Volunteering at The Children's Trust

Role Title: Pets as Therapy (PAT) Volunteer

Location: The Children's Trust Tadworth

Duration: Ongoing

Time commitment:  1 hour a week

About The Children’s Trust :   

The Children’s Trust is the UK's leading charity for children with brain injury.
Come and join our team of dedicated volunteers who support us in the vital work that we do, to give children with brain injury the best life possible. 

Role purpose:    
We are looking for a Pets as Therapy Volunteer to promote young people’s engagement with animals. 

What will the role involve?

• A meet and greet session for young people where the volunteer may be asked questions about their animal.  The young people may wish to pet the animal.
• Spending time, supervised by a member of staff, with an individual child to work on their therapy goals as advised and directed by a member of the therapy team at The Children’s Trust.
• Being aware that others may not be confident around animals but may want to make gradual interaction with the animal over several weeks.

What skills and experience will you need?    

• You will need to be registered with Pets As Therapy
• Sensitivity to the confidence others may have with animals and adapting approach to meet their needs
• Confidence to direct a young person’s interaction with the animal.
  Adaptability and flexibility 
  A 'can do' attitude

What can this role offer you?    

• References for any future job
• Volunteer Certificate and recognition of thanks 
• Local travel and lunch expenses will be paid in line with our policy
• Develop experience of working with young people with brain injury and communication skills with therapists and young people with additional needs.
• Ongoing support 

Please note to become a volunteer in this role you will need to:

• Complete necessary compliance checks, including references
• Undertake a basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check 
• Complete online mandatory training

How to apply?    

Please click the 'fill in an application form' link at the top right of the page  and make sure you click 'sign up' to the scheduled activity. 

 

Important Information

Online Searches

In accordance with statutory safeguarding and child protection guidance, online searches will be conducted for all onsite volunteer candidates prior to an informal chat. The online searches will be conducted by a person who is independent of the informal interview and selection process and will focus on relevant information returned via searches of the candidate’s name (and variations thereof). Social media searches will be limited to professional platforms such as LinkedIn. Any concerns relating to suitability for work with children and young people will be forwarded to the volunteer supervisor attending the informal chat for discussion.

Safeguarding

­The Children’s Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.  To achieve our commitment, we will ensure continuous development and improvement of robust safeguarding processes and procedures that promote a culture of safeguarding amongst our workforce, including volunteers.

The Children’s Trust has policies on safer recruitment, the recruitment of ex-offenders and criminal record checks.  Please refer to the Volunteering team for further information.