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HELP AND SUPPORT
INFORMATION, QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
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How we will get in touch with youWe will stay in touch with you by telephone, text, e-mail or post (whichever preference is noted on your application form). We can also exchange messages on the Timebanking online platform TOL2 https://tol2.timebanking.org/timeswap/member. We will send out regular newsletters with news from your area and across the county.
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What to do when you want to make a request or offer• Contact your Time Officer and explain what you need help with. • Give us an idea of how long it might take and the best day and time. • Or log on to TOL2: https://tol2.timebanking.org/timeswap/Member. • We may not be able to fulfil your request straight away so please be patient.
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What to do when you offer to fulfil a request or accept an offerWhen you agree to give help, follow this simple procedure to ensure you have all the information you need and everything will run smoothly: • Let your Time Swap Officer know. Any exchanges undertaken without prior approval from your Time Swap Officer are carried out at your own risk and they will not be covered by our insurance. • When accepting an exchange write down the name and address of where you need to go and the date and time of the swap. • Check whether there are any special considerations, or if there is any particular information you should know about the exchange or the person you are helping. • Be on time! (5 minutes early is even better) • Be sure you know the requesters name, and they know yours. • Get some idea of the layout of the surroundings and the availability of any safety equipment you may need, e.g. first aid kit. • Find out if there are any possible hazards e.g. pets, restricted access • If you would prefer the Time Swap Officer to be there to make your first introductions, or to stay during the exchange, just let us know. • Once you have completed an exchange please let your Time Swap Officer know or update eon TOL2. We can only demonstrate how successful the project is if we know the number of hours exchanged.
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Exchanging Time CreditsOnly hours can be exchanged and not goods or money (except where reimbursing petrol costs/ingredients/materials) - but this must be agreed strictly in advance and involve your Time Swap Officer. Although the currency of Time Swap is time we do not want members to be ‘out of pocket’ financially.
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Lone WorkingAlways ensure that a family member or friend know where you going and when you are ex-pected back. Ensure your mobile is charged and in credit. If you are driving, park in a well lit area if after dark.
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Confidentiality and BoundariesAs members you will share some personal information with each other - only share what you are comfortable sharing. Keep information that is shared with you confidential and don’t share with other members, unless you have a safeguarding concern about a members safety - then speak to your Time Swap Officer as soon as possible. Information we collect will not be shared with other members. Your personal contact details and information will not be visible to other members on our online system, TOL2. Only your profile picture, biography and Time Swap offers will be visible.
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Shopping RequestsAny requests for help with shopping must be arranged through a Time Swap Officer. The receiving member must be present and pay for the shopping themselves. To avoid unnecessary risks we will not accept any swaps where money must change hands for the shopping.
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Safe WorkingYour Time Swap Officer will complete a risk assessment for each swap, including visiting a member in their home if that is where the swap is to take place. Please be aware of any hazards which may arise and always have your safety in mind. When you agree to do a task if you have any health and safety concerns at any point, even during the swap, then please say no to this task and contact your Time Swap Officer. Can you do it? You should only carry out an exchange which you feel confident about and competent to complete. If you are unsure about a task, or don’t know if you have the training or experience to complete it to a good standard don’t do it. When at the swap, complete your own mental risk assessment of whether you can do this before starting and contact the Time Swap Officer as soon as possible to rearrange the swap. You should not carry out swaps that require statutory qualifications, such as electrical or gas work. Your Time Swap Officer can provide more information about this if you need it, just ask. Do agreed tasks only: When carrying out a swap, only do the task you have agreed to. If you do anything that you have not agreed with your Time Swap Officer it will not be covered by our Public Liability Insurance. When you leave: Make sure you leave any tasks in a safe condition. No one from Time Swap will knock on your door unless you know about it in advance.
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Keeping People Safe - SafeguardingWe have a duty to safeguard all adults from neglect and abuse. We follow processes and procedures to help keep all Time Swap members safe, especially those members who have care and support needs. Your Time Swap Officer can give you more information on our own Safeguarding Adults Policy. Any concerns can also be passed to our Designated Safeguarding Lead at SDCVS. If any incidents occur or you have concerns about a member’s safety or your own, contact your Time Swap Officer as soon as possible. In the case of an emergency contact Emergency Services. More information can be found on the Derbyshire Safeguarding Adults Board website, www.derbyshiresab.org.uk.
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Using your Own TransportIndividuals If you intend to use your own vehicle to give lifts for any Time Swap purposes then you must complete the declaration on the Induction Checklist and provide your Time Swap Officer with all the relevant documentation. You will need to make your insurance provider aware that you are using your vehicle for Time Swap duties. The Time Swap Officer can supply you with a letter to give to your insurance company that explains what you are doing, just ask. There are certain dos and don’ts about giving members lifts and your Time Swap Officer will explain them to you. Organisations If your members or employees intend to use their own vehicle for any Time Swap purposes then they must complete the declaration on the Induction Checklist and provide your Time Swap Officer with all the relevant documentation. They will need to make their insurance provider aware that they are using their vehicle for Time Swap duties. The Time Swap Officer can supply you with a letter to give to the insurance company that explains what you are doing, just ask. There are certain dos and don’ts about giving members lifts and your Time Swap Officer will explain them to you. All Please do not use your vehicle for Time Swap purposes unless this process has been followed. Members who accept lifts are expected to reimburse reasonable costs for petrol. This must be agreed before any lifts take place. If you feel uneasy about doing this then ask your Time Swap Officer who will do this for you. Time Swap Officers are not able to take you to swaps, please ensure you can get to the venue of the swap by your own means before accepting.
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What to Do If......you need to cancel or rearrange and appointment: • Whether you are offering or receiving an swap try to give as much notice as possible • Contact the person receiving/offering the swap • Contact your Time Swap Officer and let them know the new arrangements • If it is not possible to rearrange directly with the person your Time Swap Officer will do this for you ...there is an emergency: If an emergency happens which forces you to cancel the appointment at short notice please follow above. If an emergency arises while you are carrying out a swap: If it is urgent or you consider it necessary, don’t hesitate - dial 999 for the relevant emergency service. Once it is safe to do so, please let your Time Swap Officer aware by calling or emailing them directly, if it is outside of their usual working hours they will respond as soon as possible. If an accident happens to either member, someone else or damage is caused to the property: If anyone is injured, your first responsibility must be to your own safety to ensure you are able to provide the appropriate help. Then you need to follow the emergency procedure detailed above. Time Swap members are covered by Public Liability Insurance. Contact us as soon as possible will full details of the accident or incident, including any photographic evidence of damage to the property.
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Member GroupsAnother feature of Time Swap is Member Groups, whereby individual Time Swap members organise groups of people to pursue a common interest together. For example, if you like walking you could arrange to meet with others on a regular basis to do local walks. This can apply to any mutual interest, so this could be a craft, a hobby or a sport. The person starting a Member Group would not have to lead the group every time, as this responsibility could be shared. Member Groups consist of three or more members. Your Time Swap Officer could advertise this to other members if you wish, or you can post on TOL2. We will also host Time Swap coffee mornings and social activities to enable Time Swap members to meet each other, share ideas and introduce new members. Your Time Swap Officer will keep you up to date with news of forthcoming events for your Time Swap area.
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IMPORTANTTime Swap relies on the skills, knowledge, abilities and talents of its members and is not a substitute for paid professional services. All support given is purely on a goodwill basis and the standard of any work completed will always be the best a member can offer. If you require a high standard of workmanship and for them to return in the event you are not happy with the result, you must pay a professional tradesman to complete the work for you.
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How is time calculated for organisations?As with every Time Swap the exchange is an hour for an hour so if you let a community group use your conference room for two hours, your organisation gets two hours worth of credit. If five employees help another member with one hour of gardening, that’s five hours in total.
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What is time banking/swapping?For every hour given, you can ask for help in return. You could learn something new or share a skill you have, such as cooking, speaking a language, playing a musical instrument, gardening or even just a chat.
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Have you an example of a time swap?Yes. See this graphic here:
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How do I start swapping?Contact your Time Swap Officer. Or you can register your interest on the Timebanking platform, TOL2, here: https://timebanking.org/timebanks/time-swap-derbyshire/
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How do I know what area I fall under?This map should help you: https://observatory.derbyshire.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/reports/maps/district_map_OS_background.pdf Or please do get in touch with the team and we can help direct you: derbyshiretimeswap@sdcvs.org.uk
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Do I have to earn credit before I can get help?No, you can ask for help straight away, as long as you intend to give some time in the future. To get you started we give every new member one free hour.
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How will I know I'm safe?All new members complete an induction after references have been obtained and identification verified. All swaps must be organised and approved by the Time Swap Officer for your safety and to ensure the exchange is covered by our insurance. Any exchanges undertaken without approval from your Time Swap Officer are carried out at your own risk and they will not be covered by our insurance.
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Can organisations get involved?Yes! Organisations can give and receive in the same way that individuals can. Staff can get involved in individual swaps or as a group. If you are part of, or know of, any organisations that might be interested in joining us, please contact your Time Swap Officer. For the purposes of Time Swap the following would be considered an organisation: - Sole traders and small businesses - Corporate and large businesses - Support groups - Entertainment sector organisations - Health organisations - Voluntary and community groups - Schools, colleges and universities
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What happens if I can’t spend the time that I have earned?There is no time limit to spend your hours, however, you can donate hours back to the Time Swap ‘Community Pot’ which will be made available to individuals and organisations. You can also donate hours to another member that you nominate, or you can simply save them.
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Will being a member of Time Swap affect my benefits?No. Speak to your Time Swap Officer if you have any concerns.
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How do this differ from volunteering?Time Swap is not volunteering or charity - it is a reciprocal scheme that allows people to give and receive. It makes asking for help so much easier and encourages people to engage with each other. However, you can donate the time which you have earned to the ‘Community Pot’. This can then be used by people who need support but may be unable to currently offer their own time due to age, disability or ongoing health conditions.
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What is an organisation?For the purposes of Time Swap the following would be considered an organisation: - Sole traders and small businesses - Corporate and large businesses - Support groups - Entertainment sector organisations - Health organisations - Voluntary and community groups - Schools, colleges and universities
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Our Code of ConductThe currency for Time Swap is time and everybody’s hour has the same value. Everyone who participates to help someone will record and follow our rules and procedures as set out in this handbook. There is no limit to the number of hours (or time credits) a person can accrue. However, spending or receiving hours is dependant on the swaps offered or accepted by Time Swap. You should respect another member’s privacy and confidentiality. You should respect other members’ viewpoints, and not pressure another member to accept your religious or political beliefs. You must not use Time Swap to promote your own personal business/company. Anyone trying to influence members to engage with their profit-making business will have their membership terminated. You should not involve friends or relatives by bringing them to a member’s home or venue, unless they are also a Time Swap member and this has been agreed by the Time Swap Officer prior to the swap. Time Swap forbids anyone accepting money, gifts or tips from other members. See ‘Exchanging Time Credits’ above. Time Swap expects that you will always treat any other members respectfully. We have a zero tolerance and do not accept any type of discrimination, bullying or harassment (physical, verbal or emotional) and in such instances the person/s involved will be spoken to and, if it continues, their membership will be terminated. Time Swap members must not use violent or threatening behaviour and in such an instance this will be reported to the Police. Time Swap members must not smoke/drink alcohol in another member’s home unless invited to do so. Time Swap members must not consume another member’s food or drink, unless invited to do so. Time Swap members must not undertake any activities while under the influence of any substance, which may affect their ability to participate or engage safely in a swap. Anyone who is unhappy with Time Swap, or any of its members please contact your Time Swap Officer at the earliest opportunity. Any breaches of the rules, procedures and guidelines in this handbook may lead to withdrawal of your membership. The decision will be made fairly by a Time Swap Manager. By signing the Induction Checklist you agree to abide by the Time Swap rules and regulations.
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How do I make a complaint?If you wish to complain about any aspect of Derbyshire Time Swap, then please speak to your Time Swap Officer in the first instance. However, if you prefer you can contact the Time Swap Manager by email to derbyshiretimeswap@sdcvs.org.uk or by phone on 01283 219761. If they cannot resolve your complaint, the Time Swap Manager will supply you with a copy of South Derbyshire CVS Complaints Procedure so that you can make a formal complaint in line with that procedure.
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