Volunteer Community Visitor

Hammersley Homes is launching a Community Visiting Home Support Service for people who suffer from enduring mental illness, and we are looking for volunteers willing to visit these vulnerable people in their homes, to enrich their lives with companionship and support, to help them live their best life.

The Role

As the name suggests, a Community Visitor has a friendly disposition and 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

This may mean helping the person to go shopping, support in arranging their week, know when they have to go for medical appointments, helping with a memory jog for their medication, short walks and trips to the park or places of interest, encouraging a hobby or attendance at a group. It may mean helping them sort through their post, with banking and using the internet.

It is expected a visit will last two hours maximum dependent on the contract signed by the client. You may have more than one client per week.

To ensure continuity and guidance for you, you will be asked to write a short report after each visit.

You may ask for pre-approved expenses for petrol etc. as per Hammersley Homes Volunteer Policy.

Skills

Mental illness is so difficult for society to understand and support. By being a Mental Health Community Visitor, you are tackling one of the major challenges we face today in the NHS and social services, and in our community at large. By being a Community Visitor, you may be helping the person avoid admission to a mental health ward, or homelessness, or even prison. Its invaluable work and we hope you can enjoy being part of the solution.

To achieve this role you will be supported by:

• An induction training and manual.
• An identity badge.
• An accompanied first visit with a coordinator.
• A debrief after your first visit.
• Monthly group supervision sessions.
• Training in at least the following: First aid, GDPR (confidentiality guidelines), Adult safe guarding, Self-Care and Care for the Carer.
• A “hot line” you can phone if concerned.