MAKING THE LINK VOLUNTEER ROLE DESCRIPTION

Supported by:Case Worker/Social Care Team Leader

Role Purpose:To support and empower an older person to attend activities that will help them improve their overall health and well being and reduce isolation.

Tasks & Responsibilities:

  • After a referral from a case worker, to contact the client to arrange a first meeting, on a one to one basis, possibly in the client’s home.
  • Introduce the client to activities or groups they might not have tried before, but would like to.
  • Supportthe client to overcome any barriers to improving their health and wellbeing.
  • Encourage and motivate the client to be more physically active, or to engage socially or take other steps to improve their health and wellbeing.
  • Discussing with the person what activities they might like to try.
  • Arranging to attend activities with the person you are supporting using the mode of transport they will use after you withdraw support.
  • Attending activities with the person you are supporting.
  • Attending support/advice sessions with other Making The Linksvolunteers.
  • Contributing to the collection of information about how the project runs.
  • Refers all information and advice enquiries to the Case worker to be forwarded to the relevant member of staff.
  • Provide a brief summary of each meeting with the client to the Case worker by email.
  • Attend 1:1 sessions with the supporting Case worker

Skills & Experience:

  • Good listening and communication skills essential.
  • Patience and tact.
  • A caring, sympathetic, sensitive manner and a non-judgemental approach.
  • Willingness and confidence to work without direct supervision, on your own in the community.
  • Reliable/dependable/flexible.
  • Understanding of confidentiality (working with Age UK Leeds policies and procedures).
  • Commitment to understanding the needs of older people.
  • Have a positive outlook and be enthusiastic.
  • Willingness to help raise self esteem/confidence through a positive befriending relationship.

Time Commitment:Flexible depending on the needs of the client, but will range from 1-3 hours per visit. Visits could take place weekly for up to 8 weeks for confidence building, or could be on a one-off basis.

Age UK Leeds Commitment:

All Age UK Leeds volunteers are offered a full induction. Volunteers also have access to training, informal supervision, briefings and opportunities to participate in social events.

Age UK Leeds will provide specific training on Safeguarding, Professional Boundaries and anything relevant to the role.

All agreed out of pocket expenses such as travel costs will be met by Age UK Leeds and paid into the volunteer’s bank account on receipt of a valid expenses sheet.

We offer:

  • full support and training
  • work experience
  • opportunity to develop new skills and interests
  • chance to meet new people
  • an opportunity to contribute to and be part of an established organisation specialising in the knowledge and understanding of the older people of Leeds

We encourage volunteers to stay for a minimum period of six months to make full use of the training and support offered. A full DBS will be completed and references received before commencement

Volunteers will benefit from the experience of working with older people living with long term medical conditions. This could enhance skills providing opportunities in relation to future career development or for your own personal development.

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