and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, gender identity, results of genetic testing, or service in the military.
SP expressly prohibits any form of unlawful harassment or discrimination based on any of the characteristics mentioned above. Improper interference with the ability of any staff members or other volunteers to perform their expected job duties is absolutely not tolerated. Any volunteers with questions or concerns about equal opportunities in the workplace are encouraged to bring these issues to the attention of a management representative.
SP is committed to creating and maintaining a workplace in which all volunteers have an opportunity to participate and contribute to the success of the business and are valued for their skills, experience, and unique perspectives. This commitment is embodied in company policy and the way we do business at SP and is an important principle of sound business management.
Any volunteer who believes he or she has been subject to or any form of unlawful harassment, is requested and encouraged to make a complaint. You may complain directly a management representative with whom you feel comfortable bringing such a complaint. Similarly, if you observe acts of discrimination toward or harassment of another employee or volunteer, you are requested and encouraged to report this to one of the individuals listed above. If you have other work-related issues, all volunteers are encouraged to speak with the front desk representative as a first effort to resolve the problem.
The protection of confidential business information and trade secrets is vital to the interests and success of SP. Confidential information is any and all information disclosed to or known by you because of volunteering relationship with the company that is not generally known to people outside the company about its business. This also includes any information about patients, staff and/or other volunteers.
A volunteer who improperly uses or discloses trade secrets or confidential business information will be subject to termination of the volunteer relationship and even legal action in serious circumstances, even if he or she does not actually benefit from the disclosed information.
All inquiries from the media must be referred to a management representative.
Protecting the safety of our customers, staff, volunteers and visitors is the most important aspect of running our business.
All volunteers have the opportunity and responsibility to contribute to a safe work environment by using common sense rules and safe practices and by notifying management when any health or safety issues are present. All volunteers are encouraged to partner with management to ensure maximum safety for all.
In the event of an emergency, notify the appropriate emergency personnel by dialing 911 to activate the medical emergency services.
It is the policy of SP to maintain a drug- and alcohol-free work environment that is safe and productive for volunteers and others having business with the company.
The unlawful use, possession, purchase, sale, distribution, or being under the influence of any illegal drug and/or the misuse of legal drugs while on company or client premises or while performing services for the company is strictly prohibited. SP also prohibits entering the office or performing services under the influence of alcohol or consuming alcohol while on duty or during work hours.
Smoking is not allowed in company buildings or work areas at any time. “Smoking” includes the use of any tobacco products (including chewing tobacco), electronic smoking devices, and e-cigarettes.
Smoking is only permitted during break times in designated outdoor areas. Volunteers using these areas are expected to dispose of any smoking debris safely and properly.
SP is committed to providing a safe, violence-free workplace for everyone. Due to this commitment, we discourage volunteers from engaging in any physical confrontation with a violent or potentially violent individual or from behaving in a threatening or violent manner. Threats, threatening language, or any other acts of aggression or violence made toward or by any volunteer will not be tolerated. A threat may include any verbal or physical harassment or abuse, attempts to intimidate others, menacing gestures, stalking, or any other hostile, aggressive, and/or destructive actions taken for the purposes of intimidation. This policy covers any violent or potentially violent behavior that occurs in the workplace or at company-sponsored functions.
All SP volunteers bear the responsibility of keeping our work environment free from violence or potential violence. Any volunteer who witnesses or is the recipient of violent behavior should promptly inform a management representative. All threats will be promptly investigated.
Any individual engaging in violence against the company, its volunteers, or its property will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
SP prohibits the possession of weapons inside the building. Weapons include, but are not limited to, handguns, rifles, automatic weapons, and knives that can be used as weapons (excluding pocketknives, utility knives, and other instruments that are used to open packages, cut string, and for other miscellaneous tasks), martial arts paraphernalia, stun guns, and tear gas.
The company reserves the right to inspect all belongings of volunteers on its premises, including packages, briefcases, purses and handbags, gym bags, and personal vehicles on company property.
SP will always make every attempt to be open for business but in cases of extreme weather, it may be necessary to close the office. Consult with management to determine the best course of action in the event of impending inclement weather.
A volunteer can be responsible for performing a variety of limited clerical, technical or patient focused duties within SP. We attempt to match the volunteer’s education, training and expertise to the available tasks. Volunteering is un-paid, but there are standards and guidelines that our volunteers must adhere to while working within our office. The information in this section will offer the general guidelines for all volunteers.
All volunteers are expected to arrive on time, ready to work, every day they are scheduled to work.
If unable to arrive at work on time, or if a volunteer will be missing any scheduled time, the volunteer must contact the front desk at a minimum of 24-hours before your scheduled shift. Voice mail, texting, and e-mail messages are acceptable provided the volunteer receives a return message from the Front Desk representative.
SP provides a casual yet professional work environment for its volunteers. Even though the dress code is casual, it is important to project a professional image to our customers, visitors, and coworkers. All volunteers are expected to dress in a manner consistent with good hygiene, safety, and good taste. While our environment is casual, refrain from wearing sloppy or suggestive attire, and be sensitive to excessive fragrance or smelling of cigarette smoke since we work in close proximity to our clients. Please use common sense.
Any questions or complaints regarding the appropriateness of attire should be directed to a management representative.
Note: As used in this policy, “social media” refers to blogs, forums, and social networking sites, such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, and SnapChat, among others.
Off-duty use of social media. Volunteers may maintain personal social media pages, websites or weblogs on their own time using their own facilities. Volunteers must ensure that social media activity does not reflect negatively on SP in any way. Volunteers should not divulge SP confidential information such as client names/pictures or information, trade secrets or any other confidential information restricted from disclosure on social media sites. Similarly, volunteers should not engage in harassing behavior that targets other staff, volunteers or customers of SP. Even if a message is posted anonymously, it is possible to trace it back to the sender.
The company provides a wide variety of communication tools and resources to volunteers for use in running day-to-day business activities. Whether it is the telephone, voice mail, fax, scanner, Internet, intranet, e-mail, text messaging, or any other company-provided technology, use should be reserved for business-related matters during working hours. All communication using these tools should be handled in a professional and respectful manner.
Volunteers should not have any expectation of privacy in their use of company computer, company phone, or other communication tools. All communications made using company-provided equipment or services including email and internet activity, are subject to inspection by the company. volunteers should keep in mind that even if they delete an email, voicemail or other communication, a copy may be archived on the company’s systems.
Office telephones are for business purposes. While the company recognizes that some personal calls are necessary, these should be kept as brief as possible and to a minimum. Personal use of the company’s cell phones, long-distance account, or toll-free numbers is strictly prohibited. Abuse of these privileges is subject to corrective action up to and including termination.
In all cases of voluntary resignation, volunteers are asked to provide a written notice at least two weeks in advance of the last day of service.
Should it become necessary because of business conditions to reduce the number of volunteers for any reason, this may be done at the discretion of the company.
I hereby acknowledge receipt of the volunteer handbook of Speech Pathway. I understand and agree that it is my responsibility to read and comply with the policies in the handbook.
I understand that the handbook and all other written and oral materials provided to me are intended for informational purposes only. I understand that the policies are subject to review, removal, and change by management at any time.