Wokingham Volunteer Centre Supported Volunteering Project Application Pack Contents: Background to Volunteer Centre Wokingham The Supported Volunteering Project Job & Person Specification How to Apply 25/4/14 Page 1
Background to Wokingham Volunteer Centre For around thirty years, Wokingham Volunteer Centre has provided the residents of the area with a range of services. These have included volunteer placement in a range of charities, a transport scheme for vulnerable people who need to get to essential appointments but who cannot manage public transport, the Wokingham Town Mobility Scheme (scooter hire) and the Green n Tidy gardening service. Wokingham Volunteer Centre is open to the public on weekdays from 9.30am. We deliver volunteering brokerage for the 150 or so organisations registered with us, as well as marketing volunteering to the community at large, developing new volunteering roles and opportunities, good practice development, policy response and campaigning, and strategic development of volunteering. The volunteer placement service employs three part-time staff members including the supported volunteering project worker. A key role for Wokingham Volunteer Centre is in the identification of future challenges for the voluntary and community sector, and the setting up and running projects and services to address them. Wokingham Borough is judged on many indicators to be an extremely healthy, wealthy and happy place to live, but the Borough still has pockets of serious deprivation and hardship, with higher than expected levels of teenage pregnancy and single parent families; a growing elderly and/or disabled population for whom only critical social care needs are met by the statutory bodies; year on year increases in numbers with mental health problems; increasing numbers of recent immigrants with poor or no English; surprising rates of illiteracy across the age range and so on. One such challenge was to improve the quality of life of residents with mental health problems or learning or physical disabilities. Many more volunteers are needed by voluntary groups seeking to deliver services to these vulnerable groups. In addition, many previous service users are looking to become volunteers to build self-confidence, fill their day, gain useful experience with an aim to come off benefits and ultimately return to the world of work. This latter gave rise to the Supported Volunteering project which provides a really comprehensive volunteering service for mental health clients as well as those with learning or physical disabilities. The Supported Volunteering Project Why this project is needed Over recent years, demand for our volunteer placement services from the mental health community, the learning disabled population, their carers and support workers has increased dramatically. Volunteering brings huge benefits: building 25/4/14 Page 2
self esteem and confidence, gaining access to free or low cost training, having a reason to get up in the morning, feeling valued and preparing for work are all cited as motivating factors. Where clients have gone into employment as a result of volunteering, there is huge financial benefit to society in reduced benefits claims and drugs bills. Another boost to the client results from becoming a productive and independent member of society, possibly for the first time in their life all part of the upward, positive spiral that helps the individual get their life back on track. On the practical side, volunteers with support needs have very significant issues; these issues are different and often complex for each group, and indeed different and often complex within a group. If we don t address those needs comprehensively for every individual, it is difficult, if not impossible, to arrange a successful volunteering placement. In the mental health group, we see a range of conditions from depression (mild/moderate/severe) to obsessive compulsive and paranoid disorders. High levels of illiteracy are common. Conditions affecting learning disabled clients include the autism range (for example Asberger s syndrome), cerebral palsy and Down s syndrome, and may involve physical problems as well as learning incapacity. Often the receiving organisation will be operating well outside their comfort zone and will need support to develop meaningful roles. In many cases, attitudes will need to be modified, and the focus shifted from what these individuals can achieve, rather than what they can t do. Ongoing support for both volunteer and receiving organisation will normally be required. Where SV clients come to us from There are a number of agencies responsible for extra needs residents of Wokingham Borough, some of them council services, some under contract to the Council to provide support, and some funded by Public Health and the Clinical Commissioning Group, as well as independent voluntary sector groups. Those with clients who wish to volunteer include: The Wokingham Borough Employment Service asks clients to consider volunteering as part of their personal action plan and/or path to employment where appropriate. Prospect Park Hospital in Reading uses the Volunteer Centre s volunteering placement service for Wokingham based patients returning to the community. The Transform Housing service supports clients with complex needs, whose needs may or will have an impact on their housing. Wokingham Mencap has around 450 members with learning difficulties, many of whom would like to become volunteers. 25/4/14 Page 3
The Borough Council s Social Services team refer, as well as asking us to find volunteers to befriend their clients. We also take referrals from parents/carers, as well as self-referrals. How the project works The Supported Volunteering project employs one part-time worker for 18.5 hours per week, based at the Volunteer Centre. The project worker works with individuals and charities to find meaningful placements. Please see the job description for more details. With the help of outside trainers, the project worker organises and manages training sessions for individuals, referral agencies and charities on supported volunteering and disability awareness. The project aims to place and support 40 volunteers with support needs per year, keeping them in placement for at least 3 months. This is in addition to supporting clients already in placement. How we will monitor & evaluate progress The project worker keeps records of clients interviewed and placed, the organisations they join and the length of time that clients are active as volunteers. Information is managed via Excel. Also recorded are referral agencies, all promotional activity and the resulting interest generated. Regular feedback is sought from clients including exit interviews where possible for clients leaving placements. Outcomes are recorded, positive and negative, to continually improve the scheme. The number of charities worked with and the level of their involvement is monitored and progress tracked through preliminary meetings, through to training and eventually to placements. The project worker asks for Informal and formal feedback. Summaries of basic statistics are reported quarterly to Wokingham Borough Council, with a formal, annual evaluation report, and to Volunteer Centre trustees at their regular meetings which take place approximately every two months. 25/4/14 Page 4
Supported Volunteering Project Worker Job Description Responsibilities To co-ordinate the Supported Volunteering project & to be the primary point of contact for volunteers with support needs, organisations that refer them & groups that could engage them across Wokingham Borough. To promote volunteering by clients with support needs throughout Wokingham Borough by: speaking to local charities & voluntary groups, meetings & presentations, attendance at appropriate events in the Borough, use of information stands & interaction with local press. To work proactively with voluntary & community groups to develop appropriate & meaningful volunteering roles for clients with support needs & to provide ongoing support to these groups during placements. To work with volunteers with support needs to find placements in Wokingham Borough that suit their individual & unique personalities, skills and experience, & to follow-up with them regularly to assess progress and success of the placement. To organize & manage training days, where funding is available, using outside trainers, for potential volunteers, referral agencies & charities on supported volunteering & disability awareness. To work closely with & feedback progress via verbal and written reports to Wokingham Borough Council s adult social care/prevention services commissioning team. To operate in a safe and professional manner with colleagues and clients. Training Induction; Adult Safeguarding & other relevant training as need is identified. 25/4/14 Page 5
Time Commitment Salary Holiday entitlement Supervision Reporting to 18.5 hours per week, covering 2½ days minimum, one of which must be Monday or Friday. Time divided between WVC office, meetings with charities & clients, & outside events which may occasionally require some evening or weekend working. 22,958 pro rata (= 11,479). Fixed term contract to 31/3/15 with possibility of extension subject to funding. Travel expenses paid to outside venues. 28 days pro rata (= 14 days) including bank holidays plus a Christmas/New Year office closure which is at the discretion of the trustees. By WVC Manager WVC Manager & trustees, & Wokingham Borough Council Person Specification Skills Essential Must be resourceful, self-motivated & self-sufficient; able to work on own initiative & as part of a team. Good communication skills, written, verbal & on the telephone, to deal with a wide range of clients, local groups & organisations, local councillors, council officers & so on. Empathy for clients with support needs & employment experience in social services, mental health, learning disabilities, or other appropriate, related field. Experience of interviewing, strong organisational skills & ability to manage own paperwork. Experience of volunteering. Good knowledge of Word & Excel. Must have access to transport and be prepared to meet clients and charities both at the office and a variety of outreach locations. 25/4/14 Page 6
How to Apply Please complete our application form and return by post or email. Christine Knox Manager Wokingham Volunteer Centre The Ritz Plaza 10, Denton Road Wokingham RG40 2DX 0118 977 0749 wok-vol@btconnect.com www.volunteercentrewokingham.org.uk CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS 14 th May 2014 INTERVIEW DATE 21 th May 2014 25/4/14 Page 7