Volunteer Befriender - York, United Kingdom - MySight York

Description

MySight York is a hard working, independent, local charity working to help people with sight loss to remain independent. Our aim is to support people in York to live well with sight loss.

The Home Visiting Service is a free service in which volunteers provide companionship and support to people living with sight loss to help them be more independent.

The Volunteer Role

Home Visitors are volunteers who provide companionship and practical and emotional support to members who are living with sight loss.

Home Visitors can carry out a variety of tasks:

visiting at the client's home for a chat, opening and reading correspondence or going out to help with non-food shopping or for a social activity.

Home Visitors cannot carry out personal care, help with food shopping or doing shopping for clients, help with finances, cleaning or doing household tasks.

Most clients prefer either a weekly or fortnightly visit for a couple of hours. Most Home Visiting matches last longer than 12 months. Volunteers and clients are carefully matched, taking into account interests, skills, availability and geographical location.


Volunteer Specification
Volunteers must be over 18 and provide 2 references. No previous experience of supporting people with sight loss is necessary as full training will be given. Volunteers need to be good listeners, non-judgemental and have an understanding of how to deal appropriately with confidential information.

Volunteers must undergo a basic DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check. Depending on the activities carried out during visits an Enhanced with Barred List DBS check may be required.

An offending history will not necessarily be a bar to volunteering - each case will be judged on an individual basis.

We welcome volunteers from all backgrounds and with a wide range of interests, life experience and skills.

MySight York believes in equality of opportunity for all members, including volunteers, and values all individuals, regardless of their age, race, religious beliefs, colour, disability, ethnic origin, nationality, marital/parental status, gender, gender identity or sexual orientation.

A copy of MySight York's equal opportunities policy is available upon request.

It is important that volunteers make a commitment to visiting their client regularly.

We are looking for volunteers who can volunteer for at least 2 hours weekly or fortnightly for at least 12 months.

Training

All volunteers are required to participate in 2 initial training sessions to learn about supporting people with a visual impairment, and to complete a short on-line safeguarding course.

Regular training sessions are held throughout the year and volunteers are required to attend at least two short sessions a year.

Support and Supervision
Ongoing support is provided by the Befriending Service Manager. Volunteers are required to attend a supervision session every 12 months.

Travel expenses to and from a client's home can be claimed; when taking clients out the client is expected to make a contribution towards travel and any additional costs.

Insurance
Volunteers are insured under MySight York's Employer Liability Insurance and for Personal Accident. (Volunteers over 70 will have a reduced level of Personal Accident insurance).

Where a volunteer uses their own car for volunteering, including commuting to their volunteer role and/or transporting clients or equipment (including our collection boxes), they must check that their own car insurance covers them for volunteer use.

Job Type:
Volunteer


Benefits:

• Flexitime

Work Location:
In person