REST Hub Host Volunteer

Norfolk and Waveney Mind; England; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A local mental health charity is seeking Volunteer Hub Hosts to provide a warm welcome and support visitors at REST Hubs across Norfolk. The ideal candidates will have empathy, effective communication skills, and a basic understanding of mental health. Training will be provided for all volunteers as part of their induction.

Benefits

Organizational training

Community engagement experience

Qualifications

• Enthusiastic with a passion for helping others.
• Ability to listen actively and build rapport quickly.
• Experience or training related to mental health preferred.

Responsibilities

• Welcome and orientate visitors at the Hub entrance.
• Provide information about services and activities available.
• Direct visitors to events and support staff when necessary.

Skills

Empathy

Communication

Local knowledge of services

Education

Basic understanding of mental health

Job description

Overview

Thank you for your interest in becoming a REST Hub Volunteer. REST stands for Recover, Eat, Support, Talk. Our REST Hubs are located across the Norfolk County Area including Norwich, Thetford, Aylsham, Kings Lynn and Great Yarmouth.

Most of our REST Hubs provide a 7 days a week service from 9:30am through to 6pm. Each Hub is unique to its area, but generally we offer planned & unplanned 1-2-1 structured wellbeing support, groups and signposting opportunities. We work collaboratively with emergency services such as the police and ambulance, as well as other local charity and NHS services.

REST is a safe place where everyone can feel confident to talk about their mental health difficulties, socialise, make new connections and recover. For many people who have accessed our service, it is a friendly place where they feel included, respected and genuinely cared for.

We are looking for Volunteer Hub Hosts to provide a warm welcome to visitors who may access the Hub for various reasons, ranging from support, advice, signposting, referral to just having a cup of tea, chat and socialise.

What does a REST Hub Volunteer do?

You will be meeting visitors at the main entrance. Your role will be to orientate people to the building and answer general queries about the services and activities available (including the café, library, events and support activities). You will direct and sometimes support visitors to locate events and activities.

You will be giving out information and resource materials to the public. You will link visitors who arrive in a state of distress or crisis with a staff member who will provide 1:1 support. You will support reception at busy periods to ensure the entrance is free of obstruction and remains a warm and welcoming environment.

Who makes an ideal Volunteer Hub Host?

Hub hosts are there to make people feel welcome, relaxed, signpost into services and identify when staff support is required. Local knowledge of services would be beneficial for this role.

You will be enthusiastic and have a passion for helping others. The hub host role will involve meeting new people and engaging with our regular visitors. The ideal person for this role will be able to listen actively with empathy, communicate well, build rapport and engage with others quickly and easily.

Adequate training is provided for volunteers. However, we request that all hub hosts have a basic understanding of mental health, either through lived, professional or academic experience.

Training and Support

Here is a list of organisational training that is provided. In addition to this, volunteers will be offered service specific training as part of the induction period.

• Moving and Lifting
• Safety at Work
• Safeguarding
• Professional Boundaries
• Equality and Diversity
• Prevent
• Named contact
• Regular catch ups
• MHFA (when available)

If this sounds like an exciting and interesting opportunity, please download the criteria list for more details of the role requirements. REST Hub Host Volunteer Criteria_.docx