Home Visiting Volunteers

About volunteering

We would not be able to undertake our work without the unstinting efforts of our volunteers. They provide a listening ear, help with childcare issues and practical assistance where a family needs it most. We’re looking for people with very special skills of empathy, friendliness, adaptability and common sense.

A typical volunteer will display most of the following characteristics:

• Demonstrate a sensitive, caring, positive attitude towards all people regardless of their ethnicity, gender or sexual identity.
• Have a non-judgemental attitude.
• Be clear about confidentiality but be able to decide when disclosure of a confidence is essential to the well-being of a child.
• Be reliable and understand the importance of reliability to the family.
• Have good communication and listening skills.
• Have a warm and open personality and a sense of humour.
• Have time and enthusiasm for Home-Start.
• Be prepared to keep records as requested by the scheme.

What you'll be expected to do

A volunteer is expected to work towards the increased confidence and independence of the family by:

• Offering support, friendship and practical help.
• Visiting the families in their own homes, where the dignity and identity of each individual can be respected and protected.
• Empowering parents to see the positive aspects of family life.
• Developing a trusting relationship with the family.
• Encouraging parents’ strengths and emotional well-being for the ultimate benefit of their own children.
• Encouraging families to widen their network of relationships and to use effectively the support and services available in the community.

Training Programme

Each volunteer undertakes a structured training course to prepare them for their new role. The aims of the course are as follows:

• To enable volunteers to develop an understanding of and a commitment to the Home-Start philosophy.
• To enable volunteers to explore their own values and attitudes, making them better able to understand and support families.
• To help volunteers to develop their self awareness and skills so that they feel confident in their role in supporting families.
• To achieve a secure working relationship between volunteers and the Coordinator.
• To provide volunteers with relevant information including a knowledge of Home-Start procedures.
• To enable the Coordinator to get to know the volunteers well enough to assess their strengths and limitations, with a view to matching them with an appropriate family.

Topics covered:

• What is Home-Start?
• What is a volunteer?
• How can YOU help?
• Relationships
• Listening and communicating.
• Confidentiality.
• Values and attitudes.
• Commitment
• Boundaries
• Child development and play
• Health Visitor visit
• Special Educational Needs
• Helping children with Special Needs
• Equal Opportunities
• Loss, change and endings
• Experiences of current volunteers
• Mental Health
• Signposting Home-Start families to other services
• How Home-Start helps
• Personal Safety
• Recognising children at risk of harm
• Domestic Violence and Women’s Refuge
• The Children’s Act and Every Child Matters
• Admin

Continuing Development

Volunteers are expected to attend in-service training days which are held each year. Recent subjects have included Safeguarding, First Aid, self esteem, financial well-being and Mental Health. We hold social events from time to time and encourage volunteers to become more widely involved in the work of the charity.

About you

Mostly what we look for is friendliness and a caring attitude, as well as an understanding of the pressures of parenting. We value people who don’t judge others and who will treat a mother or father as an equal.

Following the 24 hour training course you need to be able to visit a family once a week for about two hours.

How to apply

In the first instance please contact our office on 01962 851177. We prefer to chat to potential volunteers before they make a formal applications.