Volunteer Befriender

**Volunteers Training will start 21/06/2023**

**Volunteer Role Description**

**(befriending or similar)**

**Role: Befriender**

**Service or project: Energise Families**

**Location: Hounslow**

**Purpose**. The aim of the project is to get families to have fun together by offering them activities to do in the home as well as in the community whilst offering them the emotional support they and their families may need. You will support families to make changes in their lives, to feel connected to their community, to offer a space where they can explore solutions, feel more confident as a parent and to build better family relationships.

**Supervised by: Velma Simeon**

**Activities**

The volunteer will be fully supported and trained to provide the following activities:

- Offer practical and emotional support to (families accessing the Energise Family Project Hounslow.
- Use the Family Lives support model and tools to provide an empathic support service
- Ensure that all service users receive a high quality experience
- Signpost users to other agencies for information and additional support
- Provide support on a one-to-one basis either in the family home or community settings to build and maintain a positive relationship with the family over 3 to 6 months.
- Help the family to attend appointments and access community facilities
- Provide information about and signpost family to resources or support services and that may help them with some of the practical, emotional and parenting issues they are experiencing.
- Support family in attendance at meetings with other specialist services.
- From time to time, as requested, help Family Lives raise awareness of the project by engaging in outreach work e.g. stands and drop-ins at local community venues and distributing promotional materials.

**Expectations of volunteers**
- Attend the initial three-day volunteer training and the half day induction training
- Participate in regular support, one to one meetings and Practice Development Groups (PDGs).
- Maintain confidentiality (according to the guidelines of the project) and adhere to the other policies and procedures of the organisation and project.
- Maintain regular contact with their supervisor and inform them if they are unavailable.
- Provide session records and other reports as directed.
- Follow policies and guidelines designed to ensure volunteer safety.

**Time**

The role of peer support volunteer requires a commitment of 1-2 hours a week plus attendance at one to one meetings (1 hour every 6 weeks) and regular development and training groups. Initial training will be approximately 15 hours spread across three days. The ideal minimum commitment is for a minimum of 6 months.

**Location**

Working within family homes and at various community venues in Hounslow.

What **volunteers** won’t be expected to do
- Communicate with services directly on behalf of the family e.g. by engaging with practitioners at meetings or by making telephone calls to services the family are already engaged in
- Undertake practical support e.g. shopping, housework etc. on behalf of the muM/Family, unless you and your mentor believe this will move the family forward significantly
- Offer childcare/respite care

**Volunteer** **benefits**
- Satisfaction and enjoyment in making a real and lasting difference to families who are struggling
- An opportunity to develop experience and skills for future training and work.
- Being part of a team of Family Lives staff and volunteers
- Opportunities to meet and interact with a wide range of people
- Out of pocket expenses reimbursed
- Flexible hours

**Volunteer Person Specification**

We are looking for individuals who:

- have experience of parenting and/or a caring role or demonstrable experience of work with parents or children e.g. in their work, previous volunteering or a previous role
- are good listeners and have an ability to empathise with all parents regardless of race, gender, age, religion or belief, nationality, marital status, sexual orientation, or disability
- can demonstrate a willingness to question their own attitudes e.g. toward different forms of parenting
- can remain open minded and non-judgemental
- have good written and verbal communication
- have good keyboard and IT skills
- are willing to commit to work within Family Lives’ policies, in particular our Confidentiality Policy and Risk of Harm Procedures, ensuring that Family Lives can keep the volunteer and families using the service, safe at all times
- are able to work individually as well as part of a team and attend team meetings and PDGs and 121 review meetings.
- are prepared to travel to local venues and events
- are willing and able to give a minimum of 6 months’ commitment to the project

**Job Type**: Volunteer

**Salary**: £7.47-£18.04 per hour

Schedule:

- Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person

Reference ID: Volunteer Befriender in Hounslow
Expected start date: 21/06/2023