Support and Progression Volunteer

As a Support and Progression Volunteer (SPV) you’ll be part of the team that supports young people in one of our accommodation services. You will contribute to creating a friendly and welcoming atmosphere within one of our hostels, dealing with enquiries, and provide access, information and contribute to the support available to young people. You will be supporting the housing staff to run a tight ship, helping with the day-to-day tasks and activities involved in running a Centrepoint service. Role commitment:

CORE TASKS

We have core tasks that we want to work on with an amazing and passionate volunteer. These include:

• Being a first point of contact for young people and visitors
• Supporting residents meetings
• Management of ingress/egress to the property, ensuring that only young people and visitors known to the service are allowed in/out
• Managing in/out post and distribution of post to appropriate people
• Managing appointments for young people, including issuing appropriate reminders to them
• Administration duties e.g. letters to young people, Housing Benefit claims, supporting with reports and meeting notes, file maintenance, managing young people’s appointments, collecting service charges
• Health and Safety – joint inspections with staff and ensuring electronic and hard copy systems are in place
• Researching information such as job opportunities, training and apprenticeship courses for and with young people
• Young people consultation work (supporting residents meetings, organising surveys)
• Young people activities coordination – supporting the sitting up/access to, or facilitating activities for the young people to participate within the service or in the local area
• Work cooperatively with other staff and volunteers
• Observe and adhere to Centrepoint policies relevant to the team and be familiar with emergency procedures in case of fire, serious accident or violence.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

ESSENTIAL

• Ability to communicate confidently and clearly with young people, other volunteers and staff
• Ability to remain calm when involved with challenging individuals and situations
• Understanding of the issues – practical and emotional – facing young people
• Understanding of the importance of teamwork and a strong commitment to being part of a team
• Ability to develop a rapport with young people
• Good communication skills, written and oral-good telephone manner
• Able to use Microsoft Office
• A commitment to demonstrating Centrepoint’s values
• A commitment to complete the necessary volunteer training sessions

DESIRABLE

• Understanding of mental health and resilience to cope with a range of individualised coping mechanisms and outbursts
• Knowledge of provisional local to the service the role is based within
• Skills and confidence with supporting independent living skills, e.g. managing money, shopping on a budget, cooking

WHAT DO WE OFFER YOU?

• Structured induction and training
• Ongoing support and supervision from the Volunteering Team
• Ongoing support and supervision from supervisor
• Access to further training
• Travel and other reasonable expenses reimbursed