Support Session Volunteer – VoiceAbility

Could you support unpaid carers or people with disabilities to access benefits? Could you help someone find local services? Could you help someone understand the information they have been given about their care and support? Could you support or lead a group of people on a topic of interest?

 You could help improve the quality of someone’s life.

 This role is ideal for social work students or those with an interest in the care sector.

What does the role involve?

Support Session Volunteers help our clients with general advocacy, supporting people with a variety of challenges. This helps us to reduce waitlists and support more individuals by:

• Helping clients understand about advocacy.
• Supporting clients to self-advocate with our tool kits.

• Signposting clients to other services where required.
• Supporting the service to deliver “collective” advocacy sessions.
• Light Touch Advocacy.
• Supporting advocates with casework.
• Promotion of services and the organisation.
• Logging activity onto our systems.

What is needed for this role?

• Good communication skills – written and verbal.
• Empathy and patience when dealing with clients.
• A knowledge of or interest in advocacy.
• A basic level of IT literacy – email, docs.
• Accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage own time and prioritise workload.
• Ability to work independently & as part of a team.
• A commitment to the aims and ethos of VoiceAbility.

Role Specifics

Do I need to be able to travel? Yes.

Can I do this role at the evenings and weekend? No.

Is this role suitable for under 18s?  No – you must be 18 for this role.

What is the usual time spent volunteering in this role? 3 hours per week.

What is the length of time expected for this role? 6 month commitment.

What can I expect from VoiceAbility?

• The opportunity to make a positive difference in people’s lives.
• Training in the role and other learning opportunities.
• the opportunity to learn new skills, meet new people and gain experience in your chosen volunteering role/s.
• the opportunity to help us develop our volunteering work.
• Regular support and KIT (Keeping in touch) meetings.
• A reference if you complete over six months of volunteering.
• Reimbursement of expenses and travel costs in line with VoiceAbility policy.

What do VoiceAbility expect from me?

• To complete the recruitment process including providing two references and complete a PVG check (at no cost to you).
• Right to Work check.
• To complete all necessary training.
• Understand and sign the Volunteer Agreement.
• To perform your role in a way that is consistent with VoiceAbility’s values and volunteer policies.

What do I need to do next?

Please click here to see this volunteering opportunity. 

Please contact us at volunteering@voiceability.org for more information. If you have any problems doing this email helpline@voiceability.org or call the Helpline on 0300 303 1660.

We would like to encourage people with lived experience of care and support needs to apply for our roles. You do not need to have any experience, we value applications from those who share our values and full training is provided.