Volunteer Visitor

SSAFA Visitors provide support to isolated people living at home or in residential care. Whilst a friendly chat about the old days over a cup of tea is an important aspect of the role you will also be able to recognise any other support needs and explore how to link your client into their local community.

**Why do we need you?**

We’ve been supporting the Armed Forces community for more than 130 years. Our clients come from all backgrounds and age groups, some people become isolated from family, friends and local services; older people may not have the same local networks as when they were younger. With the gift of time and a listening ear you can improve someone’s quality of life for far longer than the hour or so you might spend with them. We need you to join your local SSAFA team to help us to help more people

**When would you be needed and where would you be based?**

The essential part of the role is visiting clients, so you will need a driving licence and access to a vehicle or another way to travel to meet clients at home or elsewhere.

Some volunteers will visit more people than others. Whilst you will visit a client on a regular basis for a period, you will not be developing the kind of relationship where you would provide personal care, handle money or support someone in an emergency. SSAFA can help clients to arrange other types of support if needed.

**What would you be doing?**
- Contacting clients and arranging to meet them regularly at their home or care home for uninterrupted conversation
- Letting the divisional secretary know of any concerns for your or the client’s safety
- Arranging for a SSAFA caseworker to assess the client for other support as required
- Chatting, making a cup of tea, playing cards, looking at photo albums, military mementos etc
- Helping your client to think about ways to reduce their isolation and support them to put these into practice
- Keeping in touch with your branch so they know your availability
- Keeping up to date with training and SSAFA news so that you are best able to support clients
- Volunteering within the standards and values of SSAFA including observing our policies such as the Volunteering policy and Data Protection policy (these will be covered in your training and local induction.)

**What can you gain from this volunteering role?**
- Support people in your community with a military background using your patience, time and empathy
- Support from your local SSAFA branch and the wider SSAFA community
- Experience, training and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews
- Better physical and mental health - studies show that volunteers live longer and experience lower levels of stress and depression

**What about training and support?**
- Local Induction
- Volunteer Development Manager (per region)
- Access to the Volunteer Support Team based at our central office
- Training modules to complete at home, so you are up to date on how to keep clients, their families and personal information safe
- Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses

**What are we looking for?**
- Friendly and approachable people with good listening skills, patience and a cheerful attitude
- Good spoken English
- Ability to be respectful and non-judgemental with clients, their family, other agencies and SSAFA colleagues
- Ability to keep within the boundaries of the role with regards to friendship, finances etc.
- Reliable attitude, contact clients promptly, keep regular appointments, update the branch regarding your availability
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and keep information safely (within SSAFA policies)
- Willingness to travel by public transport or car to appointments with clients
- Able to provide two referees: former employers or other people that know you well (other than relatives)

We welcome volunteers of all backgrounds, abilities, races, sexual orientations, socio-economic backgrounds, and of all faiths and none. SSAFA are committed to making reasonable adjustments to support volunteers with disabilities, so they have access to the same opportunities and experiences as volunteers who do not.

**Safer Recruitment**:SSAFA undertakes a systematic approach and utmost care at every step of the process of volunteer recruitment, selection, and retention to ensure that those recruited are suitable and appropriate. Measures taken at points along this journey work together to make volunteering at SSAFA a positive and safe experience.

**Is a criminal record check required? **Yes
- *A disclosure certificate that contains convictions, cautions, warnings, reprimands or other information may not automatically mean that you are not able to volunteer. All certificates will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and, where possible, a modified or alternative role will be offered._

**Job Type**: Volunteer

Work Location: On the road