As a volunteer, you may have responsibilities that you cannot let go of if someone is in distress. Rendez-vous 2020 has a variety of supports in place to help.

As a home group leader, your first responsibility is to your home group. That means that you need to be available to provide appropriate support and guidance to your group throughout the day. It is always prudent to request support if you are tired, in need of rest, or if someone in need is taking you away from your other responsibilities.

If you request support from a chaplain, a mental health support, first aid, campus security or 911, consult the accident and incident policies to determine whether an accident or incident report should be completed.

If you contact an external service, including campus security or 911, you must contact dispatch to report your support request as soon as you are able to.

If you are unable or unwilling to contact any of the support services listed below, contact dispatch immediately for support.

If you or anyone else is in immediate danger, call 911. Be prepared to provide information about your exact location on campus, including the name of the building and the room number.

If it is safe to do so, stay with person and wait for help.

If you feel unsafe, find a safe place first before you call 911.

If possible, ask another person to contact DISPATCH. Do not end your call with 911 unless instructed to do so.

Chaplains are available 24 hours a day to provide pastoral care on any matter of concern.

If possible, accompany the person to the chaplain or wait with them until the chaplain arrives.

The chaplain or the person in need of pastoral support may request that you stay for some or all of the pastoral intervention.

Chaplains also provide support to volunteers. Do not hesitate to seek support from a chaplain if you have a personal concern.

You should request support from a chaplain in the following circumstances:

• If someone requests support from a chaplain.
• If someone appears to be in need of support, and you are unable or unwilling to provide it yourself, whatever the reason.
• If questions or topics are raised that you feel unprepared to answer, or where an additional pastoral perspective is of value.
• If conflict arises between a home group leader and a home group member that cannot be quickly resolved.
• If conflict arises between two or more people that cannot be quickly resolved.
• If a person under the age of 18 discloses physical or sexual abuse to you, you must request support from a chaplain. We may be required by law to report this information to the police.

In most cases, the chaplaincy team is your first line of support. The chaplain will make a determination about whether to escalate a pastoral care intervention to a mental health professional.

However, there are some circumstances in which you should immediately contact mental health services.

• If someone specifically requests support from a mental health professional.
• If someone reports a problem arising from a diagnosed psychiatric condition or from medication prescribed by a mental health practitioner.

If for any reason you or someone else feels unsafe on campus, call campus security to report your concerns.

If you or someone else becomes ill or injured, contact first aid for support.

Review the policy or take the quiz now.