Face to Face Befriender
OFFERED BY:
Rushcliffe Community and Voluntary ServiceLocation(s): Outside of Nottingham City
Address where volunteering takes place: This opportunity is offered at various locations across Rushcliffe How many places are on offer? Several
Purpose of Role:
Rushcliffe CVS supports residents who are experiencing loneliness due to social isolation.
People can become socially isolated for various reasons including retirement, bereavement, disability, no local family or friends, poor health, low confidence or disability.
By matching them with a volunteer who spends time with them on a regular basis, the aim is to provide some social interaction and company, therefore helping them to feel less lonely.
People can become socially isolated for various reasons including retirement, bereavement, disability, no local family or friends, poor health, low confidence or disability.
By matching them with a volunteer who spends time with them on a regular basis, the aim is to provide some social interaction and company, therefore helping them to feel less lonely.
ROLE DESCRIPTION:
Providing company by visiting someone in their own home or garden.
Listening, sharing experiences and hearing about those of the person you’re getting to know.
Sending weekly welfare check reports in to let us know how the befriending match is going
Treating what you hear as confidential and sensitive
Reading and following our policies and procedures – designed to keep you and the people we support safe and happy.
You should be able to commit a few hours a week.
We encourage volunteers to stay for a minimum period of six months.
What you could get out of it
• Make a real difference to a person’s life -
• Put retirement or spare time to good use
• Meet interesting people from all walks of life
• Share hobbies and try out new activities and groups
• Get more involved in your community
• Develop skills – enhance your CV or employment opportunities
• Join a caring and respected organisation
• Make friends and have fun!
We provide induction training to ensure volunteers are prepared for their role and to help them feel more confident. Other training sessions on particular topics to develop knowledge and skills will be organised when a need is identified.
Volunteers are reimbursed for all reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred whilst volunteering. This includes travel and activity costs.
Befrienders will be supporting individuals unsupervised and are therefore required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Befrienders will also need to provide two references.
The selection process will involve completing a short application form and a chat with the co-ordinator to discuss the befriending service in more detail. After this, if the role seems like it would suit you, we will follow up on references, arrange the DBS check and invite you in for training.
Listening, sharing experiences and hearing about those of the person you’re getting to know.
Sending weekly welfare check reports in to let us know how the befriending match is going
Treating what you hear as confidential and sensitive
Reading and following our policies and procedures – designed to keep you and the people we support safe and happy.
You should be able to commit a few hours a week.
We encourage volunteers to stay for a minimum period of six months.
What you could get out of it
• Make a real difference to a person’s life -
• Put retirement or spare time to good use
• Meet interesting people from all walks of life
• Share hobbies and try out new activities and groups
• Get more involved in your community
• Develop skills – enhance your CV or employment opportunities
• Join a caring and respected organisation
• Make friends and have fun!
We provide induction training to ensure volunteers are prepared for their role and to help them feel more confident. Other training sessions on particular topics to develop knowledge and skills will be organised when a need is identified.
Volunteers are reimbursed for all reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred whilst volunteering. This includes travel and activity costs.
Befrienders will be supporting individuals unsupervised and are therefore required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Befrienders will also need to provide two references.
The selection process will involve completing a short application form and a chat with the co-ordinator to discuss the befriending service in more detail. After this, if the role seems like it would suit you, we will follow up on references, arrange the DBS check and invite you in for training.
SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:
Volunteers should have:
• A genuine interest in the wellbeing of people and the issues associated with loneliness and isolation.
• Patience, empathy and a non-judgemental attitude.
• Ability to provide encouragement and support in a sensitive and non-judgemental manner, with people from a variety of backgrounds.
• Good listening and communication skills and enjoy chatting
• Ability to use own initiative.
• Honesty
• Common Sense
• Willing attitude
• Ability to deal appropriately with confidential and sensitive information
• An ability to work independently but also to work within the boundaries of the role, recognising what should and shouldn’t be done and when to seek advice or report concerns.
• Good time keeping and reliability
• Basic literacy and organisational skills – able to keep basic written records about visits and activities.
• Willingness to participate in training and to work within the policies and procedures of the project and of Rushcliffe CVS.
• A genuine interest in the wellbeing of people and the issues associated with loneliness and isolation.
• Patience, empathy and a non-judgemental attitude.
• Ability to provide encouragement and support in a sensitive and non-judgemental manner, with people from a variety of backgrounds.
• Good listening and communication skills and enjoy chatting
• Ability to use own initiative.
• Honesty
• Common Sense
• Willing attitude
• Ability to deal appropriately with confidential and sensitive information
• An ability to work independently but also to work within the boundaries of the role, recognising what should and shouldn’t be done and when to seek advice or report concerns.
• Good time keeping and reliability
• Basic literacy and organisational skills – able to keep basic written records about visits and activities.
• Willingness to participate in training and to work within the policies and procedures of the project and of Rushcliffe CVS.
WHEN REQUIRED:
This grid shows when you can volunteer for this opportunity.
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | |
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| Afternoon | |||||||
| Evening |
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Are there age restrictions for this opportunity? Yes
Age Restrictions:
18+
Are there gender restrictions for this opportunity? No
Gender restrictions:
Is the opportunity accessible to disabled people? Yes
Disability restrictions:
Please talk to us about your access needs
How long before volunteer can expect a response?
We will try to respond to volunteer enquiries within one week
How long to complete training and recruitment?
This opportunity has a comprehensive training programme. See Role Description for more information.
Volunteer Expenses offered? Yes
Induction and Training offered? Yes
Support and Supervision offered? Yes
Has a risk assessment been carried out? Yes
DBS Disclosure required? Yes