What does a Telephone Befriender do?
As a telephone befriender you will provide a consistent and reliable weekly telephone friendship call to an older person, encouraging and enabling them to become more confident and, hopefully, to feel less lonely.
As a ‘telephone befriender’ you will have a good sense of humour and the ability to maintain and engaging conversation with an older person. You will have excellent listening skills, and you'll need to be able to show your telephone friend respect, patience, empathy and understanding.
You will build trust and confidence and share your feedback with PramaLife so that we can address any urgent issues like lack of food, medication issues, or acute anxiety and depression.
Requirements of this role
To become a telephone befriender, you will need:
access to the internet from your own home
an email account
a telephone
If you have a disability that may require specialist equipment or support, please highlight this on your application and we will discuss this at your interview. We welcome applications from people with a physical or sensory disability.
Knowledge/understanding
a genuine desire to support older and vulnerable people
appreciation of issues facing older people at the moment
understanding of the need for confidentiality
understanding of the need to maintain safe volunteering boundaries
Skills/abilities
warmth, understanding, sensitivity and a willingness to listen
the ability to communicate clearly
the ability to be supportive and non-judgemental regardless of a person’s age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity/reassignment, disability, class, religion or belief, or HIV status
a flexible and understanding approach to working with older people whose needs may vary or change over time
to be willing to learn from your own and others’ experiences
basic IT skills
Other
to be able to make a regular commitment for a minimum of two months
a sense of humour and the ability to enjoy and share conversation
willingness to undertake further training and supervision as and when requested
commitment and an adherence to the PramaLife Equality and Diversity Policy
Time commitment
We’d like you to commit to one friendship call each week for a minimum of two months, wherever possible. You will have an opportunity to discuss your availability as part of your volunteer interview, including your ability to commit more time if desired.
Main areas of responsibility
complete the interview and training required
make calls to the client(s) assigned to you at the time and day agreed by you both
comply with PramaLife record-keeping policies including returning the feedback form on the same day as your friendship calls
report any urgent problems or concerns to our team
develop and maintain appropriate boundaries of confidentiality with other volunteers, colleagues and older people
complete further training as and when required to support you and your volunteering role
For more in formation about becoming a Telephone Befriender, please contact Jo, PramaLife Volunteer Coordinator jo.keats@prama.uk