Do you want to support children to have the best possible start in life?
Do you have experience of parenting or working with children?
We are looking for volunteers to support families to live healthier lifestyles in Waltham Forest.
Can you attend all of the 5 training sessions (9.30am-2.30pm) in Walthamstow below?
6th, 13th, 20th, 26th, 27th September.
Application deadline: 9am 14th August 2022
Interview date: 23rd August.
PURPOSE:
To support the Best Start team in the London Borough of Waltham Forest to reduce health inequalities and promote healthy lifestyles.
SUPERVISED BY:
Service Manager / Healthy Weight and Oral Health Team Lead / Infant Feeding Clinical and Training Lead
ACTIVITIES:
Volunteers will be fully supervised, supported and trained to provide the following activities:
Healthy Weight
To deliver HENRY’s eight-week evidence-based one-to-one intervention, Right from the Start with HENRY, to local families. This intervention will help parents make positive changes to their family lifestyle, provide the best possible start in life for their young children – and enable the whole family to live longer, healthier and happier lives.
General activities
Other activities might include:
• Setting up and supporting local activities run by HENRY or Lloyd Park staff
• Staffing promotional stands at events.
• Handing out leaflets in the community
• Signposting parents/carers to local activities and services
• Delivering posters and information to local community venues
• Administrative support
• To support with workshops and drop-in sessions in the community
VOLUNTEER COMMITMENT:
• Attend all volunteer training sessions
• Maintain confidentiality (according to guidelines of project) and follow the other policies and procedures of the project
• Provide brief records of every contact with families, as directed by the project lead
• Participate in regular support, supervision meetings and learning sessions
• Work within agreed systems which are designed to ensure volunteer safety
• Possibility of working at weekends or evenings in the community
TIME COMMITMENT:
The ideal minimum commitment is 12 months and there is a probationary period of 6 months.
We are looking for volunteers who are able to commit to:
• Participation in initial training 5 days of training.
• For Best Start volunteers to volunteer at a minimum of 6 hours per week.
• To be willing to participate in outreach sessions in the community.
• To work the occasional weekend or evening.
• Regular attendance at support meetings:
o 2 hour group supervision meeting every month
o 1 hour supervision every 2 months.
LOCATION: Working at various community venues and family homes within the London Borough of Waltham Forest.
WHAT VOLUNTEERS WON’T BE EXPECTED TO DO:
• Communicate with services directly on behalf of families e.g. By engaging with practitioners at statutory meetings or by making telephone calls to services.
• Undertake practical support e.g. Shopping, housework etc. On behalf of the family – although volunteers and parents may sometimes agree to shop for food together and prepare a simple meal.
• Offer childcare/respite care.
• Transport a parent or any family member in their own vehicle for any reason.
THE BENEFITS TO THE VOLUNTEER:
• Increased knowledge of providing the best start for babies and young children using an evidence-based programme
• Satisfaction in making a real and lasting difference to families and helping to ensure the best start in life for babies and young children
• An opportunity to develop experience, skills and knowledge for career development, as well as references: HENRY and Family Lives are committed to helping volunteers develop their own learning and development through the project
• Being part of a team
• Personal development and skills training
• Opportunities to meet and interact with a wide range of people
• Out of pocket travel expenses reimbursed
• Flexible hours
VOLUNTEER PERSON SPECIFICATION:
We are looking for individuals who:
• have experience of parenting/being in a parenting role or demonstrable experience of working with parents or children e.g. In their work, previous volunteering or a previous role (infant feeding volunteers are expected to have personal experience of breastfeeding)
• are good listeners and have an ability to empathise with all parents regardless of race, gender, age, religion or belief, nationality, marital status, sexual orientation, or disability
• are interested in healthy lifestyle issues and passionate about babies and children having the best start in life
• are willing to question their attitudes to their own or others’ health and lifestyle
• can remain open minded and non-judgemental
• are willing to use IT skills as part of the necessary record-keeping and communication for the project: full training will be given
• are willing to commit to work within HENRY’s policies, in particular our confidentiality policy and safeguarding procedures, ensuring that HENRY can keep the volunteer, as well as the families using the service, safe at all times
• are willing to commit to attending regular supervision and support sessions
• are able to work individually as well as part of a team
• are prepared to travel to local venues and events
• are willing to commit to undertake HENRY and other local training
• are willing and able to give a 12 months commitment to the project
Application deadline is 9am Monday 14th August.
Please send all application forms to Kassandra Gordon or by post to Walthamstow Children and Family Centre (Higham Hill), 313 Billet Road, Waltham Forest, E17 5PX.