Befriending Co-ordinator

The purpose of this role is to coordinate and expand our befriending service. This service is dedicated to enriching the lives of older individuals through home visits, phone calls, group activities, volunteering, recruiting volunteers, providing comprehensive training, and fostering effective communication among all stakeholders.

The role includes leading on the development and implementation of a volunteer training program, overseeing volunteers and customers, ensuring they are monitored within a structured framework. A key focus will be collaborating with other partners to support customers to make more of life

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

1. To develop referral pathways, opportunities for improving engagement of hard to reach and specialist or targeted befriending programmes and network, alongside developing and sharing best practice learnt from these projects with partners and other agencies.
2. To develop and expand the existing partnerships, by delivering service updates and maintaining good communication across community bases, providers, customers, and volunteers.
3. To work closely with partners to develop a greater understanding of the needs of older people in North Tyneside while providing appropriate signposting/referrals for older people engagement in other services.
4. To carry our ‘guided conversations’ with individuals to identify Befriending support as well as other services to achieve personal outcomes and an improved quality of life
5. To review and support customer needs on a regular basis to ensure goals are still relevant and achievable while signposting where necessary.
6. To work as part of the charity services team and to cross referral to maximise customer opportunities
7. To work in line with stakeholders and Age UK North Tyneside’s Policies and Procedures as relevant to the role, including GDPR, Health and Safety and Equality, Diversity & Inclusion at all times.
8. To develop an effective communication plan to ensure the involvement of all stakeholders.
9. To act as the Health and Safety rep for the Befriending Service, ensuring that First Aid and Fire Safety is adequate within your area of responsibility.

Requirements: 

Essentials:

1. At least one year’s work experience which has included direct contact with the community, ideally with older people.
2. Experience with Volunteer Co-ordination
3. Project and activity development with stakeholders, groups and individuals.
4. Providing accurate data, case studies and other monitoring requirements for funders and commissioners
5. Good level of written English and Mathematics (GCSE grades A-C or equivalent required)
6. Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office, email (Outlook Express) and use of CRM systems
7. Full UK Driving License and access to a car

Desirable:

1. Experience with the delivery of befriending and training programmes
2. Community Development and Engagement qualifications/training

Benefits:

1. Competitive salary
2. Paid Mileage
3. Blue Light Card Discounts
4. 26 Days holidays
5. Generous Pension Scheme
6. Wellbeing Day
7. Staff Referral Scheme
8. Annual Thank You Events
9. Better Health at Work Employer operating at Ambassador status
10. Opportunities to take on enhanced responsibilities through key role such as Mental Health First Aider etc.

 If you have any further questions please feel free to contact HRTeam@ageuknorthtyneside.org.uk