Volunteering

We welcome volunteers from all backgrounds and provide reasonable adjustments for individuals with disabilities or additional needs. We want our volunteers to reflect the diversity of the people we support and welcome applications from individuals across all the communities we serve. Volunteers, like all people in the NHS workforce, are required to undertake recruitment checks, which include:

• right to work in the UK
• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks
• occupational health
• appropriate references

Please note that having something on your DBS does not automatically stop you volunteering - the Trust simply completes a risk assessment.

You’ll start by looking at volunteering opportunities available. When we have a vacancy, we list it here on our website.  When you find a role you like, you’ll complete a short application form, which you can download to apply. Pay particular attention to the requirements for the role. Once your application has been reviewed, you may be invited for an informal chat or interview to help us get to know you.

To keep everyone safe, all volunteers complete standard pre-volunteering checks outlined in the previous ‘Who can volunteer?’ section before starting. Our team can support and guide you through the recruitment process to complete these requirements.     

A volunteer role description will be available for you to review before completing your application form. This outlines duties, boundaries and requirements of the role you are applying for. A volunteer role enhances (but does not replace) paid staff.

At GMMH, we are committed to providing you with the required training, induction and support to enable you to work safely in an NHS environment as a volunteer. A named member of staff will be identified to support and supervise you. This helps ensure the volunteering experience is meaningful for you and supports safe practice for all, as our service users are often vulnerable adults and children. 

Once you have returned your completed application form to the contact detailed in the advertisement by the closing date, the process can generally take six to eight weeks, but sometimes longer. This includes time to receive clearance from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), health checks and appropriate references. Before you start, you’ll complete some essential training and sign your Volunteer Agreement – which is a shared understanding of what you can expect from GMMH and what the Trust expects from you.

Service:  Achieve Bury, Salford and Trafford

Location: Achieve Sites, Community and Online

Supervisor: Structured Interventions Practitioner / Recovery Coach

 

Role Summary/Purpose

To facilitate and / or co-facilitate a wide range of group work for service users within the substance use and recovery setting; to be delivered at various sites across Bury, Salford and Trafford at the direction of structured intervention team (SIT).  

 

Please see below the requirements that you must be able to meet in order to apply for this role.

Main Duties & Responsibilities:

·       To offer individuals the opportunity to develop their recovery skills in a structured, focused group setting; to communicate and engage with members and help them to participate more confidently in activities offered

·       To co-facilitate structured group work interventions alongside structured intervention colleagues

·       To assist with the planning and organising of activities for groups. To encourage and discuss suggestions for activities and to support service users in putting their ideas into practice

·       To assist and encourage service users to access other community-based resources as appropriate

·       Welcome new group members and encourage existing members to do the same

·       Tailor support to enable more vulnerable group members to make the most of attending the group

·       Support SIT colleagues to publicise group-work opportunities; liaising with front line staff regarding access criteria

·       Support delivery of SIT information sessions as required

·       To encourage and support service users to adopt safer practices and healthier lifestyles

·       To actively promote service user and family/carer involvement in the planning and delivery of services

·       Provide information about other services offered by Achieve, support the staff conducting Service User Feedback Surveys, taking Fire Safety Survey referrals and others as required

·       Provide information about other agencies operating within the area, including providing information and referral to carers’ services. To offer support, reassurance and information to carers/family members who attend with service users

·       Actively work as part of a team in order to create working conditions conducive to providing better and fairer services to substance users, their families and the wider community. Elicit client views to enable continual service development

·       Regularly attend team meetings

·       Value, promote, and manage diversity, and to actively encourage equality of opportunity in all areas of one’s work

·       Ensure a safe environment for service users, colleagues and visitors in accordance with the Trust Health & Safety Policy

·       Adhere to Trust policies, procedures, protocols and guidelines at all times, in particular Trust Confidentiality and Information Sharing Policy

·       Work within agreed professional boundaries at all times

·       Maintain quality standards in every area of one’s work in accordance with quality assurance protocols for working within the substance misuse field

·       Make use of regular supervision and support; and to take responsibility for updating personal knowledge and skills in order to meet the objectives of the post

·       To actively promote service user and carer involvement in the planning and delivery of services

 

If you are interested in applying for this voluntary role please complete the application form below and email it to Helen Meal (PSI Team Leader): Helen.Meal@gmmh.nhs.uk

https://www.gmmh.nhs.uk/download.cfm?doc=docm93jijm4n10672.docx&ver=13755