The nature of most volunteer work requires that the information you receive is to be kept confidential. In the course of your volunteer assignment you may learn certain facts about individuals being served by the organization that are of a highly personal and confidential nature such as a person's medical condition, finances, or living arrangements. You may also discover information about other volunteers that is not meant to be disclosed. In most cases you will be asked to sign a confidentiality agreement or pledge. Require accountability and support from the organization you choose to serve.
Most organizations have a staff member assigned to direct or coordinate their volunteers.
Talk to that person openly about your volunteer assignment or experience. Feel free to discuss issues around training, supervision, interaction with other staff and mutual expectations. A few years back I had the good fortune to serve as director of a small hospice program. The delivery of hospice services has traditionally relied heavily on the skills and talents of numerous volunteers. Consequently we maintained an aggressive volunteer recruitment, training and retention program.