Community Response Service Volunteer

What is the purpose of this role?
The “Community response service” is a new and innovative collaboration between Nottingham & Nottinghamshire ICS and Age UK Notts to improve the quality of care of older people in the community and releasing capacity in our urgent health and social care services. Support is offered through the provision of low-level interventions (not including personal or medical activities) and holistic support planning, including the following activities:

• A non-clinical ‘Home Response Service’ to support a person in their home and releasing clinical responders or social workers until an ambulance arrives to convey them to hospital.

• Safe and Well Checks –following discharge from hospital Age UK Notts will offer ‘safe and well’ checks, to ensure they have everything they need to remain at home safely.

• Strength Based signposting - Ensuring relevant connections back into the community to promote independence and improve wellbeing.

• Carer breakdown – Age UK Notts to provide interim support for urgent carer breakdown affected by hospital admission.

What impact does this role have?
The key purpose of this role is to enable older citizens to achieve positive wellbeing outcomes by helping them to manage their health and social care needs and reduce hospital admissions.
The Community Response support workers and volunteers will provide direct support and empowerment to people to help reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and promoting independence in the community/

What activities might you be involved in?
The following are examples of the type of support you could be asked to provide:
 Nonclinical support whilst awaiting ambulance arrival / carer support.
 Social interaction and companionship,
 Shopping or supporting to arrange online shopping or deliveries,
 Collecting prescriptions,
 Monitoring general well-being,
 Emotional support and confidence building,
 Support for individuals to make appointments and transport arrangements,
 Encouraging citizens to eat, drink and take appropriate exercise,
 Helping people complete forms,
 Support with phone calls,
 Provision of information both verbally and with relevant literature,
 Introductions to social activities,
 Signposting and referring to other local internal and external services,
 Encouraging healthy lifestyles,
 Recording of patients records onto the Charity’s electronic database system

When would you be needed to volunteer?
Ideally, we ask all applicants to commit to providing a minimum of 2 hours volunteering a week at a time to meet your availability and our service requirements.

What training will you be given?
You will be given all the training you need to fulfil your role. Everyone will receive an induction into the Charity.

What can you gain from this opportunity?
 The opportunity to make a difference to a vulnerable person’s life
 The opportunity to be part of a new innovative service
 Ongoing support, ensuring your volunteering experience is a fulfilling and positive one
 Experience to add to your CV
 The opportunity to meet new people and make new friends
 Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses as defined in Age UK Notts’ volunteer handbook

Additional Information
Please note an Enhanced (Adults Barred List) DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check is required for this role which will be undertaken by the Charity at no cost to the volunteer, after being offered the role.