Family Peer Mentor

Purpose of the role

• As a Volunteer Mentor you will be empowering children and their families to resolve current issues and to develop coping strategies for the future.
• To provide a model for a healthy, trusting relationship through clear communication and setting appropriate boundaries.
• Acknowledging their strengths and talents and encouraging them to find ways to use them.
• Be an active listener and offer support and encouragement when appropriate.

What you will be doing

• Giving practical, personal and emotional support to enable children and their families to meet assessed needs, in order to maintain and promote their health, physical, mental and social development and wellbeing.
• Maintaining clear and confidential records in line with organisational guidelines.
• Ensuring that parents and carers are encouraged to become involved in their children’s learning, development and wellbeing through tailored interventions, which could include focused group work.
• Maintaining an awareness of relevant information and resources that may assist children and their carers.
• Ensuring that children, young people and adults are safe at all times, and having a thorough understanding of the CAVS ‘Safeguarding Children’ and ‘Safeguarding Adults’ policies.
• Advising the Designated Person of any concerns regarding safeguarding issues, preserving confidentiality as necessary.
• Supporting Emotional Wellbeing groups in schools with one of our Family Support Practitioners, if you are comfortable to do so. This will be discussed at interview.
• Adhering to information sharing guidelines and protecting the privacy of service users.

Skills, experience and qualities required

• Experience of working with the community, voluntary and school sectors is desirable.
• An awareness of issues that can impact on children and families (e.g. poverty, bereavement) and the ability to support access to services, signposting where appropriate.
• An understanding of child development.
• An awareness of services available to adults, children and families within the community.
• Understanding of safeguarding children – training will be provided.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Empathy in addressing the needs of socially excluded families and those who are not in education, training or employment.

When and where

Due to the nature of the role and the needs of our client base, you will be required to commit a minimum of 1 hour per week through phone calls or face-to-face sessions with your client. It is imperative that you are consistent and reliable, as forming and maintaining relationships with clients makes a significant contribution to the outcomes they achieve.

Support offered

• Full training provided
• Full support offered by the Family Mentoring team and Volunteer Management team
• Regular supervision
• Regular volunteer newsletter and updates
• Volunteer expenses will be covered with prior agreement, discussed at interview stage

What you could get out of it

• A chance to make new friends
• Learn new skills and update your work experience/CV
• An opportunity to help people in your local community
• Use previous skills, experience and talents
• A great way to build confidence and self-esteem
• An opportunity to enhance your knowledge with free additional training modules
• Being part of our team, making a real difference to people’s lives
• Regular volunteer events

Other relevant information

An Enhanced DBS check will be carried out and two references will need to be provided.

What to do if you’re interested

Complete our online application on our website at www.cavsorg.uk, email us at [email protected], or call us on 01268 214000 and ask for the Volunteering team.