JEWISH CARE

Gardening and Activity Volunteer

Kun Mor & George Kiss home, Betty and Asher Loftus Centre, Friern Barnet

Role Summary:

Do you know your weeds from your wisteria, and could you spare a few hours a week or fortnight to help us maintain the wonderful patio gardens at Kun Mor and George Kiss Home? Jewish Care is looking for some volunteer gardeners to help keep our beautiful garden beautiful and help bring it back to its former perfect glory. Mainly maintaining plants, keeping on top of weeds and just general upkeep. Ideally someone with a little bit of knowhow, who understands general gardening and is willing to help residents get involved too. 

Time Commitment:  Flexible and to be discussed with line manager but potentially once per week or per fortnight.

How this role makes a difference:
The garden is enjoyed daily by residents, visitors, and staff. Outdoor space, plants and flowers pay a huge part in the wellbeing of our residents and having a lovely place to enjoy makes a big difference.  

What you’ll be doing in this role:

• Volunteers will need to advise on the general maintenance of the central garden
• Keeping on top of weeding, tidying and the general upkeep
• Ensure the garden looks pretty and is well planted
• Asses current planting and advise on growing and planting
• Enable the residents to get involved in helping with the maintenance 

Skills & experience required:

• An interest in working with older people within a Jewish environment and at extra care resource
• An understanding of gardening and horticulture
• Great listening skills, empathetic and non-judgmental with a friendly and warm personality
• At ease and able to engage with people with sometimes, complex, medical needs including dementia
• A commitment to volunteering weekly/fortnightly (weather dependant)
• Willingness to attend support sessions with other volunteers
  
  

Induction, Learning & Development:
Training is available so volunteers can carry out their roles to the highest professional standards, develop new skills, build confidence, make new friends and take on new and increasingly responsible tasks. 

Jewish Care will provide the following training, essential for this role:

• Provide you with access to a Volunteer Handbook and all Policies and Procedures.
• Provide Induction Training:  Getting to know Jewish Care, Communication & Disability Awareness, Boundaries & Confidentiality, Safeguarding, Health & Safety, GDPR.
• Provide on the job induction.

Benefits of Volunteering with Jewish Care:

Without our volunteers, we simply couldn’t function.  We absolutely depend on you.  Whatever your age, disability, whether you are working, unemployed or retired, there are opportunities to help at Jewish Care.

As well as helping others you’ll get the chance to develop skills, build confidence and make new friends.

• Enhance the lives of older people, making a real difference to the Jewish Community we support.
• Be part of a great team and make new friends.
• Build your confidence and develop transferable skills.
• Access to a comprehensive training programme designed for the social care environment.
• Gain valuable experience and enhance your CV

Our aim is to enable people to enjoy a first-class experience as volunteers, making the most of their skills to make an impact on the communities that Jewish Care serve.

Why get involved with Jewish Care?
The work of Jewish Care and the services we provide to our community are vital.  We touch the lives of 10,000 people each week, with everything we do being underpinned by our Jewish values and ethics.  We provide services to:

• Older people
• People with Mental Health needs
• Holocaust Survivors
• People who are living with Dementia
• People with physical and sensory disabilities
• People who care for others
  
  

We can only do this thanks to our amazing professional staff of 1,400 and the 3,000 dedicated volunteers who help make our work possible.

Next Steps to becoming a volunteer at Jewish Care:

Step 1:
Please complete an expression of interest form for this role, which will automatically create a profile on our volunteer management system.  After you have applied, we will be in touch to discuss this role in more detail.
Step 2:
Following a successful conversation, with a member of the Volunteers Team or Hiring Manager you will be invited for an interview (and asked to bring identification with you).
Step 3:
Following a successful interview, you will be offered the volunteering role and asked to add further information into your volunteer profile, providing two references and completing a DBS (previously CRB) application form online.  Additional paperwork may need to be completed for some roles e.g. volunteer driver.
Step 4: 
You will be invited to attend mandatory Volunteer Induction Training. Training is to enable volunteers to carry out roles to the highest professional standards, develop skills, build confidence and meet other new volunteers
Step 5:  Mazel-tov/Congratulations!
Once we have received and recorded a suitable DBS, satisfactory references and training has been completed, you are officially part of the Jewish Care Volunteer network!

If you would like to speak with someone from the Volunteers Team to find out more about this role or others, please do not hesitate to contact us: volunteering@jcare.org or 020 8922 2405.

This is a voluntary position that supports the work or our services and is not replacing the work of a paid member of staff.  This role does not form any part of any contract of employment.