Purpose of Role
The Enablement Service supports people (18+ years) struggling to manage at home, who are at risk of being admitted to hospital or who are just being discharged from hospital. The Enablement Service works together with clients to identify what support needs to be put in place, so that they are better able to cope with the situation they are in. The service provides practical support and assistance to older people and aims to boost confidence, resilience and physical and mental wellbeing. It helps people maintain their independence.
Volunteers will be matched with service users in line with their availability and preferred geographical areas. Placements will be short-term according to the task, ranging between a one off occasion during 6 weeks period.
- Supporting clients through mentoring/buddy work especially when working towards a specific outcome
- Supporting Enablement case workers in working out how best to support clients, this could be by coming along to home visits to assess the needs of the clients, through phone calls or emails
- Enable clients to have access to advice and emotional and practical support from the Enablement Team and AUKI’s wide range of services
- Liaising with Case Workers what further support is needed
- When necessary assist in other appropriate duties
Volunteers will provide practical support such as:
- Facilitate social rehabilitation and reduce social isolation, help service users with accessing community activities which they would be unable to access alone e.g. social group
- Encourage someone to do gentle prescribed exercise– for example, walking short distances
- Dropping in for a chat with someone who has recently been discharged from hospital
- Providing someone with information and advice about other services that they may require
- Accompany to a health appointment where and when possible
- IT training; provide practical support helping service users to gain new skills and remain independent at home
- Assist with collecting prescriptions.
- Report to your AUKI staff member regarding each volunteer visit with the client both before and after your visit
- Participate in 3 monthly Review Meeting with the service Manager
- Required training relevant to this volunteer role
- Raise any potential Safeguarding concerns with the Team Leader
You should not undertake any form of employment (whether paid or unpaid) for any person (including Age UK Islington clients) that you have met as a result of carrying out your duties. Furthermore, you should refrain from contacting any person (including Age UK Islington clients) that you have met as a result of carrying out your duties, nor should you provide such persons with the means of contacting you directly outside of the formal means within the service.