Activities Volunteer - CHAS at Home pilot

Activities volunteers help to provide physical, social and emotional care to children and their siblings in their own home or supporting activities in the local community.

The aim of this role is to volunteer within the CHAS at Home team to provide fun activities for children and their siblings. Activities help children to build happy memories, have fin and access a wide range of opportunities they might not ordinarily have the chance to get involved in.

"Paediatric Palliative Care no longer means helping children die well, it means helping children live well and then when the time is certain to help them die gently" (Mattie Stepanek, Child Author and Poet)

What activities will I be involved in?

• Physical, emotional, and social care of children, siblings and young people
• Supporting with activities and outings
• Keeping areas at home tidy after use
• Playing with and carrying out a range of activities with children and young people
• Moving and handling of children (training provided)
• Moving and handling of equipment (training provided)

What skills and abilities will I need to have?

• Have experience or knowledge of children with complex needs
• Be creative and able to engage children and young people in play
• Be empathetic and non-judgmental
• An ability to relate to people of all ages and walks of life
• Adhere to rules around GDPR and a strong understanding of confidentiality
• Good verbal and written communication skills
• Have access to a car or good public transport links (We recommend you ask your car insurer if you are covered for volunteering as a leisure activity. Some insurers may ask you to make a change to your policy to cover for business, and this may incur a cost).

How much time should I offer?

This can be further discussed with the CHAS at Home team as to how this would work for all, in terms of fixed or flexible shifts. It is recommended that you offer at least four hours every six weeks. Visits usually take place between 9am - 7pm, seven days a week and last around four hours. Travel time is not included in your volunteer hours.

Where is the opportunity based?

We are building at team of CHAS at Home activities volunteers across the country but we are currently prioritising Glasgow and surrounding areas.

Interviews/informal chats are likely to take place at our CHAS office in Stepps.

What ongoing learning/support/guidance will I receive?

It’s important to us that you feel happy, safe and confident in your role. As a CHAS volunteer you will be invited to complete a short core learning package that is tailored to your role. Your learning will include child and adult protection, moving and handling of people and equipment, basic health and safety, as well as fire safety. You will be invited to attend an induction which will cover infection control.

If you do not have an up to date moving and handling Scottish passport, we can provide this training, facilitated by our physiotherapists. This is a two-day course. Provisional dates for this training are 19th and 20th June 2024 at Robin House, Balloch (2 Boturich Drive, Balloch, Alexandria, G83 8LX)

For this role there will also be a requirement to attend a few supervision/check in sessions with your Volunteer Manager. 

What are the benefits to me?

• Learning new skills whilst having fun
• Using your existing skills for a great cause
• Getting more involved and making a real difference to families
• Adding to your CV
• Meeting new people from diverse backgrounds
• Having fun!

What are the benefits to the children and families supported by CHAS?

By volunteering in CHAS at Home activities you will be ensuring that children and young people receive the highest quality care and support throughout their time with CHAS.

"The service that you offer at home - it is just so much more than respite. For us it feels like an extension of our family coming in to help and bringing joy and fun into our lives. The CHAS at Home team are a  very special and unique group of individuals that I have never found elsewhere, nothing is too much trouble and they don't see challenges, only possibilities. Truly amazing!" (Quote from a CHAS family member).

What else should I know?

The role is open to anyone aged 18 and over and requires membership of the PVG scheme. There is also a simple form to complete and we will assist you with this. You may already have a PVG, if so you will only need to complete an update form. The process won't cost you anything and having a criminal record will not automatically exclude you from volunteering. We will assess each applicant on an individual basis.

You will need a full driving license.

We will pay your out of pocket expenses in line with the CHAS volunteer expenses policy.

CHAS is committed to providing a quality volunteering experience to all volunteers, free from discrimination and prejudice. Ensuring that CHAS is an equal, diverse, and inclusive organisation helps improve the quality of care we provide, and helps us reach more families and children. maximising a wide variety of knowledge, experience and expertise.

We welcome volunteer applications from those who are refugees, asylum seekers, benefit claimants and those with a disability. We can provide more information on volunteering eligibility and the kind of adjustments we can put in place to ensure your volunteering experience is a positive one.

What’s the next step?

If you are interested in this role you can apply online or if you have any questions please contact the volunteering team at volunteering@chas.org.uk or 01577 866065.