You will visit Hammersley Home members in their own home, to provide companionship, offer a listening ear and support them in improving, their overall wellbeing. This may involve accompanying them on shopping trips, helping them access local social groups and activities, and encouraging them to engage with their community, develop new interests, and explore creative and positive ways to enhance their quality of life. The role requires empathy, patience and the ability to build a supportive and trusting relationship.
About the Outreach Home Visiting Programme
The Outreach Home Visiting Programme 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 ‘in person’ support to clients living in their own homes and out in the community. Volunteers can help clients to access services and support which they struggle to access by themselves.
Duties include
- Befriend and provide emotional and practical support to clients to help them maintain independence and relieve loneliness
- Observe and monitor the clients’ wellbeing, in person, ensuring their health, safety, and welfare paying close attention to any changes in behaviour
- Support clients with tactful guidance, encouraging independence, self-care, happiness, and social contact and integration where possible
- Support clients to achieve their ambitions as set out in their support plans
- Encourage clients to remain compliant with their medication and attend medical, legal or social appointments
- Support clients to maintain their existing skills and develop new ones
- Encourage clients to look after their own home, 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 Outreach Programme Manager so that this can be arranged)
- Always treat clients with dignity and respect
- Perform all duties in accordance with the organisation’s policies and procedures
- Be aware of, and follow the procedures for, reporting any safeguarding concerns or incidents. Report any safeguarding concerns to the Outreach Programme Manager by completing the report form at https://hammersleyhomes.org/report-form/
- Record notes accurately after each visit, and report any concerns, incidents, or safeguarding issues to the Outreach Programme Manager
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What are we looking for in an Outreach Home Visitor?
- An approachable and friendly disposition with a clear understanding of appropriate boundaries
- The ability to communicate with a wide range of individuals with diverse needs
- The ability to volunteer flexible hours at home, by phone, to suit the needs of our clients
- Commitment to helping others
- Empathetic with good listening skills
- Good problem solving and initiative abilities
- Patience and emotional resilience
- Experience of safeguarding adults at risk, advantageous but not essential
What can Hammersley Homes offer you as a volunteer?
- Full induction training plus essential training including First Aid, Safeguarding Adults, Mental Health Awareness, Equality, Diversity and Human Rights
- Monthly supervision sessions
- The opportunity to develop new skills and enrich your CV
- The opportunity to meet other adult volunteers and make friends
- A regular newsletter and invitations to attend our social events
- The opportunity to undertake additional training
- You may ask for pre-approved expenses for petrol etc. as per Hammersley policy
And … The chance to make a huge difference to the lives of the adults we support at Hammersley Homes!
Benefits to self
The member benefits from having a companion, someone who befriends them, offers them hope and can improve their overall wellbeing. Through agreed goals and outcomes the member can be assisted to achieve their potential.
Benefits to others
Enables you to learn about someone's mental health concerns, befriend them and empower them to make improvements to help their general wellbeing. An opportunity to learn new skills and develop general skillset.
Location
Accessible to where you live, maybe using public transport but ideally having your own.
Training available
There will be relevant training as part of your induction.
Hours per week
Flexible but to be discussed at interview.
Fund-raising targets
You will not be directly involved in fundraising.
Transport details
Ideally you will have youe own transport but this is not essential, it may be possible to to use public transport.
- Activity AreaDrugs and Addictions Support, Elderly Care, Health and Social Care, Mental Health, Wellbeing, Communication/ Caring, Local Community
- Employability Skills within ActivityBuddying, Counselling, Mentoring, Empathy, Organisation, Collaboration, Communication, Critical Thinking, Decision Making, Emotional Intelligence, Feedback and Evaluation, Interpersonal, Teamwork
- Sustainable Development GoalsGood Health and Well-being
Employability skills
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Communication
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Interpersonal
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Teamwork
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Timekeeping
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Relationship Building
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