Purpose
Sight Support West of England and our partner charity Wiltshire Sight exist to reduce the impact of sight loss for people living in the local area, providing services to enable blind and partially sighted people to lead fulfilling, independent lives.
We are looking for friendly and confident volunteers to join our Telephone Befriending Service to provide crucial social interaction for local people living with sight loss. A friendly voice on the phone on a regular basis can make a huge difference to someone’s emotional wellbeing and ability to access local support and services.
What will you be doing?
- Calling a client on an agreed regular basis for a friendly and supportive chat and making sure that they have everything they need
- Listening actively to your client and getting to know them whilst sharing your own interests and experiences
- Treating what you hear as confidential and sensitive
- Keeping us up to date on how your volunteering is going at regular telephone support sessions and referring any queries and concerns back to the Volunteer Coordinator
- Reading and following our policies and procedures - designed to
keep you and the people we support safe and happy
What skills and experience are needed?
- Good listening and communication skills
- Empathy / understanding towards others and an interest in what others have to say
- A non-judgmental and positive approach and the desire to motivate and encourage others
- Confidence when using the telephone
- An ability to work independently but also stay within the role’s boundaries – recognising what should and shouldn’t be done and when to seek advice or report concerns
- A good understanding of confidentiality
What will you gain from the role?
- The knowledge that you are helping to make a real difference to the lives of people living with sight loss at this challenging time
- Experience of working with a variety of people
- A greater understanding of sight loss
- Useful new skills
What support will be given?
- Induction and training (telephone/online)
- Regular support and supervision from the Volunteer Coordinator
When will you be needed?
A mutually convenient day and time will be agreed between the client and yourself.
How often will you be needed?
- We ask for a minimum contribution of 30 minutes per week.
- A minimum of three months’ commitment is required.
References
We will ask for two references from someone you have known for at least two years and are aged 18 or over. They must not be a family member/partner or live in the same household as you but can be a friend. References can be given by email or over the phone.
Disclosure and Barring Service Information
This role requires a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check.