JEWISH CARE

Community engagement research volunteer for South London and Southern Counties

(Remote role working from home)

Role Summary:    Jewish Care are seeing a community engagement research volunteer to help with one of our newly expanded services providing outreach to people living in South London and the Southern counties predominately but could provide outreach further afield. The volunteer will help to research and build connections and contacts on behalf of our support team, both online through internet searches and also over the phone, with communities across the covered area. All work will be done remotely with online support from the staff team.

Time Commitment:  up to 1- 2 hours approx weekly

How this role makes a difference:    By providing research support to our Jewish Care Community Support colleagues, who provide important social care support to Jewish people in South London, Surrey, Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and Dorset.

What you’ll be doing in this role: 

• Exploring available services in an area (information and training will be given)
• Contacting hospitals for information gathering.
• Contacting hospitals and support services to ensure awareness of Jewish cares services.
• Using our central database to check that information is still correct and updating accordingly – check and confirm current details
• Contacting Social Services for information gathering and clarification around paid services.  – noting who you spoke to and the response
• Some “detective type” work trying to find Jewish links in selected smaller towns where we have census information showing over 100 people in the vicinity.   Full explanation to be provided.
• Contacting and researching voluntary organisations regarding availability of specific services  
• Phoning organisations asking about availability of accommodation – JLiving, housing associations.

Skills & experience required:

• Confidently engage with a diverse range of people on the phone and enjoy helping others.
• An ability to use internet search engines proficiently and to be able to extract information from websites
• Proficient use of Excel
• To provide information back by email or text  
• 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 as part of a team, to also stay within the role’s boundaries – recognising what should and shouldn’t be done and when to seek advice or report concerns.

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, 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.