Hammersley Homes is a charity that was established in 2018 to provide lifelong support for adults who live with enduring mental health challenges and psychotic illnesses.We are looking for caring and empathetic volunteers to assist our members with day-today tasks. As a Home Visitor you will support clients to maintain contact with the outside world and help relieve some of the loneliness and chaos that they so often live with. Volunteers can help clients to access services and support which they struggle to access by themselves- for example helping a member to ensure they are receiving all the benefits they are entitled to.To ensure success as a Support Volunteer, you should have excellent interpersonal skills, a passion for helping others, and be able to empower individuals through emotional and physical support.A DBS check is a requirement of this role.
About Hammersley Homes
Established in 2018, Hammersley Homes is a charity that provides support for life, for vulnerable adults who live with enduring mental health challenges and psychotic illnesses. Our aim is to establish a nationwide network of Day Centres, Outreach Services and Supported Housing schemes. We focus upon increasing people’s quality of life, whilst decreasing the likelihood of relapse into a mental health crisis. Implementing ongoing support provides an opportunity to notice if there is any notable decline in the person’s health or wellbeing.
Home visits
The Home Visits Support Service was set up to support people living with long term mental illness who may be suffering from the debilitating effects of chaotic lifestyles, loneliness and/or social isolation. The main aim of this service is to provide support to members living in their own homes and out in the community. Our focus is to help people to live their best life.
About the role
We are looking for caring and empathetic volunteers to assist our clients with day-today tasks. As a Home Visitor you will support members to maintain contact with the outside world and help relieve some of the loneliness and chaos that they so often live with. Volunteers can help members to access services and support which they struggle to access by themselves- for example helping a member by ensuring they are receiving all the benefits they are entitled to.
To ensure success as a Support Volunteer, you should have excellent interpersonal skills, a passion for helping others, and be able to empower individuals through emotional and physical support.
Duties
As the name suggests, a Home Visitor has a friendly disposition and supports the beneficiary with company, tactful guidance, presenting options for the person to make informed choices and encourages:
- Independence
- Self-care
- Happiness and contentment
- Social contact and integration where possible
- Guidance and referrals for other support when desired/required
You will achieve this by:
- Maintaining a person-centred approach: Providing emotional support by talking to the members about their needs and listening to their concerns
- Practical support: Helping clients to go shopping, arrange and attending medical appointments, helping with a memory jog for medication, sorting out mail, support with online access, access to other services
- Supporting members to participate in leisure activities and hobbies, e.g., a walk at the local park, knitting or attendance to a group
- Observing and monitoring the wellbeing of the member, paying close attention to any changes in behaviour
- Supporting members to maintain their existing skills and develop new ones
- Encouraging members to look after their own home, their personal hygiene and health (volunteers do not support with domiciliary duties including personal care, administration of medication or cleaning. If extra support is required, volunteers must inform the co-ordinator so that this can be arranged).
- Supporting members to achieve their ambitions as set out in their support plans
- Recording notes accurately on the App after each visit, and reporting any concerns, incident, or safeguarding issues to the Co-ordinator
It is expected the visit will last two hours maximum dependent on the contract signed by the member. You may have more than one member per week. To ensure continuity and guidance for you, you will be asked to write a short report after each visit.
You may ask for pre-approved expenses for petrol etc. as per Hammersley Homes Volunteer Policy.
You will be expected to
- Always treat all individuals with dignity and respect
- be aware of, and follow the procedures for, reporting any safeguarding concerns or incidents
- keep accurate records
- attend training, team meetings and supervision
- ensure the health, safety, and welfare of clients
- support individuals on a one-to-one basis, with support from Hammersley Homes.
- Perform all duties in accordance with the organisation’s policies and procedures
What are we looking for in an Outreach Home Visitor Volunteer
- 18+ years of age
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Commitment to helping others
- Empathetic with good listening skills
- The ability to treat all individuals with dignity and respect.
- Good problem solving and initiative abilities
- Patient and emotionally resilient
- Observation, monitoring and honesty
- Flexible with a positive attitude; ability and desire to work effectively with others as one team
- Willingness to learn new skills
- Confident
- Able to work independently
- Minimum of 1 hour commitment per week or 2 hour per fortnight
What can Hammersley Homes offer you as a volunteer?
- An accompanied first visit with a Co-ordinator
- A debrief after your first visit
- An Identity badge and mobile phone
- Travel expences reimbursed
- Monthly 1:1 support sessions
- A regular newsletter and invitations to attend our social events
And … The chance to make a huge difference to the lives of the vulnerable adults we support at Hammersley Homes!