OPP OF THE DAY: Telephone Buddy/Companion, Dudley Stroke Association

What will you be doing?

Can you help to support some of the most vulnerable people in our local community?

Are you able to spare a few hours a week?

If so, then we are looking for highly motivated people to join our Dudley Stroke Association telephone companion service.

We hope to link volunteers with people of similar interests to provide social contact and signpost where needed.

Purpose:

• Making a telephone call at an agreed time and date.
• Offer social support by providing regular friendly, person-centred conversations.
• Signpost people to services that may be useful to them.
• To keep a log of calls and send in a short report to the coordinator.
• To highlight any areas of concern and inform the manager immediately.

When and Where:

Hours to be agreed between Monday -Friday 9am-5pm; based within our offices 16, High Street, Pensnett, West Midlands. DY6 8XD.

Home working can be arranged with prior agreement.

What you could get out of it:

• We will provide all the necessary training you need to carry out this role.
• Gain knowledge about the importance of telephone befriending.
• Develop person centred support skills.
• Make a difference in someone’s life.
• We will cover any out-of-pocket expenses.
• Recognition and feedback.

Skills:

• Confident people who can engage in conversation over the telephone.
• Good listening skills.
• Show patience, non-judgmental and emotionally resilient.
• Can motivate and encourage others.
• Availability to call people regularly.
• Understand the importance of confidentiality (training will be provided).
• Awareness of procedures for safeguarding adults (training will be provided).

Other information:

Our volunteers and clients are important to us so we take great care to ensure that we recruit and train the right people, with this in mind we conduct all necessary recruitment procedures including asking our volunteers to complete an application form, following this we will carry out a DBS check and request two references.

Attendance at all elements of mandatory training.

To operate within Dudley Stroke Associations policies and procedures.

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO APPLY PLEASE CONTACT:

Laura Martin
Email: mail@dudleystrokeassociation.org.uk