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Befriending Volunteer

Role: Befriending Volunteer
Reports to: Social Team

We are looking for people to join our team of volunteer Befrienders to work alongside the Social and Personal Health Budget Team.

Befriending Volunteers help deliver our Support at Home services, supporting patients at risk of social isolation or loneliness.

You will need good listening and communication skills, as well as the ability to build supportive and compassionate relationships with patients and their families at a time when they need it most.

The service offers three types of Befriending led by patient choice and their communication/mobility preferences. These include:

Face-to-face Befriending – in the home, at either of our hospice sites, or a community venue.

Group Befriending – at either of our hospice sites or a community venue.

Telephone Befriending – over the telephone for remote/rural patients or those with limited mobility/transport.

If you are a warm and friendly person who enjoys meeting new people and creating meaningful relationships we want to hear from you!

Operating Hours – Our service operates Monday to Friday, during normal office hours and we are unfortunately unable to offer evenings and weekends. So if you are free for a few hours a week, please do get in touch.

What’s in it for you

  • The opportunity to make a difference and ‘give something back’ to your local community and join our hardworking, dedicated, volunteers.
  • Meet new people and make new friends.
  • The opportunity to be able to develop new skills and interests or put your existing set of skills into practise.
  • Gain experience and a reference to use for your CV.
  • A comprehensive induction and training package (with CPD credits).
  • Ongoing Training and mentoring from adult social care professionals.
  • Free DBS check.
  • ‘Matching’ service to ensure you are well suited.
  • Dedicated NHS email address for communications.
  • Eligibility for NHS Discount and Saver schemes (i.e., Blue Light).
  • Paid expenses, including travel.
  • Regular communication and updates from the hospice and its partners.
  • Social events and outings.
  • Reward and recognition schemes.
  • Experience working alongside clinical and social care specialists.

For more information and an informal chat about the role, please contact, Becky Pritchard; rebecca.pritchard@birminghamhospice.org.uk

Befriending volunteer role description

Volunteer Enrolment Form

Equality and Diversity Monitoring Form

Please return completed forms to askhr@birminghamhospice.org.uk