Serving Team Onboarding Process
Who does what
The church office handles the paperwork: the questionnaire, references, Working With Children Check, Code of Conduct, Safe Ministry training, approval and record keeping. Most of it is automated.
The team leader handles the relationship: the welcome, the come and see, the role induction, the first serve and the check in afterwards.
The volunteer says yes, completes what the office sends them, and turns up.
Come and see first
Nobody has to commit to anything to explore. Have a coffee with a team leader, watch a team in action, or try it alongside someone experienced.
No forms are required just to come and see in an observer capacity.
How it starts
There are two ways in, and either one begins the process:
- You put your hand up. Complete the Serving Team Interest Form at reside.church/get-involved.
- A leader recommends you. A team leader completes a Serving Team Recommendation Form.
The steps
| You (joining a team) | Team leader | Church office | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Get started | Complete the Serving Team Interest Form | Or complete a Serving Team Recommendation Form | Create the record, assign a named contact |
| 2. Get to know each other | Have a welcome chat, complete the serving questionnaire and add two references | Have the welcome chat | Send the questionnaire, follow up the references |
| 3. Safe church basics | Apply for or link your WWCC, sign the Code of Conduct, complete Safe Ministry training | — | Send every link, book the training, verify each step |
| 4. Approval | — | — | Submit for approval and confirm the outcome |
| 5. Cleared to serve | Get ready to start | The office tells you they are cleared | Notify the team leader |
| 6. Meet the team and start | Learn the role, meet everyone, start serving | Run the role induction, introduce them, buddy their first few serves, check in after | — |
Caring for people
Caring for people is central to what we do. That includes making sure everyone who volunteers is onboarded, trained and verified, in line with our Safe Ministry guidelines.
Nobody serves until they have been cleared. This applies to every role, not only those working with children and young people.
Checklists
For the volunteer
- Serving Team Interest Form completed (or a leader has recommended you)
- Welcome chat with your team leader
- Serving questionnaire completed and two references added
- WWCC applied for or linked (it is free for volunteers)
- Code of Conduct read and signed
- Safe Ministry training completed
- Cleared to serve, met the team, and started
For the team leader
- Welcome chat had, team chosen, office notified
- Updated by the office when cleared
- Role induction done and introduced to the team
- First few serves buddied, checked in afterwards
For the church office
- Record created, named contact assigned
- Questionnaire completed, references followed up
- WWCC applied or linked, and verified
- Code of Conduct signed (correct tier for the role)
- Safe Ministry training completed
- Approval granted
- Team leader notified that they are cleared to serve
Ready to serve = every office box ticked and the leader told.
Questions
If anything is unclear, or you are not sure where you are up to, get in touch with the church office. We are happy to help.