Having a volunteer

[torontokids]

So I advertised for a volunteer and have a University student who's interested and sounds ideal. She is coming tomorrow for an interview. My hope with having a volunteer is to make us more mobile this summer and to have an extra set of eyes when at the park etc. Has anyone heard of someone having trouble with an arrangement like this e.g. with their insurance? She would not be left alone with the kids and I will pay for a police check for her (she has CPR/First Aid). The problem is that police checks take a long time and the summer will be gone before we get one. my hope is to have her contact her last volunteer supervisor and get a copy from them while we wait and obviously not leave her alone. Am I missing anything?

[Momof4]

Please don't take offence, but could you give us a little more info? Why would this person be willing to work as a volunteer without being paid? Would it count toward placement work hours of some sort for her courses at university?

[torontokids]

It was just to be for a couple of hours one day per week, not full time. She is looking to become a pediatrician so she is looking for more experience with children. I think volunteering looks good for her to get into med school down the road as well.

She called me and let me know she got a summer job so she wont be available the day I wanted her.

[Momof4]

Oh, too bad that didn't work out. To answer your question, I don't think it would affect your insurance and what you said is exactly how I feel. I would never let an assistant be in charge of the children because they are MY responsibility and I would never take my eyes off them. But I have a high school student come to help me on her PD days and I pay her $20 for the morning plus give her breakfast and lunch. It's great to have the extra hands and eyes so I can plan a really busy day but as I said, nobody should blame things on their assistant or expect them to take on the responsiblity of the children when they are in the role of a helper. I have read posts like that.