Telephone Befriender Greenwich

Volunteer role: Telephone Befriender, Greenwich Befriending Programme

Responsible to: Health, Wellbeing and Befriending Development Co-ordinator referred to as the Project Co-ordinator.  

Time commitment: Up to one-hour weekly telephone call to a client. Attendance at volunteer support meetings. All our volunteer roles are from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. We are closed at weekends, public holidays and over the Christmas period.

Location: At home

Greenwich Befriending Programme:  We want our Greenwich Befriending Programme to make a real difference. Our volunteers are a crucial part of this programme’s success, and we welcome new volunteers, joining our team, as this enables us to reach more older people by increasing the number of our groups across the borough.

Befriending Service: Greenwich Befriending Programme helps you get out and about, meet others, socialise, and make new friends whether it's in your own home or out in the local area. Our service offers a vital lifeline to older people who are experiencing social isolation and or loneliness.

Role Summary: Providing a listening ear to our clients, making a difference to support older people’s wellbeing and to reduce isolation and loneliness.

What will I be involved in?

• Successfully complete online training courses for Age UK Bromley and Greenwich volunteers.
• A weekly telephone call made from your home to keep in regular contact with your client providing social contact.
• Encourage your client to engage and take part in friendly conversation by listening carefully and asking open-ended questions.
• Be observant to your client’s needs and do actively keep in regular contact with the Project Co-ordinator, reporting any concerns, pass on requests for help or referral needs.
• Ensure that the required log of visits is returned promptly to the Project Co-ordinator at the end of each month. The logs are read by the Project Co-ordinator and uploaded to our client records and provide vital communication of how each client/volunteer match is going. The information provided helps us to highlight the work we do and can be used for case studies and reporting.
• Report any concerns re the client’s mental and physical health to the Project Co-ordinator.
• Participate in volunteer support meetings with the Project Co-ordinator and any training on safeguarding adults and appropriate boundaries.
• At all times work in accordance with the organisation’s policies regarding Health & Safety, Equality & Diversity, Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults and Confidentiality & Data Protection. Lone working.
• Represent the professional standards of Age UK Bromley and Greenwich and ensure that you wear your volunteer id badge whilst volunteering.

What skills and qualities will I need to have?

• Enjoys spending time with and talking with older people aged 50+ from a wide range of backgrounds.
• Be a good listener and have empathy with older people, being approachable and welcoming.
• Interested in learning and developing new skills required of the role. Demonstrate that you are interested in what the client has to say by communicating respect and warmth. Encourage the person to say more and think more deeply about their thoughts and feelings.
• Listens to the person’s tone of voice and expression as well as their words.
• Develop a non-judgmental approach. The listener may personally disagree with the client’s opinions or actions but attempts to understand the client’s point of view and shows that they still value the client.
• Being able to maintain client confidentiality, understand the importance of keeping within the parameters of the befriending role and have a good understanding of GDPR and Data Protection

Benefits of getting involved:

• Being part of a team who are passionate about helping Greenwich residents 50+, to develop interests, form friendships and connect better with their local community.
• Committed to supporting the befriending service to deliver a difference to their clients.
• Ongoing support and role training given.
• Opportunities for networking with other volunteers and being part of a wider volunteer team.
• Awareness of Age UK Bromley and Greenwich social events, services, and projects

Other information: Prospective volunteers will complete a recruitment process and be required to provide details of two references and agree to submit details for and undertake an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) check. All our volunteer roles are 18+, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Age UK Bromley & Greenwich will reimburse all expenditure reasonably incurred. Receipts to be provided with expenditure claims.