Volunteering Opportunity: Keep in touch Volunteer with Carers in Herts

Two in five carers neglect their own health because of their caring responsibilities and say, “I’m fine”. We want to change this and proactively reach out to carers, offer support and encourage them to look after their wellbeing. Due to coronavirus and the support we have needed to offer, we are being more proactive with our carers and seeing real benefits. We need to recruit new Keep In Touch Volunteers to help us with this role. We aim to contact 6000 carers by December 2020. Carers in Hertfordshire is a charity supporting family carers caring for someone who is elderly, ill or disabled and relies on that support. Carers often care for a relative, child or friend and the care they provide is unpaid.

You will carry out this role from your own home. Carers in Hertfordshire will provide you with a mobile phone to make calls to carers. You need to provide a confidential space to carry out this role. It is helpful if you can use a device to edit word and excel documents but we can also communicate by post.

We hope that you will be able to make and record 10 calls a week. Though a minimum of 5 is also possible. Some calls will be very short but some may last 30 minutes. You should be able to give at least 5 hours a week. All calls are made between 9.30 and 4.30 during office hours.

Opportunity Type: Long-term Commitment

District: Broxbourne, Dacorum, East Herts, Hertsmere, North Herts, St Albans, Stevenage, Three Rivers, Watford, Welwyn/Hatfield

Start Date: 05/09/2022
End Date: 31/03/2024

Location: From home, Indoor

Time of day: Weekday Mornings, Weekday Afternoons, Weekday Evenings, Weekend Half Days

Practical Considerations: What can I expect from Carers in Hertfordshire?

• Rewarding experiences which will help you to benefit carers.

• Support from staff in Carers in Hertfordshire on a daily basis.

• Training will be provided to help you get to know the role.

• Training will be provided to develop your skills on a continuous basis.

• All out of pocket expenses can be paid.

• Training will be provided to help you get to know the role and training will be provided to develop your skills on a continuous basis.

• All out of pocket expenses can be paid.

Requirements: Will require a criminal record check (DBS)

Requirements (additional): Will require references

Suitable for: 18 – 25 year olds, Aged 26 and over, University students, Older People, People with a visual impairment, People with restricted mobility

Suitable for volunteers interested in: Carers Support, Health and Wellbeing, Learning Disabilities , Older People

Does this opportunity provide wheelchair access?: No

Full Description:
What will I be doing?

• Receive a list of carers to call this is sent via by a secure Google account.

• Ring the carers on the list and ask “how are you”. This service has been advertised but carers do not know when they will get the call. The purpose of the call is to check on the wellbeing of the carer, you are not expected to give information or advice.

• Contact Carers in Hertfordshire for any carers that need urgent support.

• Record notes including any carers’ needs on a form and return to Carers in Hertfordshire.

• You will not be expected to make follow up calls but if they are required,
these will be minimal. This is not a befriending service.

• Some calls will require data collection and updating.


What skills, experience and attributes do I need?

• An understanding/interest in the experience of caring or have been an unpaid family/friend carer.

• Good communication skills and ability to motivate yourself.

• Able to get on well with other people and friendly telephone manner.

• Ability to be non-judgemental about what you are told by carers. Good organisation skills and ability to prioritise and plan your time.

• Ability to capture and record information accurately.

• Emotional resilience.

• Basic computer skills and access toa laptop, tablet, iPad or
Chromebook