People First Café Volunteer Team Member 

Reporting to: Café Team Leader

Contract: Voluntary Position

Salary: Expenses will be provided

Location:     The People First Café - Northern Centre for Cancer Care, Carlisle. 

Who we are  

People First Independent Advocacy is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee, providing a wide range of support and information services across the North of England, aimed at helping people to live informed, respected, healthy and fulfilled lives. We have been delivering services for 30 years and have a deep understanding of our communities and the unique challenges they bring. We also deliver People First Services, a registered charity, the object of which is the relief of people with a learning difficulty primarily through the running of the People First Conference Centre. Our Head office is based in Carlisle, supported by offices in Barrow and Leyland.  

The Department  

The Café at the Northern Centre for Cancer Carlisle is the beating heart of the building where staff and patients alike find respite and hope from their treatment and days' work.  

We serve Fair Trade tea and coffee sourced from local suppliers and homemade cakes, bakes and delicious sandwiches and salads...all using our excellent Cumbrian produce. 

You will be part of our café community who support each other to deliver quality service in a caring environment.  

The Role 

We take pride in in personal and caring service to both patients, visitors and staff alike.  

By serving food and drink you will enable people to have a moment to sit, relax and enjoy a moment by themselves, with colleagues and with friends.  

Your Team Leader will offer full training and your colleagues will be there to support you on your journey with us.  

Maternity & Neonatal Engagement Volunteer

Volunteering with local MNVP projects across Lancashire.

What is Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership?

A Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership (MNVP) is an independently led NHS working group for mothers, birthing people and families to share their maternity and neonatal experiences with commissioners and providers. By sharing their experiences, they are involved in the design, improvement and implementation of maternity services. This ensures that services are designed to meet the needs of local women, parents and families.

One of the main functions of a MNVP is to engage with and listen to families in their community about their experiences of maternity and neonatal care. As an MNVP volunteer, you will be an essential part of our team in ensuring people’s voices are collected and heard in the right places.

Lancashire & South Cumbria MNVPs are currently hosted by Healthwatch Lancashire/People First.

We have volunteering roles available in:

East Lancashire MNVP

Preston, Chorley & South Ribble MNVP

Blackpool Fylde & Wyre MNVP

Baywide MNVP (Lancaster, Morecambe, Kendal, Barrow)

What will the role involve?

You could get involved with the following:

• Working with the MNVP Lead and other volunteers to engage with different communities within Lancashire & South Cumbria to collect feedback and experiences on maternity and neonatal experiences.
• Reaching out to seldom heard groups, including those most at risk of experiencing health inequalities, parents with experience of neonatal care, and bereaved families.
• Holding engagement and information stands in community settings such as community centres, hospitals and antenatal clinics.
• Keeping a record of people’s experiences through online surveys, case studies and focus groups and communicating this with the MNVP Lead.
• Taking part in annual ‘fifteen steps’ and ‘walk the patch’ exercises to gather feedback from people currently using maternity and neonatal services.

Personal specification/requirements

• Confident working with diverse groups of people, organisations and networks, particularly people with lived experiences, along with a commitment to equality.
• Awareness of challenges local people face accessing maternity and neonatal services.
• Effective communication skills and ability to ask questions and listen well to engage with people.
• Passionate about improving local maternity and neonatal services.
• Respectful of confidentiality.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check

As this role can involve working with children and adults at risk, Healthwatch require an Enhanced with Barred List DBS check for this role. As a volunteer, this check is free of charge and will be applied for through Healthwatch Lancashire.

How will we support you?

You will have regular contact with the MNVP Lead, as well as contact with the Volunteer Coordinator, to provide you with support and guidance throughout. You will receive full training and induction and be part of a team who will make sure that your volunteering experience is positive.

How much time is involved?

Our volunteering roles are flexible and fit around your schedule. Ideally, volunteers would be able to make a regular commitment to the role on a weekly or monthly basis, but this role can also be ad-hoc to suit your lifestyle.

We will always work closely with you to ensure your volunteering role fits with your other personal and social commitments.

How to apply

You can apply for this role by filling out our online expression of interest form here (Expression of interest / initial application form)

If you have any questions or you would like to find out more, please call us on 01524 239100. 

Please outline any accessibility requirements that you may have in the application form so that we can best support your application. 

We look forward to hearing from you.

Healthwatch Community Engagement Volunteer

Overview

As a Healthwatch Community Engagement and Outreach volunteer, you will play an important role in speaking to people in the community about their views on local health and care services. You will speak  with people at hospitals, libraries, shopping centre stalls, and other Healthwatch and community events. Online engagement via social media and other platforms may also be part of this role. 

Why should you be a Healthwatch Community Engagement and Outreach volunteer? 

If you like talking and listening to people, this is the right role for you. We have a vital role to play in ensuring people in our area are engaged, listened to and provided with an avenue to tell us their views and opinions.

By people sharing their experiences with us we can bring these to health and care providers and decision makers to influence services to make them better. You will be an essential part of our team in ensuring people’s voices are collected and heard in the right places. We need you to be the best that we can be. 

What will the role involve? 

• Working with Healthwatch volunteers and staff team to reach out into different communities to get people’s views on health and social care services  
• Planning engagement activities with other volunteers and staff members 
• Engaging people using online platforms e.g. Zoom, Microsoft Teams and/or via phone 
• Keeping a record of people’s experiences and giving these to Healthwatch staff members  
• Holding engagement and information stands in community areas such as hospitals, GP Surgeries and dentists
• Talking to and gathering views of the public and reporting this back to us
• Helping us conduct surveys and consultations with local people

Personal specification/requirements

• Effective communication skills and ability to ask questions and listen well to engage with people 
• Enjoys meeting with and talking to members of the public
• Empathy towards people 
• Passionate about improving local health and social care services
• Able to separate own experiences from other people’s issues and to faithfully present the views of the people they represent
• Able to work as a team with other volunteers and staff 
• Experience of using Microsoft Office, including Word 
• Access to the internet/email 
• Be comfortable using online meeting platforms e.g. Zoom or Microsoft Teams (training can be provided in the latter) 
• Respectful of confidentiality 

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check
As this role can involve working with children and adults at risk, Healthwatch require an Enhanced with Barred List DBS check for this role. As a volunteer, this check is free of charge. 

How we will support you? 

As well as the People First volunteer handbook, you will have regular contact with the Volunteer Coordinator to provide you with support and guidance throughout. You’ll receive full training including induction to People First and Healthwatch and be part of a team who’ll make sure your volunteering experience is positive. 

How much time is involved?

Our volunteering roles are flexible and fit around your schedule. Ideally, our local Healthwatch Volunteers would be able to make a regular commitment to the role on a weekly or monthly basis, but this role can also be ad-hoc to suit your lifestyle.

We will always work closely with you to ensure your volunteering role fits with your other personal and social commitments.

How to apply

You can apply for this role either by filling out our online expression of interest form here (Expression of interest / initial application form)

If you have any questions or you would like to find out more, please call us on 01524 239100.  

Please outline any accessibility requirements that you may have in the application form so that we can best support your application.  

We look forward to hearing from you.

Healthwatch Enter & View Volunteer

Overview

An Enter and View Volunteer listens to people’s experiences of health and care services, including people living in residential homes to understand what is working well and what can be improved. 

We visit a range of health and social care facilities including residential homes, GP surgeries, Day centres, Maternity facilities, and hospitals.

Why should you be a Enter and View Volunteer?

You’ll be helping to make life better for people by using the insight to make tangible differences to health and care services. You’ll meet a wide range of people who rely on health and care services. You’ll gain valuable experience which may support your job aspirations. You’ll meet new people, be part of the Healthwatch team who act as the public champion for health and care and make a difference for your local community. 

What will the role involve? 

• You will be part of a team which plans Enter and View visits, including speaking to service managers.  
• You will talk to people, including family members, carers and staff to get a full picture about how services are working 
• You will record these experiences and with your team write a report on what’s working well and areas for improvement 
• You will support the Healthwatch staff who talk to service managers about the changes needed 
• As part of a team, you will check back to make sure the changes are making a difference 

Personal specification/requirements

• Comfortable talking to people from a range of backgrounds, including about sensitive issues
• Able to balance being warm and approachable with maintaining impartiality 
• Ability to analyse information to find out what’s working well or needs improvement 
• Enjoyment and ability to work in a team 
• Computer skills, including Microsoft Word (support can be provided if you do not have this) 
• Comfortable to take a rapid flow Covid test if needed 

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check

This role involves working in an environment with vulnerable adults, and is eligible for an Enhanced Disclosure DBS check.

How we will support you? 

As well as the People First volunteer handbook, you will have regular contact with a named staff member to provide you with support and guidance throughout. You will receive full training and be part of a team who will make sure your volunteering experience is positive. 

How much time is involved?

The Enter and View Team organise visits over several weeks usually with one or two visits each week. Each Enter and View visit lasts approximately 3-4 hours.  

Volunteers commit to the date and times they are available for, there is no minimum or maximum number to commit to. We will be as flexible as possible to fit around your availability.  

How to apply

You can apply for this role either by filling out our online expression of interest form here (Initial application / expression of interest form)  or by calling on 01524 239 100.

Please outline any accessibility requirements that you may have in the application form so that we can best support your application.  

We look forward to hearing from you.

Healthwatch Mystery Shopping Volunteer 

Overview

Healthwatch Mystery Shopping Volunteers help Healthwatch by directly contacting health and social care providers in our area to gain an insight into what it is like to use these services. 

Why should you be a Healthwatch Mystery Shopping Volunteer?  

If you have a passion for your local community and making services better for people in those areas and beyond, then this is the right role for you. You will gain direct insight into what it is like to enquire and try to use these services. 

We have a vital role to play in ensuring that all health & social care services in our area are accessible and fit-for-purpose for those who need to use them. We carry out 'Mystery Shopping' in order to report on our direct experience of using these services.  

This opportunity is flexible and may involve only some or all of the activities below. You tell us how you would like to contribute, and we will do our best to fit the role to you.

What could the role involve?  

• Identifying trends in the feedback we regularly receive from people
• Planning mystery shopping projects to clarify information and gain direct experience of the service 
• Collaborating with people with lived experience to put together scripts and questions for the project 
• Calling or emailing services to ask the relevant questions for the project 
• Keeping a record of the services you have spoken to
• Reporting your findings back to the team (usually via email or telephone call) 
• Working on project reports (if you would like to) 

Personal specification/requirements

• Able to work as a team with other volunteers and staff  
• Able to work alone to carry out mystery shopping tasks from home
• Experience of using Office software (support is available if you do not have this experience)
• Access to the internet/email 
• Be comfortable volunteering from home and using online meeting platforms e.g. Zoom or Microsoft Teams (training can be provided in the latter)  
• Respectful of confidentiality  

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check

This role does not require a DBS check.

How we will support you?  

You will have regular contact with a member of the Healthwatch team to provide you with support and guidance throughout. You will receive any training you want or need, including an induction to Healthwatch, and you will be part of a team who will make sure your volunteering experience is positive.  

How much time is involved?

This role is flexible, and the time commitment will be agreed by you and your Volunteer Supporter.

How to apply

If you have any questions or you would like to find out more, please call us on 01524 239 100, complete the expression of interest form here, (Expression of interest / initial application form)  

Please outline any accessibility requirements that you may have in the registration form so that we can best support your application.  

We look forward to hearing from you.

Healthwatch Community Champion 

Overview

Healthwatch Community Champions are our eyes and ears on the ground, in the community sharing what we do as well as sharing back information collected within our communities.

Why should you be a Healthwatch Community Champion?  

If you have a passion for your local community and making services better for people in those areas and beyond, then this is the right role for you. You will the ‘eyes’ and ‘ears’ of what is happening within the community. We have a vital role to play in ensuring people in our area are engaged, listened to and provided with an avenue to tell us their views and opinions about health and social care services.

This opportunity is flexible and may involve only some or all of the activities below. You tell us how you would like to contribute, and we will do our best to fit the role to you.

What could the role involve?  

• Being a link person between Healthwatch and other organisations; members of the public and community groups
• Helping us gather people’s experiences of using health and social care services from all communities
• Receive and cascade information that Healthwatch sends out
• Refer people to Healthwatch to have their voices heard or to be signposted to the correct place
• Distributing leaflets to locations or groups near you e.g. GP surgeries, shops, churches or social groups
• Support engagement work in communities by being active in your own local area, representing and channelling the views of local people. 
• Engaging people using online platforms e.g. Zoom, Teams  
• As a Healthwatch Community Champion you will be committed to improving health and social care services alongside other volunteers and the Healthwatch team

Personal specification/requirements

• Able to work as a team with other volunteers and staff  
• Experience of using Office software (support is available if you do not have this experience)
• Access to the internet/email  
• Be comfortable volunteering from home and using online meeting platforms e.g. Zoom or Microsoft Teams (training can be provided in the latter)  
• Respectful of confidentiality  

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check

This role does not require a DBS check.

How we will support you?  

You will have regular contact with a member of the Healthwatch team to provide you with support and guidance throughout. You will receive any training you want or need, including an induction to Healthwatch, and you will be part of a team who will make sure your volunteering experience is positive.  

How much time is involved?

This role is flexible, and the time commitment will be agreed by you and your Volunteer Supporter.

How to apply

If you have any questions or you would like to find out more, please call us on 01524 239 100, complete the expression of interest form here, (Expression of interest / Initial application form) 

Please outline any accessibility requirements that you may have in the registration form so that we can best support your application.  

We look forward to hearing from you.

Healthwatch Community Research Volunteer  

Overview

Healthwatch Research Volunteers help Healthwatch by identifying trends in Health & Social Care, reading new research and carrying out research tasks for our projects. 

Why should you be a Healthwatch Research Volunteer?  

As the patient consumer champion, we regularly hear about people’s experiences of local health and social care services.

 As a Community Research Volunteer, you will help us utilise what people tell us to help us identify and address health and social care issues within Lancashire.

This opportunity is flexible and may involve only some or all of the activities below. You tell us how you would like to contribute, and we will do our best to fit the role to you.

What could the role involve?  

• Identifying trends in the feedback we regularly receive from people
• Conducting desk-based research for our research projects, articles for the website etc.
• Assisting with our research projects e.g. facilitating focus groups, conducting phone interviews and taking case studies with the support of Healthwatch staff
• Helping expand our online signposting directory on our website
• Collating and analysing patient and public experience intelligence and data
• Opportunities to undertake your own mini-research projects with the support of Healthwatch staff

Personal specification/requirements

• Able to work as a team with other volunteers and staff  
• Able to work alone from home
• Experience of using Office software (support is available if you do not have this experience)
• Access to the internet / email 
• Be comfortable volunteering from home and using online meeting platforms e.g. Zoom or Microsoft Teams (training can be provided in the latter)  
• Respectful of confidentiality  

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check

This role only requires a DBS check if you opt to take part in case studies and phone interviews.

How we will support you?  

You will have regular contact with a member of the Healthwatch team to provide you with support and guidance throughout. You will receive any training you want or need, including an induction to Healthwatch, and you will be part of a team who will make sure your volunteering experience is positive.  

How much time is involved?

This role is flexible, and the time commitment will be agreed by you and your Volunteer Supporter.

How to apply

If you have any questions or you would like to find out more, please call us on 01524 239 100, complete the expression of interest form here, (Expression of interest / initial application form)  

Please outline any accessibility requirements that you may have in the registration form so that we can best support your application.  

We look forward to hearing from you.

People First Self Advocacy Group Volunteer

Reporting to: Self Advocacy Team Leader  

Contract: Voluntary Position 

Salary: Expenses will be provided 

Our Self Advocacy groups are led by people with learning disabilities

They are safe spaces where people:

• Speak up for their rights and help others do the same
• Support each other to say what they think and what they need
• Share ideas and information
• Can learn and gain new skills
• Plan and work together for change
• Meet new people and make friends
• Develop a stronger community and social networks
• Can teach people in the community about the rights, needs and issues of people with a learning disability
• Create strength in numbers
• Make change and let other people know what we want to change
• Can understand and find out about their rights
• No meeting is ever the same due to what people who attend have to say.  
• Our meetings must have some laughter and fun in them, or people will choose not to attend.  
• We do talk about serious stuff, but we don’t want people leaving without someone to talk to at home. 

Role Profile:

People First provides opportunities for people with learning disabilities to have their say in large and smaller groups in both Cumbria and Lancashire. Volunteers can help us prepare for the groups, help with the general running of the groups, and help to make sure everyone has their say in a group.

The role would mean you supporting the running of speak up meetings. 

• You may be asked to take minutes. 
• Support someone with a learning disability to set up tables and chairs and make sure the kettle is on.   
• Be a good listener.
• Be on time.  
• Attend other meetings to support people to represent other people who have a learning disability.  
• Be local to the groups meeting area.

Skills, Experience and Qualities:

• Good listening and verbal communication skills.
• Good literacy skills - taking notes and write formal letters.
• Able to assist and support people to speak up for themselves.
• Able to assist and support all kinds of people, many of whom may be disempowered, vulnerable and distressed.
• Committed to equitable opportunities practice and willing to challenge discrimination and prejudice.
• Committed to confidentiality.
• Able to be empathetic whilst maintaining professional boundaries.
• Help our people to express their views and needs regardless of your own opinions and experiences.

The volunteer role will be subject to DBS checks

Ongoing training and support will be provided

People First Work Placement Support Volunteer

Reporting to:     Employability Job Coach

Contract:                 Voluntary Position 

Salary:                      Expenses will be provided 

Location:                 Various locations around Carlisle

Who are we?

People First Independent Advocacy is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee, providing a wide range of support and information services across the North of England, aimed at helping people to live informed, respected, healthy and fulfilled lives. We have been delivering services for 30 years and have a deep understanding of our communities and the unique challenges they bring. We also deliver People First Services, a registered charity, the object of which is the relief of people with a learning difficulty primarily through the running of the People First Conference Centre. Our Head office is based in Carlisle, supported by offices in Barrow and Leyland.  

The Team

Based within the Inclusion Department, the Education Team provides personal development and vocational education, training and support for young adults with learning difficulties and / or autism.  Based at the People First Conference Centre in Carlisle, the Education Team. Our vocational training is centred around our Hospitality Academy where we prepare our learners for future hospitality roles in industry and the wider community.  

You will be part of our Education Team who support our learners in reaching their future employment and life skills goals.  Although most of our placements are in hospitality settings, we also provide opportunities for our learners to develop their interests in other areas and improve their employability and life skills.

Role Profile

A Work Placement Support Volunteer would accompany one or two of our learners to their work placement and support them in carrying out their tasks there. This role would include:

• Accompanying learners to and from their work placements, ensuring they arrive there promptly and return safely to the People First Conference Centre afterwards.   
• Providing on the job support for our learners.  This could include helping them serve hot drinks in a café, clean a van, or building up their confidence so they can talk to people.
• Communicating our learners’ needs to our Placement Partners and negotiating reasonable adjustments.
• Communicating our Placement Partners’ needs to our learners.
• Reporting back to the Employability Job Coach regarding the placement suitability, issues arising and successes.
• Completing administrative tasks as required which will include completing an end of placement report.

Person Specification

• Good organisational and time management skills.
• Good written skills and IT literate.
• The ability to listen to, engage and communicate with people from diverse backgrounds.
• The ability to deal with emotionally challenging situations with resilience and empathy.
• The ability to identify with and understand the needs of vulnerable and disadvantaged people.  
• An understanding of the needs and issues faced by people with learning difficulties and autism.
• A willingness to undertake relevant training.
• A commitment to valuing diversity and equal opportunities.

• A commitment to providing a high-quality service, centered on the needs of the learner.

Driving

A current driving licence and access to own transport is preferred for this role as some of our placements are in the area around Carlisle. However, we do have placements within walking distance of People First Conference Centre, so your own transport is not essential.

If you do use your car for this post you will be required to have the appropriate ‘business use’ insurance in place.

Safeguarding

People First is an equal opportunities employer, committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants must be willing to undergo a DBS check and any other safeguarding checks as appropriate to the post. The appointment will be subject to the satisfactory outcome of these checks.

People First Youth Projects Volunteer

A Youth Team volunteer would assist in the running of youth activities at the conference centre and out in the community.

Reporting to: Youth Team Leader

Contract: Voluntary Position

Salary: Expenses will be provided

Young People First

People First has worked with young people for over 18 years. Formerly known as ‘youth projects’, Young People First works with young people with learning difficulties and/or autism both at our conference centre and out in the community to have their voices heard, make friends, and make a difference. The Youth Team is a small, friendly team based in Carlisle at the moment, but we are looking to expand to West Cumbria in the future.

15-25 Club – Monday Nights

This project focusses mental health, wellbeing, aspirations and transition. The project looks to develop self-advocacy skills, supporting young people to be confident in their own voice, representing themselves and ‘rooting’ that voice in shaping their future. The young people in the group design their own social outings and make their own rules!

Youth Activities – Timetable Varies

Other youth activities are open to young people aged 10-25 with learning difficulties and/or autism. We aim to establish safe spaces through social activities like bowling, arts and crafts and trips out on the train, to museums and further afield.

Role Profile

A youth team volunteer would assist in the running of youth activities at the conference centre and out in the community. This would include:

• Helping youth workers set up for activities, meeting and greeting the young people and helping them get settled in.
• During activities you would support youth workers in keeping the group together, doing regular check-ins with the young people. You would be open to 1:1 discussion (within the larger group setting) and you would need to listen carefully for anything that might indicate a safeguarding issue and report back to the team. (Training is provided)
• Have crucial conversations with the young people and provide support or guidance.
• You would also give pastoral support to the young people and listen to what they have to say.
• This volunteer would also seek opportunities to take photographs of the young people engaging in activities which can be used to measure progress and further advertise the youth projects on social media.
• As well as helping run activities, the volunteer would assist youth workers in tidying up afterwards and ensuring all young people are collected by their caregivers.

Person Specification

The ideal candidate will have a good knowledge of technology and how this can be used to support young people with learning difficulties and/or autism meet their full potential. The candidate will need to be lively and energetic; but calm, compassionate and empathetic when required. The ideal candidate will be patient and able to identify with and understand the needs of young people with learning difficulties and/or autism. Experience in working with groups of young people. A good understanding of human rights and the disability rights movement is also desirable, however you would learn a lot about this volunteering with the team.

The volunteer role will be subject to DBS checks

There may be an informal interview/chat with the young people who attend our activities to get to know you first.

Ongoing training and support will be provided.