Role: Client Support Volunteer (Several Roles Available)

Volunteer Role Profile

Role: Client Support Volunteer (several roles available)

Role summary: To support the drop-in services of the Sheffield Hub, assisting in the delivery of advice & support helping to meet the needs of clients.

Days/hours available: Monday 10am – 1pm Tuesday 9.30am – 12.30pm Wednesday 1pm – 4pm Thursday 1.30pm – 4.30pm Friday 10am – 1pm

Suggested Involvement: Half a day per week on one of the days stated above for an initial period of around 6 months, but this is flexible

Location: Sheffield Hub (Furnival Gate)

Supervised by: Service Team Leader

Why get involved with Shelter? More than one million people a year come to us for advice and support via our website, help lines, and national network of services. We help people to find and keep a home in a place where they can thrive, and we tackle the root causes of bad housing by campaigning for new laws, policies and practice.

As a Volunteer, you will be an invaluable part of our team as we strive to provide the people of Sheffield with free, expert housing advice and support on a wide range of housing related issues including homelessness, housing applications & tenancy matters, independent living, domestic abuse, financial matters and welfare benefits.

We support thousands of clients a year and are committed to delivering effective services to the people who need us most.

Main Tasks can include  Meeting and greeting clients  Gathering information from clients which may involve accessing interpretation services to do this  Providing information and supporting clients to use Shelter & other appropriate websites as needed  ‘Signposting’ to other services if we are unable to help  Updating and maintaining our databases  Helping clients to register for housing and bid for properties  Assisting clients with form filling e.g. benefit forms  Assisting clients with online applications  Obtaining service feedback from clients  General basic admin, such as photocopying, scanning, creating client files and filing Skills and Abilities Required  Some experience of working with the public  Interest in social welfare & related law e.g. housing; welfare benefits; debt; community care  Effective communication skills and the ability to understand the needs of our clients  Ability to organise your own work, manage your time and work on your own initiative  Ability to learn to use computers, search the internet and programs such as Word and Excel to a good standard and confident to show/support others  Willingness to follow Shelter’s policies, including volunteering, health & safety, equality & diversity & confidentiality

Induction, Learning & Development To enable you take part in this opportunity Shelter will  Provide a volunteer pack including a Handbook and all Policies and Procedures  Provide e-learning: Equality & Diversity, Health and Safety, Data Protection, Case Management Systems  Provide relevant training, coaching and shadowing to enable you to fulfil your role  Reimburse “out of pocket” expenses in line with Shelter’s volunteer expenses policy

Benefits of Volunteering with Shelter  Supporting and learning about the work of a large national charity  Developing transferable skills  Gaining considerable knowledge  Enhances your CV, we can help you to update this and will provide references when you leave our services

Next Steps  Please apply online by clicking the ‘apply for this position’ button on the application form. Alternatively, if you have received an application pack via post or email, please complete the application and return it to [email protected]. After you have applied, we will invite successful candidates to an informal interview to discuss the role further.

 You will be involved in regulated activity for this role, and for this reason we require you to undertake an enhanced DBS check

 Please note, you will be asked to declare any unspent convictions. Having a criminal record does not mean that you cannot volunteer with us. It may limit the different ways that you can get involved, but please contact us (using the email stated above), if you require more information.

This is a voluntary position that supports the work of our services and is not replacing the work of a paid member of staff. This role description does not form part of any contract of employment.