Bereavement help point facilitator

Volunteer role description

Title: Bereavement help point facilitator
Reports to: Community engagement officer
Accountable to: Head of voluntary services
Volunteering hours: Expected to commit to around two hours a fortnight at a fortnightly bereavement group, in addition to required training and attendance of support meetings

Role summary

In this role you will be supporting a volunteer led bereavement support group, arranging the venue and publicising the group, encouraging interaction and ensuring new joiners are welcomed and included. This role is not a counselling role.

Role responsibilities

• To provide support to carers who are recently bereaved.
• To welcome, support and listen to bereaved people at regular drop-in sessions.
• To form a team with other volunteers facilitating an “open access approach”.
• To work within the boundaries defined during your training and refer to the bereavement service coordinator, if the volunteering moves beyond the remit of your role.
• To identify when it is appropriate to signpost to other services.

Personal responsibilities

• Display a professional and caring attitude at all times
• Seek help/support when needed

General

• To undertake training as agreed in relevant areas to help improve your knowledge and skills and to support you to perform your role.
• To be aware of the legal responsibility placed on all volunteers by the statutory fire, health and safety regulations – know what has to be done should an emergency situation occur.
• To maintain confidentiality at all times.

Please note

This role description will be reviewed periodically and may be amended according to the changing requirements.

Health and Safety at Work Act

It is the responsibility of all volunteers to ensure that the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act are complied with; safe working practices are adhered to and that hazards are observed and reported to the appropriate manager.

Who are we looking for? 

Essential skills and qualities required 

• Have an understanding of grief and bereavement through personal experience or in a supportive capacity
• Excellent communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Intuitive, ability to adapt to people’s different personalities and communication styles.
• Very good listener and able to respond appropriately
• Have an understanding that grief can affect people in different ways and others may experience it differently to you, so an ability to work in a person-centred way is key.

Qualities

• Reliable and patient
• Calm, empathetic and compassionate
• Transparent
• Friendly and approachable
• Non judgemental
• Good team member
• A willingness to undertake training

Other requirements for the role

• Good ambassador for Prospect Hospice
• Non smoker in performance of duties