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Befriending Coordinator
| Posting date: | 29 January 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £30,160 to £30,160 per year, pro rata |
| Hours: | Part time |
| Closing date: | 19 February 2025 |
| Location: | IP20 9AB |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Harleston Information Plus |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: |
Summary
The Befriending Coordinator will oversee the day-to-day running of the Befriending Service, ensuring it effectively supports local residents by alleviating loneliness and fostering meaningful connections. The role involves managing all aspects of the service, including volunteer recruitment, training and supervision, promotion and administration, while maintaining regular contact with both service users and volunteers.
Key Responsibilities:
Service management:
Oversee the Befriending Service to ensure it meets the needs of local residents.
Coordinate the delivery of the service and provide support for service users and volunteers.
Utilise resources, guides and toolkits from the Befriending Networks to support the service.
Liaise with external partners including Community Connectors, other organisations and charities to provide a high-quality and comprehensive service.
Promote and advertise the service to raise awareness and encourage engagement.
Volunteer recruitment and support:
Recruit, induct and provide training for volunteers joining the service.
Carry out DBS checks and regularly review records to ensure compliance and up-to-date information.
Provide ongoing support and supervision to befriending volunteers.
Arrange training for befriending volunteers around mental health, wellbeing, loss and bereavement and safeguarding adults.
Organise quarterly meetings with befriending volunteers.
Foster interactions between befriending volunteers.
Service user engagement:
Conduct initial home visits with potential service users to assess their needs.
Match service users with suitable volunteers to ensure successful and supportive relationships.
Maintain regular contact with service users to monitor their experience and satisfaction.
Organise social activities for service users and their befriending volunteers.
Administration:
Handle all administrative tasks associated with the Befriending Service, ensuring accurate record-keeping and reporting.
Design all resources and promotional materials.
Monitoring and improvement:
Evaluate the effectiveness of the service and identify areas for improvement.
Obtain, monitor and evaluate feedback and outcomes for the Befriending Service.
Ensure safeguarding policies and procedures are followed at all times.
Work towards achieving the Quality in Befriending Award by meeting the required standards and demonstrating excellence in the Befriending Service.
Other:
Collaborate with HIP staff and volunteers.
Attendance of regular team meetings.
Produce reports for the Centre Manager and Board of Trustees.
Person Specification
Essential criteria:
Experience in coordinating or managing a volunteer-led service or community project.
Experience of working with vulnerable individuals or groups.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust and rapport with service users and volunteers.
Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities effectively.
Proficiency in IT systems, including MS Office and social media channels.
Understanding of safeguarding and confidentiality principles, especially when working with vulnerable adults.
Familiarity with the challenges faced by isolated individuals.
Self-motivated and proactive, with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Empathy and sensitivity when working with individuals experiencing loneliness, social isolation or other challenges.
Commitment to the values and mission of the charity.
Applicants must hold a full UK driving licence and have access to their own vehicle for travel within the local area.
Desirable criteria:
Experience working within the charity or non-profit sector.
Previous experience of working within social services or the care sector, implementing care plans.
Experience of delivering training.
Previous experience in service promotion and marketing.
Proficiency in MS 365, OneDrive and Canva.
Knowledge to deliver safeguarding training.
Knowledge of befriending services and their role in addressing loneliness and social isolation.
Knowledge of local clubs, groups and support services available to assist vulnerable adults.
Key Responsibilities:
Service management:
Oversee the Befriending Service to ensure it meets the needs of local residents.
Coordinate the delivery of the service and provide support for service users and volunteers.
Utilise resources, guides and toolkits from the Befriending Networks to support the service.
Liaise with external partners including Community Connectors, other organisations and charities to provide a high-quality and comprehensive service.
Promote and advertise the service to raise awareness and encourage engagement.
Volunteer recruitment and support:
Recruit, induct and provide training for volunteers joining the service.
Carry out DBS checks and regularly review records to ensure compliance and up-to-date information.
Provide ongoing support and supervision to befriending volunteers.
Arrange training for befriending volunteers around mental health, wellbeing, loss and bereavement and safeguarding adults.
Organise quarterly meetings with befriending volunteers.
Foster interactions between befriending volunteers.
Service user engagement:
Conduct initial home visits with potential service users to assess their needs.
Match service users with suitable volunteers to ensure successful and supportive relationships.
Maintain regular contact with service users to monitor their experience and satisfaction.
Organise social activities for service users and their befriending volunteers.
Administration:
Handle all administrative tasks associated with the Befriending Service, ensuring accurate record-keeping and reporting.
Design all resources and promotional materials.
Monitoring and improvement:
Evaluate the effectiveness of the service and identify areas for improvement.
Obtain, monitor and evaluate feedback and outcomes for the Befriending Service.
Ensure safeguarding policies and procedures are followed at all times.
Work towards achieving the Quality in Befriending Award by meeting the required standards and demonstrating excellence in the Befriending Service.
Other:
Collaborate with HIP staff and volunteers.
Attendance of regular team meetings.
Produce reports for the Centre Manager and Board of Trustees.
Person Specification
Essential criteria:
Experience in coordinating or managing a volunteer-led service or community project.
Experience of working with vulnerable individuals or groups.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust and rapport with service users and volunteers.
Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities effectively.
Proficiency in IT systems, including MS Office and social media channels.
Understanding of safeguarding and confidentiality principles, especially when working with vulnerable adults.
Familiarity with the challenges faced by isolated individuals.
Self-motivated and proactive, with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Empathy and sensitivity when working with individuals experiencing loneliness, social isolation or other challenges.
Commitment to the values and mission of the charity.
Applicants must hold a full UK driving licence and have access to their own vehicle for travel within the local area.
Desirable criteria:
Experience working within the charity or non-profit sector.
Previous experience of working within social services or the care sector, implementing care plans.
Experience of delivering training.
Previous experience in service promotion and marketing.
Proficiency in MS 365, OneDrive and Canva.
Knowledge to deliver safeguarding training.
Knowledge of befriending services and their role in addressing loneliness and social isolation.
Knowledge of local clubs, groups and support services available to assist vulnerable adults.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.