Contact Centre Volunteer
Letchworth, Bishop Stortford, Gloucestershire
- Are you interested in gaining new skills?
- Are you passionate about supporting vulnerable families?
- Do you want to build experience?
Then we need your help!
You Will Gain
- Invaluable experience
- Training
- Reimbursement of costs
- Extra support
You Will Need
- Enthusiasm and a desire to learn
- Disclosure and Barring Service check
- Ability to volunteer in one of our locations: Letchworth, Bishop Stortford, or Gloucestershire, or willingness to travel
Background Information
We work with parents and children. For the purpose of this role, the individual would work with adults and children where there has been a Court Instruction for supervised contact with the non-resident parent.
All staff will be recruited through our robust Safe Recruitment Policy, which includes due diligence checks, inclusive of two satisfactory references, ID documentation and a detailed Curriculum Vitae. All staff are subject to an Enhanced Data Barring Services Check prior to commencing any employment activities with the organisation.
The staff member must read, sign, and agree to BCC’s values and behaviours and policies and procedures which will be provided at the point of induction, including all reporting, and sending of information securely.
They will be offered a range of training by WTWFSS to help build up their portfolio of knowledge and skills which will include on-line safeguarding and child protection before starting the role. The staff member will also be invited to team meetings, peer meetings and social events as valued as a key member of our wider team.
The Role
To provide a support space in which to guide parents and children in the use of the contact centre.
An essential part of this role will be that the parent has meaningful time with their child/ren and are enabled to spend quality time together which is not compromised by having a member of staff present. The member of staff will be a positive parenting role model and will make all those who come to the centre welcome, recognising that it can be stressful for both the parent and the child/ren.
This role is ideal for candidates who want to enhance their childcare work experience, social care experience or want to support separated families to ensure their children have meaningful and fun contacts with their parents.
The tasks will include:
- To welcome clients to the centre and show them around, ensuring they are given all housekeeping information, such as where the toilets/kitchen are and the fire evacuation procedure.
- To inform the parent/s of our role and share our expectations about their attendance at our Centre, such as being respectful of one another in order to put the best interest of the child first.
- Inform the parent/s of our responsibilities to safeguard all those who come to the Centre and be transparent from the outset that if staff were concerned about the welfare of a child or children and/or a vulnerable adult, they would have a duty to report these.
- To be available to answer any queries that the parent may have about contact, and signpost to other agencies if they have wider questions or concerns.
- Carry out required administration work such as signing in and signing out of each client and ensuring this information is stored securely on BCC’s shared drive.
- To create an environment which supports a safe and enjoyable contact session for the child/ren and the parent.
- To maintain the safety of the centre, including maintaining toys and the contact room.
- There will be a request to work with other elements of Walk The Walk Family Support Services organisation as the service develops.
- Attending NACCC training training and reflecting that learning into practice, such as safeguarding, health and safety and risk management.
Accountability & Reporting
The Contact Centre Worker will be well supported by the BCC team in order that they can deliver their duties to the highest standards, but also be clear about our expectations of them in this role. This will include:
- Reporting to the BCC Co-ordinator on duty at the contact centre.
- Reporting all safeguarding concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Officer.
- Reporting on Contact Sessions into a Contact Report, to be sent to the Co- Ordinator to Quality Assure.
The staff member will receive monthly management supervision by a qualified social
worker.
Essentials
- Positive
- Non-Judgemental
- Compassionate
- Cheerful
- Assertive
- Be reassuring to family members
- Understanding of issues that affect separating families
- Ability to build relationships with families
- Ability to deal with difficult situations particularly involving parents and children under stress
- Good Team worker
- Access to your own vehicle, a clean driving licence and the ability to travel to contact centres across Hertfordshire. If you do not own a vehicle we may only be able to offer you work at one specific contact centre venue.
Locations & Times
- Varied – will include Letchworth, Stevenage, St Albans, Hatfield or Welwyn Garden City, Cheshunt
- Varied – mostly weekends, but some weekday work will be available. Please apply if you are interested in any of these slots.
Are you interested? We would love to hear from you! Please send your CV and covering letter to: info@walkthewalkcic.co.uk