Role: Group Support Volunteer

Hours: 2-3 per week, depending on which group the volunteer is supporting

 
Support our fantastic practitioners to deliver group programmes for children and young people in the local Sheffield area.

Volunteers will help to gather and prepare resources for the session, arrange travel for young people and assist in delivering the group activities.
 

The Role:

We recognise and value the wide and diverse range of skills and experiences that volunteers can bring to this much needed role, which supports practitioners to deliver group support for children and young people affected by domestic abuse. 

Once trained, a group support volunteer will work with a practitioner to help deliver sessions at a Bouncing Back and/or Drop In Group. The volunteer will support and encourage the children and young people to take part in group activities.

Group support volunteers will go through a recruitment process, complete a training course and be subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS check and references.
 

Primary Objective:

To provide emotional and practical support to the children and young people attending the group. Participants will be from a variety of backgrounds and, have experienced or are still experiencing domestic abuse.
 

Duties and Responsibilities:

• To undertake tasks as specified in this role description with guidance from the Business Services Manager and staff team.
• To meet with the lead practitioner at least half an hour before each session to prepare and set up.
• To greet children and their safe carers as they arrive for the groups.
• To collect children and bring them to and from the sessions if this has been agreed with the safe carer, child, practitioner and Business Services Manager.
• To prepare any resources and/or paperwork prior to the session, as agreed with the group leader.
• To assist as agreed during the session, supporting the whole group, working with specific individuals, or supervising the parent's waiting room.
• To ensure children and their carers leave the group safely and clear up after the session.
• To report any safeguarding concerns to the group leader.
• To attend regular volunteer meetings and supervisions as arranged with the Business Services Manager.
• To give feedback to staff as appropriate, and attend a debrief for each session lasting around 30 minutes.
• To attend additional in-house and external training events for personal development, as agreed and appropriate.
• To respect and work within the organisation’s policies on equality and diversity, confidentiality and all other policies and procedures adopted by the organisation at all times.
• From time-to-time, to carry out additional tasks as agreed in advance as appropriate and within the boundaries of the Volunteer’s responsibility and capacity.
   

 Skills Required (following completion of the volunteer training course):

• Ability to listen.
• Good literacy skills, i.e. to write and record case notes accurately.
• Ability to communicate effectively with children and young people from diverse and varied backgrounds.
• An understanding of effective ways to communicate and work with children, including the different ways children learn.
• A practical and fun attitude.
• Able to keep calm under pressure.
• Awareness of appropriate behaviour management.
• A non-judgmental and respectful approach.
• An understanding of appropriate boundaries and sharing personal views and information.
• An understanding of equal opportunities.
• An openness to learning, willing to self-evaluate and challenge.
• Some understanding of the issues of domestic abuse and how children can be affected by this.
• A good understanding of the importance of safeguarding and confidentiality, including how to deal with disclosures.
   

Personal Circumstances:

• To be able to commit to the majority of the group sessions, plus at least one planning and preparation session lasting 1 hour. There may be more opportunities to support with planning and preparation which will be discussed with you individually.
• To commit to a minimum of two hours or three hours a week, including a pre session meeting and debrief.
• To be available to complete our information and induction training session.
• To discuss availability and length of commitment openly and to keep the Business Services Manager updated with any changes in availability.
• To be able to attend monthly volunteer team meetings.
• A commitment to personal development and to attend supervision and relevant training.
• If using own transport to have appropriate insurance.
• Minimum aged 18.
   

Click here to see other ways you can volunteer with Haven.