Support at Home Volunteer

Location:Boston

About the role
The aim of the Support at Home service is to place the person at the centre of what we do and help them get through a crisis by offering positive encouragement, practical help and emotional support, for a few days or for longer, depending on their needs.

About the Team
In the UK, our health and social care work offers valuable time-limited support for individuals vulnerable to crisis. From people recovering from illness, surgery or an accident, to struggling with a life-changing event, Support at Home volunteers enable people to live as independently as they can at home. They do this by building trusting relationships and helping them to regain their confidence and well-being, while working closely with health and social services. Volunteers can make the difference in preventing an admission to hospital or supporting a timely discharge at home.

About the person
We keep the beneficiary at the heart of what we do, working to understand their needs and the difference we make. You need to have good interpersonal, diplomacy, communication and teamwork skills and full training can be given for any necessary technical requirements. Also:

• Sensitivity when working with people vulnerable to crisis and an interest in their well-being
• An ability to provide patient, positive encouragement with the aim of helping people to help themselves
• An understanding of the differing physical needs of service users
• Ability to work independently and as an effective member of a team Willingness to attend volunteer induction and appropriate training for the role
• This role requires a DBS/PVG check to the appropriate level
• Uphold the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and adhering to the Society's Equal Opportunities Policy

Tasks Included in this Role:

• Visiting the service user on their arrival home from hospital.
• Keeping someone company for a few hours at a time.
• Helping with practical tasks like shopping, collecting prescriptions and light meal preparation.
• Sitting with the service user and relieving the relative or carer of continuous care.
• Keeping paper records of contact and activities undertaken with the service user.

What We Offer:

• The chance to work with a variety of different people from different walks of life and make a real difference to their lives.
• Recognition of the skills and experience you bring to the organisation with additional training given as required, so you can represent the Red Cross with confidence.
• A great opportunity to develop your existing skills and to gain new ones.
• The company of a warm and friendly team of like-minded people. Reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses when on duty.
• Being a volunteer for the British Red Cross means that you can proudly say you are part of the world's largest humanitarian organisation.

Additional Information
You may be required to undertake additional learning modules dependant on contract requirements or the scope of the project.

About the organisation
The British Red Cross helps millions of people in the UK and around the world to prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies, disasters and conflicts. We are part of the global Red Cross and Red Crescent humanitarian network and we refuse to ignore people in crisis.

Young People and This Role

We value the energy and enthusiasm that young people bring to this role. Anyone can volunteer with the Red Cross from the age of 15. An individual risk assessment, parental consent and safeguarding considerations will be required from those aged 15 - 17. Volunteers will need to be at least 18 to visit service users on their own but those aged 15 - 17 can be involved in a variety of activities such as promoting the service, supporting service volunteers, providing administrative support and undertaking training, if appropriate.

Our Promise
We value the skills and experience that people bring to the organisation. We will work with you to look at your knowledge and skills and help make an assessment about which elements of the learning for your role you will need to complete with us and recognise where you may already know all that you need to confidently and safely carry out your duties. We want to try and make sure that you get all the training you need, no more and no less.
As part of its recruitment and selection process the British Red Cross undertakes PVG/DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checking of all individuals who regularly work with or have access to children and vulnerable adults.