Outreach Home Visitor Volunteer - Befriending Support

Hammersley Homes is a charity that was established in 2018 to provide lifelong support for adults who live with enduring mental health challenges and psychotic illnesses.

We focus on increasing people's quality of life; while decreasing the likelihood of relapse into a mental health crisis. Implementing on-going support provides an opportunity to notice if there is any notable decline in the persons health or wellbeing. 

This service was set up to support people with long term mental illness who may be suffering from the debilitating effects of chaotic lifestyles, loneliness and/or social isolation. Our team of caring volunteers provide companionship and friendship via home visits and remote telephone calls.

Volunteers supports the beneficiary with company, tactful guidance, presenting options for the person to make informed choices and encourages:

• Independence
• Self-care
• Happiness and contentment
• Social contact and integration where possible
• Guidance and referrals for other support when desired/required

We achieve this by:

• Maintaining a person-centred approach
• Observing and monitoring the wellbeing of the member, paying close attention to any changes in behaviour
• Supporting members to maintain their existing skills and develop new ones
• Supporting members to achieve their personal goals and ambitions

Volunteers monitor the general wellbeing of clients and will report any concerns to the member CMHT key worker (or other health care professional following the members support plan).

As an Outreach Home Visitor Volunteer, you will empower members to maintain independent while building a meaningful relationship. You will support members to achieve their personal goals by providing encouragement, advice, and motivation.

Typical tasks include:

• Emotional support: talking to the Outreach Member about their needs and listening to their concerns — showing care and compassion.
• Practical support: going shopping, arranging, and attending health and social care appointments, sorting out mail, using online technologies, researching opportunities/groups/events in the community, and offering to accompany clients, participating in hobbies and activities of interest, managing weekly tasks.
• Observing and monitoring wellbeing, paying close attention to any changes in behaviour.
• Supporting Outreach Members to maintain existing skills and develop new ones.
• Encouraging Outreach Members to look after their own home, personal hygiene, and health.
• Supporting Outreach Members to achieve their personal goals and ambitions.
• Recording notes accurately after each session, and report any concerns, incidents, or disclosures to the outreach manager.

Skills

We are looking for caring and empathetic volunteers to assist our Outreach Members with day-to-day tasks, including accessing other services, engaging with the community, participating in hobbies and activities of interest, organising their week, communicating with health care professionals, shopping, and going on a walk.

To be successful volunteers must demonstrate skills, including:

• Excellent communication skills
• Empathy, kindness, compassion, and patience
• Observation and honesty
• Problem solving and initiative
• Confidence in communicating and working with a wide range of people
• Previous experience supporting vulnerable people is desirable but not essential
• Resilience
• An understanding of mental illness
• Knowledge of safeguarding, confidentiality, and informed consent