JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title:Befriending Co-ordinator

Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland - Joining Forces

Hours of Work:18.5 hours a week

Responsible for: Project Volunteers

Accountable to:Head of Information and Advice

Senior Independent Living Co-ordinator

Job Purpose:To establish and develop the work of the Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland Joining Forces Project Befriending Service. The Project will provide a specialist befriending service for Veterans over the age of sixty five years of age and/or their dependents living in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

The Joining Forces Project has been established by Age UK through the Aged Veterans Fund, funded by the Chancellor using LIBOR funds.

Duties and Responsibilities

Major Tasks:

  1. Establish, develop and co-ordinate the Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland Joining Forces Project Befriending Service to provide a specialist befriending service for Veterans, over the age of sixty five and/or their dependents.
  1. To be responsible for the recruitment and on-going support of a team of volunteers from a diverse range of communities and backgrounds.
  1. To develop volunteer recruitment campaigns and where appropriate, work in

collaboration with both Age UK nationally and other agencies, especially those working alongside ex-military personnel and their families.

  1. To ensure that prospective volunteers have suitable references and DBS checks.
  1. To provide induction and agree initial and on-going training needs and source

suitable training opportunities for volunteers in liaison with Age UK Leicester

Shire & Rutland’s Training Department.

  1. Develop and manage a referral system for the Joining Forces Projectfrom other statutory and non-statutory agencies as well as facilitating self-referrals.
  2. Arrange appointments to undertake aninitial assessment of needs ensuring that individual preferences are taken into consideration when matching volunteer visitors to befriendees.
  1. To match and allocate work to volunteers as appropriate taking into consideration theneed to provide a service that is culturally appropriate.
  1. Undertake, where necessary, end of case reviews and develop a procedure to support both individuals and volunteers during the process.
  1. To support, manage and supervise the volunteersand ensure they are provided with relevant information about the Joining Forces Project and other matters pertaining to the work of Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland and other organisations working alongside Veterans.

11. Where necessary provide information and support or make appropriate referrals

to enable individuals, carers and family members to obtain access to other

support services.

12. Develop good communication and working practices with other statutory and

non-statutory organisations to ensure that there is a multi-disciplinary and

collaborative approach to providing support for Aged Veterans living locally.

13. To help promote the work of the Joining Forces Project through the use of

publicity material, local press and social media.

14. Undertake talks/presentations on the work of the Joining Forces Project to

and socialcare professionals and other agencies.

15. Establish good working relationships with general practitioners, health centres,

Adult Social Care, hospitals, Clinical CommissioningGroups and organisations,

such as SSAFA, the Royal British Legion and other military or regimental

organisations.

16. Maintain up to date records on the Client Relationship Management (CRM) data

base and STEPS tool and prepare both qualitative andquantitative reports on a

regular basis.

17. Help to evaluate and monitor the work of the Joining Forces Project.

18. Ensure that all work undertaken by the Project is carried out in a sensitive,

empathetic, respectful and non-judgemental manner and at all times ensuring the

dignity of the Aged Veteran and/or their dependents.

19. Maintain an up to date knowledge of issues relating to Veterans and local

services.

20. When necessary attend key meetings and training relating to the work of the

Joining ForcesProject, Age UK Leicester Shire and Rutland and Age UK

nationally.

21. To attend regular supervision sessions.

Health and Safety

  1. To become familiar with all policies and practical implementation with regard to Health and Safety, including manual handling, accident reporting and fire procedures.
  2. To undertake essential training as required.

Working Practices/General

  1. To be aware of and implement Age UK Leicester Shire and Rutland‘s policies including Health and Safety, Equality and Diversity, Professional Boundaries, Lone Working, Safeguarding, Confidentiality, Complaints and Access to Records.
  2. This post is subject to an enhanced disclosure application with the Disclosure Barring Service as to the existence and content of any criminal record.
  3. Any other duties that may reasonably fall within the purview of the job.

This job description sets out the responsibilities of the post at the time it was drawn up. Such responsibilities may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the post level of responsibility entailed. Variations are a common occurrence and do not of themselves constitute additional responsibilities.

June 2017