About Norcare

Norcare operates across the North East region, from Blyth to Hartlepool and across to Consett. Norcare provides supported housing, bed spaces and floating support services to 300 service users at any one time.  Norcare seeks to empower and enable service users to achieve their aspirations by obtaining the skills, knowledge and confidence to live independently and pursue training, education and employment opportunities. 

Norcare provides a range of accommodation and community-based services for:

- People with enduring mental ill health

- Women and children fleeing domestic violence

- Offenders and those at risk of offending

- Young people

- People who misuse drugs and/or alcohol

Aim of the Volunteer Scheme

The aim of this project is to recruit and maintain a pool of volunteers from the community, ideally in the areas nearest to Norcare’s services, to enhance and compliment Norcare’s work. Volunteers assist service users to acquire the life and social skills needed to live independently, as well as encouraging them to access and pursue education, training and employment by building their confidence.
 

Aim of the Volunteer

Norcare is all about ‘helping people to help themselves’. The aim of the volunteers should be to develop a mutually respectful partnership with Norcare service users in order to enable those service users to achieve ‘empowerment’ through personal development.

Volunteers strive to offer support consistent with Norcare’s service delivery objectives: to treat every service user as an individual by tailoring services to match that person’s needs.

Desired Qualities of the Volunteer

Volunteers should be:
· Non-judgemental
· Caring, patient and committed
· Supportive, respectful and approachable
· Able to motivate
They should also:
· Have a good sense of humour
· Possess good communication skills, especially the ability to listen

The Role of the Volunteer

Volunteers are expected to:
· Provide support to the service user as an impartial member of the community.
· Support Norcare’s explanation of his/her role as a volunteer to the service user.
· Work with the service user based on their needs.
· Respect the service users opinions.
· Exercise ‘acceptance’ regarding the service users feelings and lifestyles.
· Befriend the service user and develop a relationship of mutual respect.
· Be non-judgemental and open minded.
· Be a good listener and show empathy towards service users’ situations.
· Offer encouragement and practical advice.
· Motivate the service user.

Volunteers would need to:

Act as a positive role model for service users, helping them to achieve their goals
Befriend service users, helping to reduce their social isolation
Assist service users with general life skills such as helping with shopping
Accompany service users who require support with attending appointments.
Provide information, support and advice on practical issues, such as help with general literacy & numeracy skills.
Be reliable and turn up when promised.
Attend group volunteer support meetings.
Complete all essential Norcare paperwork attached to the Volunteer Scheme, such as log sheets and travel expenses forms.
Operate within the boundaries and parameters agreed.
Be constantly aware of personal safety and to communicate to relevant Norcare personnel any safety concerns.
Have the appropriate resources, skills, experience to carry out the agreed service user task.
Adhere to our policies regarding the Code of Conduct, Confidentiality, Health & Safety and Equality & Diversity.

Benefits to the Volunteer

Volunteers would be able to:
Acquire new, transferable skills
Have the opportunity to make a difference to someone’s life
Have the experience of working with vulnerable people; experience which may be used to enhance career opportunities
Create a tailor-made volunteer role which matches your skills and capabilities, along with your own aims and aspirations
Benefit from on-going support and training
Be reimbursed for travel expenses
Receive information about Norcare’s internal job vacancies
Be offered a reference after six months of volunteering.