Job Description

Job Title:

Gift of Befriending Lead

Responsible to:

Services Lead

Responsible for:

Delivery of the Gift of Befriending Programme. Volunteer co-ordinators and Volunteers within Age UK Stockport and associated companies. Location: Based in the community to be visible at various locations throughout the Borough of Stockport and Age UK Stockport offices.

Contract:

18 month contract subject to a three-month probationary period from the commencement date of employment

Salary:

29,840 Pro-Rata for 20 hours per week

Hours:

Part time 20 hours per week. Monday to Friday.

Main Purpose of Post:

To provide strategic leadership and oversight of the Gift of Befriending programme, ensuring its development, quality, and alignment with organisational goals. The Lead will support the Co-ordinators and volunteers, ensure the programme is visible across the borough and that contract targets are met. Support the recruitment, training and roll out of volunteers within the programme. Will contribute to service evaluation and improvement, reporting requirements and oversee quality and safety of programme delivery

The Gift of Friendship Programme is a 6-month intervention aimed delivered by face to face creating a relationship with the aim of combating isolation and loneliness via companionship. The Programme uses goal setting to establish the older person's aims and frame the intervention. It focuses on building confidence and motivation to or manage a current situation.

Work Environment:

This is a community-based role with minimal opportunities for home working due to the hands-on nature of the service and the need for direct engagement with stakeholders.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

The following details reflect the content of the post at the date prepared.

The post holder will be expected to adopt a flexible approach to the duties which may have to be varied dependent on any variations to the Gift of Friendship contract, after discussion with the post holder, subject to the needs of the organisation and in keeping with the general profile of the post. Consequently, this job description may be revised from time to time.

The post holder will be a driver with access to a vehicle as regular travel across the borough will be expected.

- To work with the Senior Leadership Team to support the launch and promotion of the Gift of Friendship programme across the borough of Stockport.

- To manage, supervise and support the training of Volunteer Coordinators and ensure they are working to contractual agreements.

- Ensure best practice is embedded within delivery of the programme and that Volunteer Coordinators and Volunteers are trained to deliver the programme safely.

- To ensure targets detailed in the Programme are met through planned delivery and effective triage and allocation of referrals into the Programme.

- Lead on service development, including new initiatives and partnerships.

- Oversee complex or high-risk cases and ensure appropriate support of signposting is in place.

- Monitor service performance and preparation of monitoring reports and evaluation in-line with contract delivery.

- To be visible and engage with external organisations and external meetings to promote the volunteering opportunities within the Gift of Friendship Programme.

- Support volunteer engagement and retention through structured feedback and development opportunities.

- To work closely with Age UK Stockport general and HR management to ensure Age UK Stockport policies, recognised good practice and legal requirements are followed in relation to all aspects of volunteering.

This will include the following;

- Volunteer enquiries and recruitment processes

- Recruitment checks including references and DBS checks

- Appropriate induction process

-Appropriate insurance cover

- Compliance with all policies and procedures, including Confidentiality, Information Security, Health & Safety and Equality and Diversity.

- To ensure appropriate recording of all relevant information in relation to volunteers personally and volunteering activity on agreed systems

- To be a general point of contact for volunteering issues and to liaise with Volunteer Coordinators to ensure a full and timely response to issues as appropriate

- To contribute to quality standards in relation to the volunteering program

- To liaise with and support the Chief Executive in relation to maintaining appropriate policies and procedures in relation to all aspects of volunteering, the Age UK Stockport volunteering policy and operational statement of practice (SOP).

Other

- To manage and prioritise own workload in agreement with line manager, and to work flexibly and positively to ensure the smooth and effective delivery of the Gift of Friendship Programme.

- To always positively represent Age UK Stockport and associated companies

- To work within and proactively promote the policies and procedures of Age UK Stockport

- To maintain high standards of confidentiality in all respects

- To attend and participate in face-to-face supervision, training events or other appropriate meetings as required in line with the scope of the post

- To have a good awareness of best practice concerning volunteering, and to attend relevant meetings and training events as required

- To be aware of all Age UK Stockport activities and work constructively as part of the staff and volunteer team, positively representing Age UK Stockport at all times

- To encourage and facilitate clients to be effectively involved in the organisation, including through consultation, feedback and regular or occasional volunteering.

- To identify and develop opportunities to encourage positive attitudes to older people and ageing.

- To work flexibly according to the needs of the work and with the various agencies involved

- To carry out such other duties as the Chief Executive may reasonably require

Job Types: Part-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 18 months

Pay: 29,840.00 per year

Application question(s):

Please can you provide an email address that we can use to contact you if you are successful in being offered an interview?
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Stockport SK1