Platform, Peer Support Volunteer Recruitment Pack

Platform, Peer Support Volunteer Recruitment Pack

Dear Applicant,

Thank you for your interest in becoming a Peer Support Volunteer. In this pack you will find the following:

Guidelines for applying
Dates for your diary.
Disclosure documents- what you will need.
Application form.
Supporting Statement
Role Description.

1. Guidelines for applying

Please complete all sections fully. We are particularly interested in why you want to be a Peer Support Volunteer. In the question ‘What skills and experience do you have which would make you a good Peer Support Volunteer?’please include here, details of how you meet the criteria under ‘What we are looking for’ in the role description. We will only interview candidates that complete the application form in full. Also, it is essential that you include up to date contact details. Finally, please note that candidates need to be 18 or over to apply.

2. Dates for your diary.

Training Dates:

Initial training is scheduled on the following days

May 7th, 14th, 20, 28thand June 4th and 11th.

It is essential you attend these six days.

Placement Starts: Placements will aim to start at the beginning of Junebut it will depend on the time it takes for the Disclosure to be completed.

3. Disclosure and Barring Service(DBS):This role is exempt from the rehabilitation of offenders act as it involves working with vulnerable people.Everyone will be required to do a DBS check to work with vulnerable adults. Having convictions rarely prevents you being a Peer Support Volunteer aseach case will be assessed on an individual basis.

The most important thing is to be honest throughout the process.

Please note the deadline for Applications is Friday the 3rd of April, 2015.

We look forward to receiving your application.

Best regards,

Pia Hansen

Co-production Manager

Phone: 0207 368 4861

Email:

Peer Support Volunteer - Role Description

Look Ahead Care and Support supports around 6,000 people across London and the South East each year.People who for a variety of reasons may need some extra support to achieve their goals, realise their dreams and live independently. We provide specialist support and care services that help our customers to achieve positive change and move forward with their lives.
Look Ahead provides Peer Support Volunteer positions as an opportunity for individuals to develop skills as well as making a difference to others.We work with these individuals to design flexible placements that enables them to develop skills and gain valuable experience.
/ COMMITMENT:
1-2 days a week for up to 6 months.
LOCATION:
Location will be confirmed upon recruitment and depending on the type of placement the volunteer wants to pursue.
SUPERVISOR:
A local support worker from the host service.
OVERALL PURPOSE:
The purpose of this role is to provide peer support to customers. The type of support offered will depend on your own life experiences and the project where you are based. It may include supporting customers around move-on, supporting them to access relevant services, or supporting them with their substance misuse.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

To support customers on a one to one basis as a Peer Support Volunteer
To find agencies for signposting which are of relevance
To support customers to access relevant services and activities in their community.
To be part of a team and work closely with support workers
General Admin related to the role including keeping a record of support provided and reporting on support provided.

KEY AREAS IN WHICH WE PROVIDE PEER SUPPORT:

Mental Health
Substance Misuse
Move-on: moving into independent accommodation
Being healthy
Hoarding

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:
To fulfil this role you will need:

Relevant Experience: To have lived experience of homelessness, mental health, substance misuse, hoarding or experience of using services such as Look Ahead.

Communication Skills: To be a great listener and good at communicating with people of all backgrounds.

Reliable and Committed: Be good at time keeping and have regular attendance at the training and placement.

A Positive Attitude: To be enthusiastic, open minded and willing to learn
To be a team player
To have patience and understanding when working with vulnerable customers

PRE-REQUISITES:

No academic qualifications are required. We are looking for someone who is able to use their experiences of being a customer at Look Ahead to enhance the experiences of others.
Please note that although life experience is key to this role, we will be looking for customers who are managing their own support needs well enough to be in a position to support others.
Due to the nature of the work we do all volunteering placements are subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks. Having a conviction will not necessarily bar someone from becoming a Peer Support Volunteer.

DETAILS OF PEER SUPPORT VOLUNTEER PLACMENTS:
Peer Support placements at Look Ahead will be on a voluntary basis. Travel and lunch expenses will be paid.
There will be opportunities to attend training and possibly work towards an accredited qualification.
To apply please complete the Peer Support Volunteer application form and send it to Peer or post it to Pia Hansen, Co-production Manager, Kings Buildings, 16 Smith Square, London SW1P 3HQ.
Deadline for Applications is Friday the 3rd of April, 2015.
We will contact you by Friday the 10th if you are invited in for interview.
Peer Support Volunteer Application Form
Name:
Phone number:
Address:
Email address:
In which of the following areas do you have experience and/or expertise? (please circle all those which apply) / Mental Health Substance misuse Homelessness Young People
Learning Disability Hoarding
Please state which benefits you are in receipt of:
Answer the following questions to help us review your application. Attach another sheet of paper if you need more space.
Education and/or Training
Please provide details of any education or training starting with the most recent first.
Course/Subject / Level / Grade / Year Obtained
Employment or Voluntary Work History
Please provide details of any employment or voluntary work you have done.
Dates from/ to / Name of employer / Job title / Reason for Leaving / Finishing salary
(if applicable)
Why do you want to be a Peer Support Volunteer?
(You may want to mention what attracts you to the position and/or any career aspirations)
What skills and experience do you have which would make you a good Peer Support Volunteer?
(Please include experience of using services, previous work experience, training or qualifications. Also, please state why that experience is relevant to this position)
In addition to the supporting statement please provide one additional reference:
Name and Job Title:
Organisation:
Address:
Phone number:
Email address:
In what capacity do you know them?
If you are a Look Ahead customer which project are you a customer of?
If you are not supported by Look Ahead who do you receive support from if anyone?
Who is your support worker there?
Are you currently employed or studying?
Please send your completed form to by post to
Peter Goodband, Peer Support Co-ordinator,Kings Buildings, 16 Smith Square, LondonSW1P 3HQ.

Equal Opportunities monitoring form

Look Ahead Housing and Care is committed to developing positive policies to promote equal opportunities. All information provided on this form will be treated in strictest confidence and not used for selection purposes. In order that we can monitor the effectiveness of this policy please complete the following information.

I am: / Male / Female
Date of birth:
How did you find out about this scheme?
I consider myself to be:
White British
White Irish
White other
Mixed White and Asian
Mixed White and Black
Caribbean / Mixed White and Black
African
Mixed other
Asian-British/Indian
Asian-British/Pakistani
Asian-British/Bangladeshi / Asian-British/Other
Black-British/Caribbean
Black- British/African
Black-British/other
Chinese/other
Other:
Question refused
I consider my religion to be:
Baha'I
Buddhism
Christianity
Hinduism / Islam (Muslim)
Jainism
Judaism
Rastafarianism / Sikhism
Zoroastrianism (parsi)
No religion
Question refused
Other (please state):
I consider my sexual orientation to be:
Heterosexual / Gay
Lesbian / Bisexual
Question refused
Do you consider yourself to have/ have had a disability?
Yes / No / Question refused
If you have or have had a disability that affects your ability to carry out the work placement you are applying for, please outline any additional support we could give you to enable you to complete the work placement.
Look Ahead will need to carry out a Disclosure and Barring Service Check on all volunteers.
Do you have any criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands or final warnings?
Yes
No / If you have answered yes, please provide details here including nature of conviction and dates. If you would prefer, write this on a separate sheet and put in a sealed envelope.

Disclosure and Barring Service documents

Here are the details of what you will need for the Disclosure and Barring Service check. We strongly recommend that you start getting these documents together now as delays in this check can cause delays to placements.

The DBS check is done with someone from our head office. This form is then sent to the central DBS office for the checks to take place and this can take between 4-8 weeks. A copy will be sent through to you once this has been completed.Please inform Peter Goodband or Emma Lucas when you have received this as they will need to see your copy.

In order to fill in the DBS form you are required to provide some documentation.

When you come to fill in the DBS form, please bringa 5 year address history and the following documents (if you have had periods of homelessness in that time, that’s not a problem):

One document from the following group

1)A valid passport

2)A valid driving license (paper copy and card)

3)An original or a copy of your birth certificate

Three documents from the following group, at least one of which has to have your current address. One document must contain your NI number.

1)A bank statement (from last 3 months)

2)A utility bill (from last 3 months)

3)Jobcentre/Benefits Statement (from last 3 months)

4)Local government agency/council document (e.g. DWP letter/Employment Service/HMRC) (from last 3 months)

5)Bank account opening confirmation letter (valid)

6)P45/P60 letter (last 12 months)

7)Valid EU National ID Card

8)Council Tax statement (last 12 months)

9)Work Permit/Visa

If you have any problem in accessing these documents please call Emma on 02073684641.

January 2015