Telephone Emotional Support Volunteer (Children & Young People)

Interested in counselling, youth work, social work, or mental health services?

We have an exciting opportunity for a telephone support volunteer providing emotional support to children with mental health and education needs, as well as parent/carers on our Drop the Pressure Project. This could be an ideal position for you if you have a few hours to spare to make a real difference each week on this vital service to support mental health.

This service sits within our ‘Glow’ projects that was created to meet the demand for imaginative expert support for children and young people and their families who are impacted by mental health often correlated with special educational needs and disabilities.

A Bit About Us

Love Squared is a not-for-profit that works with children, young people and families impacted by social, emotional and mental health. It offers imaginative expert support for children and young people at both primary and secondary school age, and their families who are disadvantaged because of social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) difficulties. We run a range of specialist services and projects to support children and young people who might be feeling anxious, stressed or suffering in silence. These range from small group therapeutic projects to mentoring to advice and advocacy. Our approach is holistic and is about sensitive joined up working where we really listen to what the young people need.

We work with children and young people at both primary and secondary school age who are disadvantaged because of social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) difficulties. They often have a diagnosed mental health condition or are waiting for a diagnosis, and it is often correlated with a history of trauma or psychological distress, or another disability, learning need, or physical illness. Many of the children we work with are also affected by issues such as domestic violence, abuse, identity issues, bullying and many are young carers.

Whilst each child is affected differently, common issues that we see are: Problems accessing school either through non-attendance, or difficulty focusing and thriving at school, difficulties making friends leading to significant social isolation, issues with confidence and self-esteem which can lead to difficulties leaving the house or even their rooms for days at a time, panic attacks, suicidal attempts or ideation, self-harm, and difficulties accessing support and help from statutory services.

We want to make three key differences:

• Improved mental health
• Reduced social isolation
• Increased ability to thrive at school

Your volunteer responsibilities will include:

• Answering and making calls and texts and offering advice, advocacy and emotional/practical support to service users.
• Follow up admin e.g. logging session notes
• A commitment to safeguarding best practice and follow up support which might include escalating safeguarding concerns to the on-site safeguarding officer or contacting external organisations e.g. social care.
• A commitment to attend any relevant training and reflective practice sessions for role development e.g. all volunteers must attend internal safeguarding training at least once a year, alongside informal learning opportunities through other relevant training opportunities and supervision.
• Proactive follow up with young people which may on occasion include face to face meetings and other follow up with local and national authorities/charities or schools for advocacy needs. We like to make stuff happen for our young people in the best possible ways!

Ideally you will have:

• A genuine passion for helping children and young people.
• Emotional resilience.
• Be imaginative and proactive about problem solving.
• Good communication skills.
• Patient, empathetic, and calm phone manner.
• A willingness to give and receive feedback.
• Knowledge of confidentiality and safeguarding process.
• A belief in and commitment to our values.
• Ability to use initiative and be able to work without supervision.
• Ability to commit to at least 1 year with us.
• We want our volunteers to get the most out of their experience with us both personally and professionally. Let us know what you are after and we’ll see if we can support you.

Role details

We require 1 shift per week (4hrs). This time includes working on the telephone service and any follow-up care or appropriate escalation to the team. The Drop the Pressure emotional support service currently runs weekly on Thursdays 4-8pm. The successful applicant must be able to regularly commit to these hours. However, if you are not able to do this but love the sound of the role, then do please let us know as we have other roles available and will go out of way to find opportunities that can work as long as it also meets the children’s needs!

What you will gain:

• Opportunity to turn your passion for supporting young people into real positive change for a small not for profit, where every person is capable of having profound impact.
• Chance to be part of a lovely warm and supportive team.
• Opportunities for professional/career development.