Role Description

Role Title:Older Tenants Befriender (Spanish)

Department:Supported Housing

Reports to:Older Tenants Worker

Location:Based in Brixton, but visiting older people in different areas of London

Overall Aim

Housing for women is recruiting a team of bright, enthusiastic and motivated people to join our Older Tenants Support Team.

The purpose of the role is to provide a supportive and confidential service for our older clients. Older Tenants befrienders will help to promote wellbeing and confidence in our older clients, with an aim to help people live independently in their homes during later life.

Key Responsibilities

  1. Carry out home visit and provide friendly conversation
  2. Provide companionship, which may include accompanying older tenants to social group or outings
  3. Provide emotional support for clients
  4. Signpost clients to local services where appropriate
  5. Support clients with small practical tasks e.g. organising paperwork, dealing with post, filling in forms
  6. Accompanying tenants to medical appointments, on shopping trips or out for lunch or coffee
  7. Work under the direction of the Older Tenants Worker and attend supervision sessions as required
  8. Advice on budgeting
  9. To act in accordance with the aims of Housing for Women
  10. To promote and implement Housing for Women’s Equal Opportunities Policy and other polices adopted by the Board.

Availability

Due to the nature of the role a period of 6 months volunteering is expected.

Befrienders will be required to meet their assigned older tenant for approximately 2-3 hours in a one to one situation. This will vary depending upon the needs of the tenant and could be weekly/fortnightly.

Benefits of volunteering

  1. Experience of working in a professional environment
  2. Full support and supervision
  3. Opportunity to develop new skills
  4. Chance to meet new people
  1. Relevant training opportunities

Additional Information

Full training and induction will be provided for the role. This role has opportunities for the volunteer to take on more responsibilities and develop and gain new skills.

We reimburse genuine out of pocket travel expenses to and from the place of work and up to £4for lunch expenses.

Housing for Women will conduct a full DBS Check.

Role Experience, Knowledge and Skills Profile

Experience & qualifications /
  • Educated to secondary school level or equivalent- English and Mathematics GCSE
  • Fluent in Spanish

Knowledge /
  • Understanding of the needs of older people
  • Understanding of Equal Opportunities

Skills /
  • Good organisation skills
  • Good listener
  • Good communications skills

Personal style and behaviour /
  • Ability to work on own initiative
  • Resilient, able to handle conflict and remains calm under pressure
  • Works well independently
  • Patient person
  • Reliable and Flexible
  • Have a non-judgemental attitude and person centred approach

Other requirements /
  • Commitment to quality, customer service, best practice and best value in all aspects of the Association’s operations
  • Personal commitment to the corporate values, vision and objectives of Housing for Women’s culture of continuous service improvement
  • Evidenced commitment to equality and diversity

For more information please contact Maria Galan – Volunteer Co-ordinator

Email: Phone: 0207 501 6153 Mobile: 07711 469094

Housing for Women, 6th Floor, Blue Star House 234-244 Stockwell Road, London SW9 9SP

10/09/18