Home Volunteers Small Steps Befriender, Medway

Small Steps Befriender, Medway

Service

Medway Small Steps

Time Commitment

12 months, 3 hours per week
Role Based Details

Meet with families in the local community or office, telephone calls from home and possible supervision in the office
Who does this role help?

Children, Families, Individuals or families living with additional needs, Parents
I'm interested

As a volunteer within a SEND Family Support Service you will be supporting families to overcome the complex challenges they face. You will help families to access the support they need to maintain resilience, empowering them to seek the appropriate care and access support that is responsive to their children and young people’s needs. 

Who you will be helping

Families with children and young people who identify as having additional needs can find aspects of life complex and challenging. Families often find themselves stressed and isolated as they seek to access or provide adequate levels of support whilst attempting to meet the needs of all family members.

Families who have access to practical tools, information and peer support find that they are better able to support their children and young people.

Our volunteers can help to empower parents to continue on a positive journey with their child/young person and provide emotional and practical support. 

The difference you will make

Volunteers within our SEND family support services fulfil a number of roles. Exactly what you do will depend on your skills and experience, and the needs of your local service.

You may help out at coffee mornings or events, talking to families and taking enquiries; you might be taking telephone calls from families and signposting to information. 

You may attend regular parent support groups to offer practical advice and emotional support. Encouraging parents to share experiences and support each other can have a positive impact on the parent’s wellbeing by making them feel less isolated. 

You could be involved in delivering short training sessions providing practical strategies in understanding and supporting a child or young person with additional needs.

You could become a befriender to our parents, encouraging them to re-connect with the community, supporting them to access other relevant services and overcome their challenges to build on a positive future.

Whatever your preferred role within the service, you will be making a real difference to families in your community.

Typical tasks within this role:

  • To attend the Volunteer Befrienders Training
  • Attend 1-1 supervision every 6-8 weeks and group supervision every 3-4 months
  • Undergo an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.
  • To make keep regular contact with your befriendee as agreed with the Project Coordinator
  • Support befriendee to access local services
  • To maintain confidentiality
  • To uphold Family Action values
  • Keep records of phone calls and visits made to befriendee as directed by the Project Coordinator
  • Attend occasional additional training sessions as identified by the project coordinator following your initial training and induction
  • To ensure you have an understanding of, and comply with Family Action’s procedures for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and vulnerable adults.
  • To comply with Family Action’s Diversity and Equality Policy and our Ethical Policy in every aspect of your work and positively promote the principles of these policies amongst colleagues, service users, volunteers and other members of the community.
  • To comply with Family Action’s Health and Safety Policy, Data Protection Policy and to protect your own and others’ health, safety and welfare.

Who are we looking for?

There is no typical Family Action volunteer. We want our volunteers to be as diverse as the people we support. We need volunteers with a range of life experiences, skills and knowledge. In return for giving your time and talents, you will receive quality training, ongoing support, and the reward of knowing that you are making a real difference. This role will particularly suit volunteers who:

  • Have some knowledge of and understanding or experience of neurodiversities including autism and/or ADHD. 
  • Can demonstrate a non-judgemental approach to others
  • Are Empathetic and good listeners
  • Have good relationship building skills
  • Feel confident in new situations
  • Have an awareness of the need for professional boundaries

What’s in it for you?

Family Action volunteers tell us that volunteering with us can be challenging at times, but it is also very rewarding. Many of our volunteers also report that they have enjoyed:

  • Becoming a part of Family Action, a national charity with over 150 years of experience supporting families
  • Meeting new people and being part of a team
  • Connecting with and making a difference to the lives of people in your community
  • Regular training and development opportunities
  • The opportunity to improve future employment prospects 
  • Developing new skills; increased confidence and self-esteem
  • Support and guidance from a dedicated mentor.

All Family Action volunteers receive full training and access to ongoing supervision and support as long as they are in the role.

Find out more

You may like to chat with a member of staff about whether this is the right role for you, or you may be ready to apply right now. 

Either way, just click the ‘I’m interested’ button below to leave your contact details, and a member of staff will be in touch to discuss your next steps in becoming a Family Action volunteer. 

I'm interested
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Find us

Family Action, Medway Voluntary Action, 5a New Road Avenue,
Chatham, Kent, ME4 6BB View Service

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