Volunteer Role Profile

RoleReceptionSupport Assistant – Client Facing

Role summaryAssisting with reception duties,supporting the operation of Shelter Merseyside’s office in their day to day business.

Suggested InvolvementHalf a day per week minimum suggested for around 6 months, but this is flexible

LocationShelter Merseyside (Liverpool City Centre), 43Hanover Street, L1 3DN

Supervised byJosie Annesley, Advice Team Leader

Why get involved with Shelter?

More than one million people a year come to us for advice and support via our website, help lines, and national network of services. We help people to find and keep a home in a place where they can thrive, and we tackle the root causes of bad housing by campaigning for new laws, policies and practice.

As a Volunteer, you will be an invaluable part of our team as we strive to provide the people of Merseyside with free, expert housing advice from trained advisers and support workers on a wide range of housing and debt issues including homelessness, housing applications, housing benefit and issues relating to fuel poverty.We support thousands of clients a year and are committed to delivering more of what we do to the people who need us most.

Main Tasks can include

  • Meeting and greeting clients
  • Booking in clients for interviews with our advisers
  • Answering the telephone and taking messages
  • Inputting information on to our Case Management System (CRM) (If appropriate)
  • General basic admin, such as photocopying, scanning, creating client files and filing
  • Archiving files and cases

Skills and Abilities Required

  • Experience of working with the public
  • Ability to organise your own work, manage your time and work on your own initiative
  • Using computer programs such as Word and Excel to a good standard
  • Effective communication skills and the ability to understand the needs of our customers
  • Willingness 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 all Policies and Procedures
  • Provide e-learning: Equality & Diversity, Health and Safety, Data Protection, CICM
  • Reimburse “out of pocket” expenses in line with Shelter’s volunteer expenses policy

Benefits of Volunteering with Shelter

  • Supporting and learning about the work of a large national charity
  • Developing transferable skills
  • Enhances your CV, we can help you to update this and will provide references when you leave our services

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 r 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.