Volunteers & Befriending Co-ordinator

**Post Title: VOLUNTEERS/BEFRIENDING CO-ORDINATOR**

**Reports to**: Project Manager/Chief Executive

**Locations**: Based at Brent Carers Centre in the Willesden Medical Centre, but with travel to and work from locations across Brent

**Hours**: 14hrs It is expected the post holder will be required to attend conferences and meetings as appropriate, which will sometimes involve evening or weekends.

**Annual leave**: 20 days per annum pro rata plus bank holidays. All appointments are made on the basis of satisfactory references and DBS check.
Probationary period 6 months

**Salary**: £25,000 per annum

**Pension**: Brent Carers' Centre Pension Scheme and will contribute 3% of the post's salary. An employee needs to contribute a minimum of 5% of salary to their pension to receive the 3% contribution from Brent Carers Centre.

**Duration of Contract**: Fixed Term - 5 years

**Line Managing**: Volunteers

**PURPOSE OF POST**

To develop and maintain an effective Volunteering & Befriending programme for Brent Carers Centre.

To contribute towards the recording of monitoring & evaluation of outputs and outcomes as well as user feedback information so as to meet the requirements of funders and the organisation.

**DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES**

**Strategic Development**
- Maintain and develop Brent Carers Centre services of supporting carers volunteering & befriending opportunities, identifying opportunities to develop and/or signpost carers to available carer support training sessions, support groups, etc.
- Keep abreast of all strategic developments in relation to carers in locally, regionally and nationally.
- To continually consult with our key stakeholder and ensure activities delivered are relevant and delivery to a high standard.
- Attend strategic meetings in the Borough and providing a platform for carers to have a voice via carer participations groups, forum, consultation events etc.
- Keep your line manager abreast of any relevant developments in the borough which impact on Brent Carers' Centre in its strategic context.

**Co-ordinate and Supervise a Volunteers’ Pool**
- Initiate ideas to promote involvement and volunteering with the Brent Carers Centre. This will include distributing information on Brent Carers Centre latest projects and services.
- Develop, promote and maintain a wide range of volunteer opportunities. Promoting volunteering through recruitment, publicity strategies and campaigns.
- The Volunteer & Befriending Coordinator will lead in the budgetary process of the volunteer activity in compliance with our Volunteer Policy, Volunteers handbook and our Finance Policy. This is to ensure that all volunteers are re-imbursed for out of pocket expenses in relation to appropriate subsistence and travel expenses.

**Befriending Service**

The post holder will be required to support the development and implementation of all systems in respect of the following:
a) Volunteer Development and Support
- Recruit, select, train and develop volunteers to provide a range of befriending services to older and isolated carers and or vulnerable people.
- Ensure that new volunteers receive appropriate and consistent induction and understand Brent Carers Centre policies and procedures.
- Provide direct advice, support and supervision to an assigned group of volunteers to ensure they operate effectively.
- Assist the Project Manager in developing links with community resources and creating collaborative working partnerships that promote ongoing and effective volunteer recruitment.
- Best practice theory in respect of volunteer management is adhered to.

b) Assessment of Client Referrals
- Thorough assessment of incoming client referrals ensuring our service can meet their needs effectively.
- Managing the assessment and matching of a caseload of clients with volunteer befrienders.
- Clients are reviewed regularly to ensure that the service is effective in meeting goals identified in their assessment and plan.
- Report any concerns or issues relating to service delivery between volunteer and client to the Project Manager.
- Ensure a throughput model of client support is provided to ensure continuing accessibility to new referrals.
- Meet weekly with colleagues to discuss cases and seek support and provide feedback to Project Manager when required.

**Project Monitoring and Evaluation**
- Consistently record data required for Brent Carers Centre quantitative and qualitative monitoring and evaluation systems.
- Ensure the volunteers understand and implement systems to a high standard.

**Assist in Marketing and Publicity of Volunteering & Befriending Opportunities**
- Ensure the profile of the Brent Carers Centre and the services offered, are raised and maintained.
- Continually promote and raise awareness of our volunteering opportunities and our planned activities and training programme around the community and encourage carers to attend.

**General Responsibilities**
- In conjunction with the staff team, ass