Volunteer - Companion Lead - Orkney

Marie Curie rely on Lead Volunteers to promote our Companion service and ensure it reaches those who need it. They play a vital role in raising awareness within local communities, supporting the recruitment and training of new volunteers, and helping maintain the quality and continuity of care

Acting as ambassadors for Lead Companion volunteers create connections, build trust, and sometimes step in to provide companionship themselves

To enable us to reach more people who would benefit from our support we need help to:
• Raise awareness and knowledge of the Companion service
• Ensure that people who are referred to the Companion service are appropriately assessed
• Increase our number of trained Companion volunteers and ensure they are well supported in their role.
• Support volunteers in training, offering 1:1 support and facilitating peer support groups
• Organise social events and engagement activities for volunteers


With support from a Volunteer Coordinator a Lead Companion Volunteer will play an important part in supporting the Companion service to reach more people within their own local community.


What you'll do:
• Assess terminally ill people and/or their carers either in their own home, nursing or residential care to identify their needs and determine if the Marie Curie Companion service would be appropriate for them.
• Provide cover for Companion volunteers, offering companionship and emotional support, practical support and short breaks for carers.
• Driving clients to pre-arranged health or social care (eg to chemotherapy appointments or day therapy at the hospice)
• Liaising with existing and potential referrers to the Companion service
• Liaising with clients and their families via telephone
• Promoting the Companion volunteer role including (with training/approval) media activity
• Helping with the recruitment of new volunteers, including interviews and selection
• Keeping accurate records
• Assisting with evaluations and development of the Companion service

Experience required

• Caring and compassionate nature
• Inclusive of others
• Patient and good listening skills
• Comfortable with sensitive topics, such as death, dying and bereavement
• Comfortable talking to people from all walks of life
• Respect for confidentiality and boundaries
• Commitment, flexibility and reliability
• Comfortable using basic IT tools – Email and Microsoft Word
• Willingness to learn

Restrictions

Minimum age: 18

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