Information for Placement Sites

The DRK Regional Association of Rhineland-Palatinate is a recognized provider of voluntary services. DRK is responsible for recruitment, termination, placement, personnel management, compensation, certificates, and accompanying seminar work.

Mailing address:

DRK-Landesverband RLP e.V.
Freiwilligendienste
Mitternachtsgasse 4, 55116 Mainz
Email: freiwilligendienste@lv-rlp.drk.de 
Hotline: 06131-28281380

You can find a list of our voluntary service staff and their contact details under Team. If you are unable to reach your contact person, feel free to call our hotline.

See Occupational Accident.

The Federal Voluntary Service (BFD) is similar in structure and content to the Voluntary Social Year (FSJ). Key differences include a shorter probation period (see "Probation Period") and mandatory participation in a seminar on political education.

Unlike the FSJ, the BFD is also open to individuals over the age of 27.

According to the law, volunteers cannot receive financial bonuses for overtime, weekend, or public holiday shifts.

According to the Youth Employment Protection Act, break times for minors are:

• 30 minutes if the workday is 4.5 to 6 hours
• 60 minutes if the workday is longer than 6 hours

According to the Working Hours Act, break times for adults are:

• 30 minutes if the workday is 6 to 9 hours
• 45 minutes if the workday exceeds 9 hours

No one may work for more than 6 hours without a break. Deviations may be specified in a workplace agreement.

At the beginning of their service, volunteers receive a provisional certificate from the coordinating organization confirming their participation and expected duration. After completing the service (at least 6 months), a final certificate including the actual service period is issued automatically. Volunteers may request interim certificates at any time.

FSJ: Volunteers can request a certificate from their placement. The evaluation follows a template provided by the coordinating organization and must be sent to them via email. Templates and guidance can be found online. The DRK issues the official certificate.

BFD: All volunteers must receive a certificate. The evaluation follows a template provided by the coordinating organization and must be submitted via email. Only the DRK-issued certificate is legally valid.

Volunteers must inquire individually at their local Jobcenter to find out whether they are eligible for Bürgergeld.

If uncertainties or disagreements arise between volunteers and placements, we are happy to support you. Please contact the responsible person assigned to your volunteer early on.

Our hotline team is available to answer general questions.

The coordinating organization issues the service agreements for voluntary service, signed by the organization, the placement, and the volunteer (or legal guardian). For BFD, the contract is officially signed by the federal government through the coordinating organization.

Personal data of volunteers is subject to data protection laws. Please ensure that volunteers are trained at the beginning of their service so they understand the importance of data protection and confidentiality in your organization.

The voluntary service agreement typically covers a period of twelve months. A service period of at least six months is required for official recognition. An extension is possible for up to 18 months. For each additional month, one mandatory seminar day and two additional vacation days must be granted.

Extensions and cancellations must be requested via formal application. The application is available from the DRK upon request.

The Youth Voluntary Service Act (JFDG) regulates the scope of educational support. It includes professional supervision at the placement, educational seminars, and individual support by the pedagogical staff of the coordinating organization.

See Duration of Service.

Volunteers select some seminar days independently from a pool of topic-specific days. Selection takes place during the first group seminar. You will be informed of the chosen days by the educational advisor. Like other seminar days, these require mandatory release from work by the placement—no vacation needs to be taken.

The German Red Cross (DRK) is a leading provider in the field of independent welfare services. The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement comprises 192 national societies (as of 2020). Our guiding principles are: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity, and Universality. More information about the DRK is available here.

Voluntary service is a year of learning and orientation based on personal development goals. Our happiness concept offers volunteers useful impulses for personal growth. At DRK RLP, the theme of happiness runs through the entire voluntary service experience—for example in the “Happiness Group” (Glücksgruppe) a forum for discussing experiences at the placement and the many aspects of happiness.

If a volunteer is sick before a seminar, they must notify the DRK-Landesverband by phone—no later than the morning of the first seminar day—and submit a medical certificate.

In case of illness, the placement must be notified immediately—on the first day before work begins—either by phone or email (according to the agreement). A medical certificate must be submitted to the placement and the coordinating organization no later than the third calendar day of illness (not working day). Deviations are stated in the service agreement.

Volunteers are entitled to continued payment for up to six weeks. After that, they may receive sick pay, provided the coordinating organization is informed promptly.

Participation in internal training programs should be made possible for volunteers.

Volunteers are insured under the social insurance system, which includes:

• Health insurance (statutory)
• Accident insurance
• Liability insurance
• Pension insurance
• Long-term care insurance
• Unemployment insurance

Accident and liability insurance must be arranged by the placement.

The law defines the service provided by volunteers as primarily practical support in institutions serving the public good. FSJ and BFD positions must not be used as a substitute for regular staff positions.

Here you can find the minimum standards regarding labor market neutrality.

There is no special leave entitlement. In exceptional cases, and with the agreement of the placement, volunteers may be released from duty (e.g. for a university entrance exam or job interview).

Multi-day releases (e.g. for internships) are also possible. Please note that the placement’s insurance (liability and accident insurance) does not apply in the internship organization. Written approval from the placement is required.

Voluntary service is governed by the following legal regulations:

• JFDG – Youth Voluntary Service Act
• BFDG – Federal Voluntary Service Act
• ArbZG – Working Hours Act
• ArbSchG – Occupational Health and Safety Act
• JArbSchG – Youth Employment Protection Act

Volunteers are entitled to a rest period of eleven hours between shifts. For minors, additional rules apply (see Youth Employment Protection Act).

In hospitals and facilities for care and treatment, the rest period may be reduced to ten hours if another rest period in the same month is extended to at least twelve hours.

Night shifts are only allowed in exceptional cases and only in specific work areas (e.g., ambulance service or driving services), and only after prior consultation.

Every occupational accident must be reported immediately to the relevant accident insurance provider (Berufsgenossenschaft) by the placement.

The placement is responsible for ensuring compliance with occupational health and safety regulations. The costs for any necessary occupational medical examinations must be covered by the placement.

Official warnings due to misconduct can only be issued by the coordinating organization. If there are any problems, please contact the responsible educational advisor (Bildungsreferent*in) at an early stage.

Extra hours should only be worked in exceptional cases. Volunteers receive compensatory time off for any overtime. According to the JFDG and BFDG, overtime cannot be compensated financially.

Both the Youth Voluntary Service (under 27) and the BFD27plus can be completed on a part-time basis. We offer three working time models:

20.5, 30, and 39 hours per week.

The monthly allowance is adjusted accordingly. The number of seminar days remains the same in all models.

The DRK Regional Association in Rhineland-Palatinate offers over 950 volunteer positions—both in DRK-run institutions and in other public-benefit organizations. Volunteer placements are available in educational, care, and medical fields. An overview of available placements can be found here.

We maintain close cooperation with placements through regular exchange with our educational advisors (Bildungsreferent*in). This exchange may take place by phone, email, or, if needed, through on-site visits.

Please keep the responsible contact person for your volunteers informed about the progress of the voluntary service.

In some areas of voluntary service, an extended police clearance certificate is required. With a letter from the placement, volunteers can obtain this document free of charge from their local registration office. The application process may take up to four weeks—please keep this in mind when planning the start date.

Schools must submit the clearance certificate to the ADD.

For volunteers under the age of 18, an initial medical examination according to §§ 32 and 41 of the Youth Employment Protection Act must be arranged by the placement before the start of the service.

In general, the same protective measures apply to volunteers as to other employees, within the scope of service and professional supervision.

The Maternity Protection Act applies to voluntary service. Parental leave is not available. Depending on your tasks, an employment ban may be necessary. Both placement site and the DRK need to be informed about a pregnancy as soon as possible.

A probationary period applies at the start of the voluntary service. Its duration is stated in the service agreement. At the end of the probationary period, a feedback meeting should be held with the volunteer to reflect on this first phase and agree on future focus areas.

We have provided materials for conducting reflection discussions.

Reflection files

In addition to our office in Mainz, we have regional offices in Koblenz and Kaiserslautern. These offices coordinate the local seminar groups.

Addresses:

DRK-Landesverband RLP e.V.
Freiwilligendienste | Kaiserslautern Office
Wilh.-Kittelberger Str. 71, 67659 Kaiserslautern

DRK-Landesverband RLP e.V.
Freiwilligendienste | Koblenz Office
Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Str. 12, 56073 Koblenz

Minor side jobs must be applied for in writing and approved by the DRK, the placement, and the volunteer. They must not interfere with voluntary service, and work hours must be respected. Important: the voluntary service always counts as the main activity.

During the Youth Voluntary Service, 25 seminar days are mandatory. For BFD 27plus participants, 12 seminar days are required per year. The seminars take place either online or in person and include:

• Welcome Day
• Block Seminars
• Flexible Days (Flexitage)

Special regulations apply to BFD 27plus.

A main focus of the seminars is reflecting on the experiences from the daily work in the placements (practice reflection). Volunteers actively contribute to shaping the seminar content. Participation in seminars is mandatory and considered working time.

To get an impression of the seminar work, feel free to visit our Instagram account or check out our latest posts on the Social Wall.

Illness lasting more than 42 days – entitlement to sick pay.

See Leave of Absence.

All volunteers have a designated supervisor at their placement who is personally responsible for them. The initial training period of approximately four weeks is conducted by qualified staff members. Throughout the entire duration of the service, volunteers receive ongoing professional guidance, including regular reflection sessions. To support you in leading successful reflection sessions, we have compiled a set of materials for you.

Materials Reflection

To be recognized as the practical component of the university of applied sciences entrance qualification, the voluntary service must usually last a full 12 months.

Volunteers are entitled to 26 working days of vacation during a 12-month service. Vacation must be approved by the placement. The coordinating organization does not need to be informed. Closures at the placement (e.g., school holidays) should be considered when planning.

Seminar days are excluded from vacation.

If vaccinations (e.g. for hepatitis) are required, they must be arranged by the placement in accordance with the guidelines of the relevant professional insurance provider. Costs must be covered by the placement.

Please inform applicants about required vaccinations and procedures before the service starts.

The placement must provide protective clothing for any activities requiring personal protective equipment as mandated by the German Social Accident Insurance.

The standard weekly working time is 39 hours (exceptions apply in emergency services). Duty schedules are based on the specific conditions of the placement and may include shift and weekend work. Overtime and undertime should be avoided or promptly compensated. Generally, every second weekend is off. For volunteers under 18 years of age, the Youth Employment Protection Act applies.

Voluntary service is offered in three different working time models, both in the Youth Voluntary Service and in BFD 27plus.

The Youth Employment Protection Act (JArbSchG) applies to volunteers under 18 years of age. A summary is available here:

Youth Employment Protection Act