Volunteer Role Profile

Volunteer Role Profile

Role: DIY/Decorating Taskforce Volunteer

Role summary: Support Skills Advisors (DIYSA) in their day to day business, helping them to meet the needs of their clients so they can maintain and keep a home

Suggested Involvement One day per week minimum suggested for around 6 months, but this is flexible

Location Based at Shelter Birmingham, Gateway House, 51-53 High Street, B4 7SY but includes visits to client’s homes within the Birmingham area.

Supervised by Team Leader/ DIYSA support worker.

Why get involved with Shelter?

Shelter helps over a million people a year struggling with bad housing or homelessness – and we campaign to prevent it in the first place. We’re here so no-one has to fight bad housing or homelessness on their own. Our expert advice and services are available through our website, helpline and face-to-face centres throughout England and Scotland. This, in turn, informs our campaigning for new laws, policies, and solutions. Tackling the root causes of bad housing means people can find and keep a home in a place where they can thrive.

Our DIYSA Service provides practical support to help people create a home to be proud of. Teaching people the skills to achieve this so they can carry on by themselves with confidence. We help our clients maintain and keep a home. To develop new/existing DIY skills and encourage pride in the living environment to feel settled in a new living environment.

Main Tasks to include

Alongside the DIYSA, the main tasks you could be asked to assist with are:

·  General assistance

·  Decorating

·  Gardening

·  Supporting clients to purchase goods for DIY in their home (shopping)

·  Minor repairs

Skills and Abilities Required

·  Practical DIY skills and/or an interest in gardening and outside maintenance

·  An interest in working with people and in social welfare law e.g. housing; welfare benefits; debt; community care, employment issues and supporting people

·  An ability to organise your own work, manage your time and work on your own initiative

·  Confident using computers and programs such as Word and the internet to a good standard

·  Effective communication skills and the ability to understand the needs of our clients

·  A willingness and ability to follow Shelter’s policies, including volunteering, health and safety, equality and diversity and confidentiality

Induction, Learning & Development

To enable you take part in this opportunity Shelter will:

·  Provide a volunteer pack including a Handbook and access tour relevant Policies and Procedures

·  Provide e-learning: including Equality & Diversity, Health & Safety, Data Protection, our case management system (if appropriate)

·  Pay “out of pocket” expenses in line with Shelter’s volunteer expenses policy

Benefits of Volunteering with Shelter

·  Supporting households to be independent and manage in their accommodation

·  Supporting and learning about the work of a large National charity

·  Developing transferrable skills

·  Enhances your CV, we can help you to update this and will provide references if and when you leave.

Next Steps

·  Please apply online by clicking the ‘apply for this position’ button for the application form. Alternatively, if you have received an application pack via post or email, please complete the application and return it to . After you have applied, we will invite successful candidates to an informal interview to discuss the role further.

·  As this role may require you to handle sensitive information, we are obliged to carry out a basic DBS check

·  Please note, you will be asked to declare any unspent convictions. Having a criminal record does not mean that you cannot volunteer with us. It may limit the different ways that you can get involved, but please contact us (using the email stated above), if you require more information.

This is a voluntary position that supports the work of our services and is not replacing the work of a paid member of staff. This role description does not form part of any contract of employment.