Family Support Volunteer - Hart & Rushmoor

Some of the most complex issues facing families today (including: drug and alcohol issues and domestic abuse), can have a huge impact on the stability of family life, and will have a significant impact on the health, wellbeing and development of the whole family.

All families encounter challenging times and many will find ways to deal with their problems, however, there are times when problems can seem too overwhelming to manage - However with the right kind of support, families can and do overcome their difficulties.

As a family support volunteer you will work alongside parents and carers to provide support by visiting families in their home to deliver support and help improve family relationships and prevent breakdown.

Volunteers will receive full training on how to deliver support which will equip them to provide advice. They will visit families, usually in their homes, to build up on-going relationships. Volunteers will have access to support and advice whilst delivering the volunteering activity.

The volunteer will:

• Work with the volunteer coordinator to agree a match to families.
• Attend an introduction meeting with the family and the volunteer coordinator.
• Engage with the family.
• Explain how the support will be delivered and agree next steps.
• Discuss and agree information sharing with the parent/carer.
• Record and share information as agreed.

Volunteers may work with more than one family at a time (depending upon the time they are able to offer).

The amount of support each family requires will vary depending upon their needs. Volunteers will need to be able to commit to a couple of hours a week and be able to offer ongoing support to a family. The amount and timing of support to each family will be discussed and agreed at the initial matching stage.

Skills

Training and support will be provided therefore previous experience is not essential. Our next round of training for this role is in April  - the induction training is on 19th and 24th April.

We are seeking volunteers who feel able to:

• Communicate and ensure people, with varied levels of ability, understand information.
• Build and maintain positive, on-going relationships with parents/carers.
• Listen and remain calm and impartial when dealing with families.
• Deliver parenting advice and support and constructively challenge behaviours where appropriate.
• Record information.
  
• Respect differing views of individuals and work in a non judgmental way.
• Respect confidentiality and the agreed information sharing process.
• Have the confidence to report concerns to their Volunteer Coordinator.
• Be able to describe their role and maintain professional boundaries.