Befriending Project Officer
Responsible to: Befriending Development Worker
Accountable to: PCP Chief Executive & Board of Trustees
Located: Newton Aycliffe, with significant out-reach/home working
Scale/Salary: PCP Band 3, salary £18,683 per annum pro rata
Hours: 18 hours per week
Term: 12 month fixed term contract
DBS Status: Required
Job Purpose
To support PCP’s Befriending Project which supports adults at risk of isolation in County Durham, by providing short–term support aimed at promoting independence, increasing confidence, and encouraging community involvement through:
a. Signposting clients to community activities and support appropriate to their needs
b. Agreeing support plans with clients
c. Supporting volunteers delivering this service within the community
Job Description
1. To manage a caseload of clients and maintain regular supportive contact with each person, via a range of methods, including telephone, video calls and face to face (within Social Distancing Guidelines).
2. To develop clients personal action/activity plans and support them in achieving their goals.
3. To provide reasonable practical support to clients, within Social Distancing Guidelines, including assistance with shopping, walk and talks and providing healthy lifestyle information.
4. To engage in social activities (within Social Distancing Guidelines) to develop wider social networks and reduce social isolation (through encouraging people to try new things and supporting them to attend).
5. To signpost clients to activities in their local community and assist people to make longer term connections with groups and individuals.
6. To support the development of the clients independent living skills.
7. To work as part of a team to plan support activities.
8. To carry out research and prepare suitable resources for the successful delivery of support.
9. To understand the opportunities across the locality, including referral pathways, eligibility criteria and other access requirements.
10. To work with relevant partners and professionals to support the project.
11. To assist with risk assessments.
12. To assist volunteers to develop their skills and confidence; and provide them with any necessary support.
13. To contribute to administrative systems and record appropriate data.
14. To assist with the evaluation of the project by gathering intelligence that highlights service need and impact.
15. To assist in gathering intelligence that can be used to promote and market the service, i.e. case study, comments etc.
General
1. To uphold PCP’s Core Values at all times.
2. To operate within the policies and procedures of PCP, including confidentiality, safeguarding, information governance and data protection.
3. To assist marketing and engagement work and use creative techniques to gather views from the communities we support.
4. To actively take responsibility for your own Health & Safety and ensuring procedures are adhered to.
5. To collate appropriate monitoring and evaluation information to support the achievement of agreed targets and outcomes within the project or service.
6. To carry out all responsibilities in line with the organisation’s Equality & Diversity Policy.
7. To recruit, support, train and motivate volunteers as required.
8. To undertake any training and development deemed appropriate.
9. To undertake any such duties required by your Senior Manager or PCP Chief Executive
Contact
The closing date for this job is 23 August 2020 - 12:00am.