Fibromyalgia Support N. Ireland
HELPLINE INFORMATION
Working on our Helpline can be a very rewarding way of giving back to others what you, yourself, have gained from FMSNI by way of counselling and support. It can be a tough job to do sometimes as many of those phoning are struggling to come to terms with the diagnosis and some are literally on the verge of suicide. We are not an advice agency nor a true counselling service and you must be capable of recognising situations where you may not be the appropriate person for them to be talking to and be willing to refer them on to someone else.
It involves committing yourself to one afternoon a week at most and you need to be able to provide information accurately and appropriately - above all, you have to have had your own condition long enough and for it to be stable enough for you to not need similar help and counselling yourself as otherwise you will end up switching roles with the person phoning in and expecting them to provide you with information you should be providing them. You can appreciate that would be very unfair on those requesting your help. We will provide as much help, information and guidance on everything you're likely to encounter and you will be eased in where possible.
Once you have decided you definitely want to proceed we will offer you a choice of afternoons you can slot in – depending on the number of people available you may be able to rotate your days or even do fortnightly as opposed to weekly if necessary. Please also remember that your role is entirely voluntary – we cannot and would not under any circumstances put you in a position of guilt if you couldn’t fulfil your commitment in this respect – you do what you can when you can and we have plenty of means of enabling you to be flexible where possible e.g. changing afternoons/times etc. All we ask is that you don’t abuse that facility and attempt to keep to your allotted day as much as possible.
Please do not be offended if for any reason we turn down your application and we reserve the right to not have to provide a specific reason for doing so.
Fibromyalgia Support N.I.
PO Box 293
BANGOR
BT20 9AQ
N. Ireland
HELPLINE APPLICATION FORM:
Name: ______(Mr/Mrs/Ms/Other)
Address: ______
TOWN: ______
Postcode: ______
Tel No: Include code: ______
Email: ______Age: ______
How would you prefer to be contacted? Email
Telephone
I would like to be considered for the Helpline rota and am available on these days:
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday.
Please outline your experience in phone work and/or counselling etc or why you otherwise feel you would be suitable for this role – also provide us with some personal info such as when you were diagnosed and your own coping strategies etc :
Signed: ______Date: ______
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INVALUABLE SUPPORT