Job overview

This is a impactful volunteering role for our Older Peoples Community Mental Health Team.

We are looking for a friendly, and enthusiastic person to help run gentle physical activity group. 

You will be helping people using the service to stay active and healthy. You will provide valuable support, while keeping yourself active too.

If you want to gain experience, improve your job prospects, or just want to give some of your time to help others, this volunteering role could be for you!

Main duties of the job

The role is intended to enhance the experience of those people using this service by supporting and encouraging our service users to take part in the group.

 What the role involves:

Helping to make sure walks are welcoming, friendly, enjoyable, and safe by:

• ·       Support the therapy team to plan and deliver sport/exercise themed activities on the weekly timetable.

  ·       Encourage and support service users to participate in a range of therapeutic and social activities.

  ·       Provide assistance to the Therapy Team to ensure that activity resources are utilised and stored appropriately.

  ·       Undertake Core and Essential Skills Training (CEST) and any other training relevant to the role.

DBS Level for this role is:  Enhanced with adult barred list

 The knowledge, skills and attributes required for the role:

• An awareness of dementia
• Friendly and welcoming
• Good communication skills
• Reliable, punctual, and well organised
• Confident at speaking in front of small groups
• Able to take control and be assertive when needed
• Observant and sensitive to the needs of other

What we hope you gain from the role

• Our thanks and appreciation
• New skills and knowledge
• Satisfaction from helping others

Working for our organisation

Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust

We are proud to provide high quality mental health and learning disability services, both inpatient and in the community across five boroughs of Greater Manchester - Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport and Tameside and Glossop.

Our vision is for a happier and more hopeful life for everyone in our communities and our staff work hard to deliver the very best care for the people who use our services. We're really proud of our #PennineCarePeople and do everything we can to make sure we are a great place to work.

We want our volunteers to reflect the diversity of the people we support, and we encourage and welcome applications from people across all our communities.

Volunteer Recruitment

Applying to become a volunteer may seem a little daunting for some people however, the volunteer service is here to guide and support you through the process.

Please be aware that due to the robust process, recruitment can sometimes take a few weeks.

Throughout the process you will have informal meetings with us and the service where you will be volunteering. In addition to this we will require you to:

• Complete an identity (ID) check
• Complete a Disclosure and Barring Service* (DBS) check,
• Complete an Occupational health assessment
• Give details for two references
• Complete relevant training.

*Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

DBS checks for volunteers are free and the level of check is dependent on the role you are undertaking.

We encourage applicants to join the DBS Update Service which is also free for volunteers. You can find information on the DBS Update Service here: www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

Travel and attendance requirements

To support a positive and sustainable volunteering experience including reducing unnecessary travel wherever possible, applicants are asked to consider their ability to travel to and attend their placement on a regular basis. Where travel distances are significant in relation to the time commitment required, this may affect the suitability of the placement and the progression of an application. In such cases, applicants may be encouraged to explore opportunities closer to home. Where travel requirements are likely to make the placement unsustainable or place the volunteer at a financial disadvantage, applications may not be progressed

We look forward to you joining us and making a difference.