Volunteer Mentor Role Description

IAG MENTOR - VOLUNTEER ROLE DESCRIPTION

Purpose of the role: To support the delivery of a quality Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) service to help our service users achieve and progress.

Reports to: Senior Employability Co-ordinator

Aim of Back on Track Back on Track is a Manchester charity that enables disadvantaged adults to make lasting, positive changes in their lives. Formed in 1977, today we run a learning centre in Manchester’s Northern Quarter. We work with adults who are going through a process of recovery or rehabilitation, having been through problems with:  Alcohol or drugs  Offending  Homelessness  Mental Health. Our projects enable people to build the skills they need to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives.

Back on Track services: Back on Track deliver a number of classes, training programmes and projects in a number of areas:  Starter courses; Leisure courses for people who would like to get back into learning. Classes include: Arts and Crafts, Cooking, Drama, Wellbeing, Creative Writing, Music. Communication and Enterprise.  Basic Skills Classes; this includes: English, Maths and Computers.  Moving On Workshops; Providing support for people looking at getting back into work, volunteering or further education. Classes include: Training Programmes, Practical Skills and Moving On Group.  Information Advice and Guidance Service where we offer 1:1 support to help service users move on into employment, voluntary work or further education.  Volunteering opportunities in a number of areas to provide training and opportunities for those wishing to develop their skills. The centre is a very safe and friendly place for staff, volunteers and students, with high levels of mutual respect. The education centre provides a stepping stone on to other mainstream opportunities (such as further education at a college, voluntary work, employment).

Role of IAG Volunteers IAG Mentors are responsible for supporting the delivery of a quality IAG service which enables our service users to progress and fulfil their potential. This will involve being matched to a Mentee and listening to their needs and helping them to identify their strengths so that they can develop aspirations and goals for themselves. Further interactions with service users’ will help them explore their options and make choices. This will be in the form of 1-2-1 mentoring sessions and discussions in group settings. It will include helping the service user identify any barriers to their progression and supporting them to overcome these so that they can move forward successfully within and beyond our provision.

There are certain structured activities where IAG volunteers will be required on a regular basis, including:

- Tuesday Drop-in 1pm-3pm- for potential referral agencies and service users to have a look around, meet staff and volunteers and find out Back on Track services and courses. - Training Programmes (Thursday and Friday)- for service users who are looking to get into paid or voluntary roles. These courses are themed around employment sectors. - Moving On Group (Friday 1.15pm-4.15pm)- This session is for people thinking about moving onto further learning, volunteering or employment. - Outreach session (varied days) – Meeting potential service users at other venues (e.g. Probation office) to introduce Back on Track services and help people explore their options.

IAG is embedded in all Back on Track activities and service users can access this service to different degrees throughout their journey with us, therefore there will be other opportunities for IAG volunteers to get involved.

Main Tasks: - Chat to service users /potential service users, in order to build up rapport - Answer informal queries and provide information about Back on Track’s services or other opportunities - Provide group / 1:1 support and mentoring within relevant sessions and workshops (e.g. helping individuals writing CVs) - Conducting 1:1 mentoring sessions to help service users understand and interpret information, answering questions and advising on options. - Liaise with Guidance Coordinator to feed back information so that further action can be taken if needed. - Complete relevant paperwork as a record of interactions. - Maintain a basic knowledge of Back on Track services and other key progression opportunities for Back on Track clients - Support project staff with IAG related activities throughout the year, e.g. reviewing service users’ progress at the end of each term. - Accompany individuals and small groups of service users to support transition to new opportunities. - Lead a short evaluation / feedback discussion with participants at the end of some sessions - Help to maintain a ‘Directory of Opportunities’- research and present information (including display boards when necessary) - Abide by the Back on Track policies and procedures - Maintain an open and non judgemental attitude - Maintain appropriate boundaries at all times - Attend training and respond to feedback about own delivery of the volunteering role.

Commitment - Back on Track services take place on weekdays in the daytime. Most activities take place on a regular weekday slot for several weeks in a row, IAG volunteers need to be available for at least two half day slots during the week (e.g. every Tuesday afternoon and Friday afternoon for three months) so that we can plan, and in order to build up meaningful relationships with service users. In addition, we sometimes require IAG volunteers for additional one-off activities on irregular days. It is hoped that IAG volunteers can attend regularly at agreed times, in order to build up their own skills and knowledge.

Training and support  An initial induction is given to all volunteers (one day) before starting.  Volunteers are able to access 1:1 support from the Volunteer Coordinator  Volunteers are also warmly encouraged to attend training and development events which are held by Back on Track several times throughout the year. (Training includes topics such as ‘Drug and Alcohol awareness’, ‘Working with ex-offenders’, ‘Working with literacy issues’, etc)  Access to a weekly work-club for help with searching and applying for work, volunteering or education.  Back on Track regularly holds a volunteer meeting which is an opportunity to give feedback and contribute ideas, as well as meeting other volunteers  Volunteers report to the Volunteer Coordinator who will provide support and opportunities for feedback  An additional three day training course in IAG and a one day course in Mentoring are required to carry out the IAG Mentor role. These are accredited at level 2.

Expenses  Back on Track will repay the cost of travel to and from the centre for volunteering sessions.  A lunch of homemade soup is available if your volunteer shift lasts for a full day.

Person specification – IAG Mentor These are the skills and qualities you need to be a volunteer in this role. We will look at these areas via application form, interview, and trial sessions.

Skills - Ability to relate to a range of people - Excellent communication skills, esp. listening - Ability to fulfil your role with minimum supervision and use own initiative - Ability to research and present information clearly - Ability to keep accurate records - Good computer skills including using the internet to research opportunities

Attitude - Non-judgmental attitude - Flexibility and patience - Reliability and willingness to attend regularly - Commitment to equal opportunities - Willingness to respond to feedback and constructive criticism

Experience - Experience of paid employment and of job-seeking