Visitation Support & Befriending Volunteer with Alone/Co. Meath

Visitation Support & Befriending is a supported one-to-one relationship between a volunteer and an older person who has been linked in with ALONE. The ALONE Visitation Support & Befriending service provides companionship to older people who would like extra social contact through a weekly visit. Volunteers can also help with practical supports such as helping access information, filling out forms and with phone calls. The Visitation Support & Befriending service is designed to help alleviate the negative impacts loneliness has on mental and physical health. ALONE comply with all up-to-date Covid-19 restrictions. Home visits will only take place when HSE guidelines allow. In the interim, all volunteer visits will take place over the phone.

The Role Of The Support & Befriending Volunteer Is

• To provide companionship to an older person by visiting them at least once a week.
• To provide basic practical support for the older person where necessary. (Volunteers are not substitutes for home-help or care assistants and should not take on these roles)
• To be flexible around travelling to and from visits
• To attend training, and follow the ALONE guidelines throughout your time with ALONE.
• To attend additional training workshops and the annual volunteer social meeting.
• To support the older person when attending ALONE social activities.
• To support the older person to integrate in their community – such as encouraging them to join local groups and initiatives for older people.
• To be an advocate for the older person where necessary. This might mean making a phone call on their behalf or helping them fill in a form.
• To contact ALONE if there are concerns for the older person’s health, safety or welfare.
• To participate in ALONE volunteer surveys and assist older people in ALONE service surveys.

About Us

ALONE provides Support Coordination, Befriending, BConnect training and technology, and Campaigns for Change to hundreds of older people every week, who are homeless, socially isolated, living in deprivation or in crisis.

Activity

Befriending/Mentoring

Where

Co. Meath

What’s Required

Skills, Requirements & Attributes:

• To have a genuine interest in older people
• To be respectful and committed to the values and aims of ALONE
• A caring, understanding and friendly attitude
• To be patient, reliable and have good listening and communication skills
• To be non-judgemental and respect confidentiality

All volunteers must be Garda vetted, reference checked and supply proof of address and identification. A minimum of a year’s commitment is required. Full training and support is provided. We do ask for a commitment of 1 year. All Volunteers must be over 18 years of age.

• Community Development/ Social work
• Hospitality/ Befriending
• Personable Skills

Age Restrictions

Over 18

Screening Details for this Role

Garda Vetting;Informal Interviews;References;Application Form