JEWISH CARE

Jewish Listening Line Volunteer
Volunteering from Home

Role Summary:  

This volunteer role is to take calls on behalf of JLL (Jewish Listening Line). Working remotely from home, you will be provided with a handset and full training, and will be answering and listening to client calls with empathy and without judgement.  

Time Commitment: 

Each shift is 3 hours long, within JLL operating hours which are between Noon and Midnight Mon – Thurs, Fridays 12pm-3pm.

Volunteers are expected to do 2 shifts per month, or more.

How this role makes a difference:

This important role enables clients who call the Jewish Listening line to feel heard and supported through listening. The line is open to anyone, and the role of the volunteer is to listen to the clients. The role is not there to offer advice, volunteers will be given full training on signposting to other organisations where required. Problems are diverse. They Include relationships with family and friends, mental health challenges, financial issues, loneliness.

What you’ll be doing in this role:

After successfully completing the training, you will be:

•  Given a handset for your use for each shift.
•  3 hour shifts at times to suit your schedule.
•  Speak to a supervisor after every shift to debrief.
•  Listen without judgment to calls that come during your shift.
•  Follow guidelines including to never give advice (full training will be given).
•  Keep the confidential nature of the JLL.

Skills & experience required:

• A kind voice, empathy, and ability to respect role boundaries.
• The ability to work from a quiet space at home.
• To attend occasional group meetings and on-going training.
• Confidently engage with a diverse range of people and enjoy helping others.
• Reliability, consistency and dependability.
• Good conversational and listening skills with a clear speaking voice.
• Patience, empathy and a non-judgemental attitude.
• The ability to work independently and also as part of a team.
• To stay within boundaries – recognising what should and shouldn’t be done and when to seek advice or report concerns.

Induction, Learning & Development:
Training is essential 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, as well as any specialist training relevant to your volunteer role. 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!

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.

If you have any questions at all about volunteering with Jewish Care, please contact volunteering@jcare.org or telephone 020 8922 2405.