Position: Volunteer Mentor (Birmingham)


Organisation: Play Your Part


Job Ref: V01175
Business Group: Volunteers
Career Area: Volunteering
Location: Nationwide
Salary Range: Volunteering role
Closing Date: Saturday, July 25, 2009
Responsible to
Anna Munro - Young Runaways Support Co-ordinator
Safe in the City Project, Birmingham
Location Birmingham City
Hours and timeframe Approximately 2-4 hours per week but flexible to be agreed with young person


The Children's Society is a leading national charity committed to making childhood better for all children in the UK. We deliver specialist services for individual children and young people who face daily disadvantage, while our research and campaigning creates real change for all children in the UK.


Job Description:
To empower a young person to make changes in their life by focussing on goals and targets.
Tasks
To commit to offering one to one support to a young person at a time of transition and change in their life
To work with a young person around issues such as identity taking into account their social, emotional, educational, religious and cultural needs
To encourage the young person to exercise his/her rights and to participate in decisions that will affect him/her
To listen and provide advice from a lay perspective and ensure that the young person's views and wishes are heard
To abide by the The Children's Society's confidentiality, safeguarding and other policies and to commit to ongoing training and support

Qualifications:
A mentor is no ordinary volunteer and so you will need exceptional staying power. However, the rewards can be immense. Due to the demanding nature of the role there is an expectation that volunteers are aged 18 and over.
Applicants must demonstrate:
Relate to children and young people
Focus on a young person's individual needs
Form positive working relationships with a variety of people who are involved with children and young people, and to understand their roles and responsibilities
Work on your own initiative but also know how to judge when to ask for advice and support
Withhold judgments and nurture a young person's potential and ability to form their own views and opinions
An appreciation of the issues relevant to children and young people, including how education and their social network can affect and contribute to their development
Life experience
Experience of working with children and young people, whether in a professional, personal or voluntary capacity
Personal qualities
Applicants must demonstrate:
Self-awareness and ability for self-reflection
Commitment to and an interest in the welfare of children and young people
Sensitivity to the needs of children and young people as well as their carers
Reliability and resilience
Commitment to children and young people's rights
Training and support
The Children's Society is working in partnership wih SOVA, a national provider of mentoring and accredited mentor training to provide:
A full training and induction programme which volunteers will need to attend prior to commencing work
Continual support and advice through volunteer group meeting opportunities and specific training sessions
Regular meetings with the Young Runaways Support Co-ordinator for Individual supervision and Support sessions


Other Information
Volunteers will receive reimbursement for all out of pocket expenses
Volunteers will be managed in line with our Volunteer Policy
Volunteers will be required to undertake an enhanced Criminal Records Disclosure.
This Voluntary Role work outline is binding in honour only, and is not intended to be legally binding.
All Volunteers of The Children’s Society and all potential volunteers will be afforded equal opportunities irrespective of their sex, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, race, ethnic or national origin, colour.


Date of Posting: 2008-10-16


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