Blackburn with Darwen - Community Support (Befriending)

Using their local knowledge of community services and groups, our Community Support Volunteers work with people who are not family or close friends and help tackle social isolation by using their excellent interpersonal skills to establish a mutually beneficial mentoring relationship with the service user. The benefit of having a regular meeting with a Community Support Volunteer helps to increase the confidence, resilience and independence of the service user, as our Community Support Volunteers actively support, encourage and empower them to achieve specified and agreed goals and objectives

You must be willing to go through an induction process and relevant background checks; this role is subject to an enhanced DBS check.

TASKS:

• To regularly visit the individual on a 1 : 1 basis either in their own home or a community setting
• To regularly support the individual to achieve agreed positive goals to promote their independence – The role is unique to every individual’s needs and circumstances
• To provide regular feedback on the progress of the individual via an on-line computer system
• To log volunteering hours monthly and submit expenses where applicable via an on-line computer system
• To complete minimum level training e.g. Safeguarding and commit to further training relevant to role

REQUIRED QUALITIES:

• Must be over 18 years of age
• Commitment of 1-2 hours minimum per week / Flexible
• Minimum commitment of 6 months is required
• Understanding of vulnerability
• It would be an advantage to have an awareness of key issues – alcohol, drug abuse, mental health etc.