Will you help give a voice, to those who need it most, for when they need it most?
Are you committed, passionate, empathetic and a good listener?
Do you believe that everyone has an equal right to have their voice heard? Would you like to help someone plan for their future?
If so, we would love to hear from you.
The South West Advocacy Network’s (SWAN) Living Well Advocacy Service provides free support for people living with a long-term condition to create a Living Well Plan. The Living Well Plan is created with the support of our Volunteer Advocates.
Our Volunteer Advocates support, empower and enable SWAN clients to express their individual needs, rights, and choices through making a personalised Living Well Plan. The Living Well Plan is designed to help people to reflect on their PAST (document their memories), PRESENT, FUTURE wishes. The Living Well Plan is a record of someone’s important information and can empower them to have a voice in decisions at a time when they otherwise would not.
This is a rewarding opportunity. You can help make positive changes to a person’s future goals and wishes. As a Volunteer Living Well Advocate, you must be able to demonstrate the ability to work with individuals from all walks of life. We welcome applications from volunteers with their own lived experience, either through caring for others, employment, or a diagnosis.
The main duties and responsibilities of a Volunteer Advocate include:
• Supporting, empowering, and enabling SWAN clients to express their individual needs, rights, and choices through making a Living Well Plan.
• Supporting, empowering, and enabling SWAN clients through reminiscence and recording of their memories in a Living Well Plan.
• Ensuring clients have access to information which is presented in an appropriate manner for their individual needs.
• Providing person centred advocacy appropriate to the needs and issues of everyone regarding their Living Well Plan.
• Working alongside clients, to ensure their individual future and wishes are clearly represented and understood when they may be unable to express these themselves.
• Promoting self-advocacy as a strategy to build confidence and independence for clients.
• Supporting, empowering, and enabling clients to become involved in the development and delivery of advocacy services.
• Using the SWAN database to ensure accurate collection of data and data recording of all client meetings, travel time, and associated activities.
We are looking for individuals who have the following skills and attributes to volunteer in this role with us:
• Positive attitude towards vulnerable clients who may have a variety of complex needs.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Positive attitude towards long-term conditions and ageing.
• Computer literate.
• Organisational skills and reliable.
• Adaptable and approachable telephone manner.
• Professional/friendly approach.
• Some experience within the health and social care sector is advantageous but training will be given to carry out the role.
• Driver and willingness to travel throughout Wiltshire.
• Minimum 3 hours per week available to volunteer.
Volunteering with SWAN has real benefits and we support our volunteers to ensure that they can reach their own personal goals during their time with us. You will have the opportunity to:
• Develop new and existing skills and gain experience volunteering in a charity.
• Meet new people.
• Build a Personal Development Portfolio.
• Make a vital difference to the work of SWAN and the clients we support.
• Empower clients to find their own voice and tell others what they want or need.
• Be part of an organisation which has strong values and provides help and support to those most marginalised in society.
We also reimburse expenses, arrange days out with other volunteers and strive to recognise the contribution volunteers make to our clients and the services we offer at SWAN.
Equality, diversity and inclusion are core to SWAN’s values. Equality, diversity and inclusion are core to SWAN’s values. We welcome applications from people from diverse backgrounds, including disabled candidates, Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates, LGBTQ+ as well as non-binary candidates, and those with experience of using advocacy services.