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Home Support Volunteer - West of Scotland

  • Childrens Hospices Across Scotland
  • VO98018

Description

Home Support Volunteers visit families in their own homes to provide practical support. This can include helping with housekeeping, spending time with siblings, meal preparation, or other tasks to ‘lighten the load’ of family life. A rewarding role, where you are making a direct difference.

What activities will I be involved in?
Your initial introductory visit will be with a member of staff, but you will then visit unaccompanied
Supporting families with ‘everyday’ tasks – these will vary and be dependent on the family’s needs, and the skills you bring. They may include:
Housekeeping – hoovering, ironing, changing beds, general tidying
Practical Sibling Support - collecting siblings from school/clubs within walking distance of their home, assisting with homework, spending time with siblings/play
Meal Preparation - batch cooking or supporting families to cook (this does require specific training, which we will provide)
Other - gardening, dog-walking, basic DIY eg. helping with flat-pack furniture
Develop positive relationships with families, being respectful of their home and belongings
Immediately communicate any concerns which may arise about a families wellbeing, including child protection concerns
Be respectful of sensitive and confidential medical and personal information regarding the children and families accessing our services

How much time should I offer?
You can volunteer on any day of the week; mornings, afternoons, or early evenings. An average shift is approx 2 hours with the family, and ideally we are looking for a weekly commitment.
Usually volunteers support each family for a period of months (dependent on need), then would be introduced to another family. It is possible there will be a short time between supporting different families.

Where is the Opportunity based?
CHAS supports families across the whole of Scotland. For this role you will support families in their own homes, within a short travelling distance of where you live.

What are the benefits to me?
Using your skills and developing new ones
Making a real difference to the families of children with a life-shortening condition
Experience, adding to your CV and career prospects
Meeting new people
Having fun!

What are the benefits to the children and families supported by CHAS?
Families supported by CHAS are often under a lot of strain, and caring for a child with a life-limiting condition can take a lot of the family’s time and attention. Often other household tasks, and family life, can become more difficult to manage, and can begin to feel overwhelming. This role makes a direct and instant difference to families.

What else should I know?
This role is for those aged 18+. You are required to be able to drive and to have access to your own vehicle (travel expenses can be claimed).
You will need to complete Visit Logs online, these can be accessed through a phone, computer or tablet, and will require an internet connection (a high level of ‘technology’ knowledge is not required to complete these).
This role requires membership of the PVG scheme. There is a simple form to complete and we will assist you with this. You may already have a PVG form – if so you will only need to complete an update form. The process won’t cost you anything and having a criminal record will not automatically exclude you from volunteering. We will assess each applicant on an individual basis.
We will pay your out of pocket expenses in line with the CHAS volunteer expenses policy.
CHAS is committed to providing a quality volunteering experience to all volunteers free from discrimination and prejudice. Ensuring that CHAS is an equal, diverse, and inclusive organisation will improve the quality of care we provide, help us reach more families and children, and maximise a wide variety of knowledge, experience and expertise.
We welcome volunteer applications from those who are refugees, asylum seekers, benefit claimants and those with a disability.

Please feel welcome to contact Emma Steel, Home Support Lead (West), on 01389 722079 or emmasteel@chas.org.uk if you have any questions, or would like to discuss the role.

Organisation aims and objectives

CHAS is the only charity in Scotland that provides vital hospice services for children and young people with life-shortening conditions. We offer care for the whole family in our two children's hospices, Rachel House in Kinross and Robin House in Balloch. We also run a homecare service called CHAS at Home helping families in their own homes across Scotland when they need it most. We are currently supporting over 300 families, as well as significant number of families who receive bereavement support. Our services are funded mainly through the generousity of our many supporters who help us to raise over £9million needed each year to provide these hospice services.

Restrictions

Recruitment for this role will recommence in January 2024. If you would like more information, please contact Emma Steel, Home Support Lead (West) emmasteel@chas.org.uk, 01389 722079
Experience required: Excellent people skills Welcome diversity, accepting of different family situations and cultures Confident to visit families independently An ability to represent CHAS enthusiastically and appropriately Have awareness that families can be experiencing emotional and difficult situations Adhere to rules around GDPR and a strong understanding of confidentiality and boundaries Shared values with the organisation: respect, care, honesty, accountability
Minimum age: 18

Support

Expenses paid: Yes

Last updated a month ago

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