Volunteer - Befriender - Grangemouth
Description
We are looking for a Volunteer Befriender to support a service user who lives at Mackenzie Court retirement housing development in Grangemouth, FK3 8PZ.
About Bield
Bield Housing & Care is a registered charity. Our mission is to improve the quality of live for older people by offering a diverse range of housing, care and other services. We operate throughout Scotland.
The Role - Befriender
Volunteer Befrienders help service users who feel isolated or unable to get out very easily on their own by giving their time on a one-to-one basis to help an older person maintain social contact, provide companionship and reduce social isolation.
Volunteer Befrienders build a positive relationship with an individual service user and visit them on a regular basis in their own flat. Spend time and share activities with the service user, eg have a chat and a cup of tea, go out to an event or visit a local attraction.
Why do we need you?
Befriender
We are currently looking for a befriender to support one of our service users. She has expressed an interest in the following:
- Getting out of her flat and venture into the local community and town centre
- Visit local restaurants/cafes for light refreshments
- Go for a coffee or a meal
- To have support from a befriender to accompany her to social events within the lounge area at the development
- Companionship, someone to have a laugh with and chat about current topics
- Visit local garden centres - this lady enjoys gardening programmes
Duties of the Volunteer
- Support the service user from social isolation
- Supporting service user gain confidence getting out and about
- Encouraging the service user to continue with existing interests, hobbies and pastimes
- Enable the service user to get out and about and enjoy taking light refreshments in local cafes
When we need you
We expect a regular commitment from all our volunteers.
- The service user would enjoy weekly visits for a couple of hours each week.
- Preferred time is afternoon on any of the following days - Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday
The minimum time commitment is 6 months.
What skills and experience do you need?
No qualifications are necessary. We are looking for volunteers who are interested in working with older people, have good communication skills, are able to volunteer in an unsupervised capacity, and be reliable and willing to work as part of a team.
Befriender
- Ideally you will have access to a car
- An interest in older people & ability to converse
- Willingness to support service users achieve aims of getting out and about
- Share experiences, personable and caring by nature
- Understand the issues and matters affecting older people
All volunteers are expected to:
- Work within Bield's policies and procedures
- Promote independence and freedom of choice.
- Keep records of activities and give feedback to staff
Our minimum age for volunteering is 16 years old.
All volunteers can claim out-of-pocket expenses for travelling between home and the place of volunteering and for expenses incurred during the course of volunteering. For car users, re-imbursement is made at a rate of 45p per mile, up to 15 miles from the development (30 mile round trip). You will be able to gain valuable work experience, request a written reference, meet new people and contribute to your local community.
Training and Support
Support is given by an individual member of staff. You will receive an induction into your place of volunteering and the tasks you undertake, and be offered an initial four-visit trial period. All volunteers have access to our range of e-learning courses and other training may be undertaken, where appropriate.
As part of your induction you will be required to undertake some core learning which is undertaken by all staff and volunteers, including a befriender induction. It may be necessary for interview, induction and your 4-visit trial period and subsequent support to take place during business hours. This can be arranged with the local manager.
Other information
Please note that this is an unpaid, volunteer position and we thank everyone for their enquiry. However, we hope that you understand that all enquiries may not result in volunteer placements.
All volunteers are subject to a Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG)/Disclosure check. There is no cost of this to volunteers. If you have a criminal record you are encouraged to inform Bield at the application process. A criminal record will not necessarily debar you from volunteering with Bield.
To apply for this position please visit the Bield website and click on the Work With Us section and search REQ00674 in the key words search box.
