Location: Birmingham
When: At least one day per week (Monday-Friday)
Role reports to: Project Coordinator
Supporting people who are experiencing homelessness to review their health needs and access healthcare.
As this is a peer support service, personal experience of homelessness is essential. By homelessness we mean: rough sleeping, staying with friends, living in hostels or other forms of temporary accommodation, living in asylum support accommodation, squatting or any other form of unstable accommodation. We regret that we cannot accept applications from applicants without personal experience.
As a Peer Advocate, you will phone and meet clients regularly to help them monitor their health and wellbeing. You will support people to register with health services, book and attend appointments. You will support clients to communicate with health professionals, ensuring their needs and wishes are understood. You may also advise clients about their rights and signpost them to specialist support organisations.
As a volunteer, you will receive training in health advocacy, boundaries, confidentiality and difficult conversations from our partner Groundswell, a leading charity working with people with lived experience. You will be supported by the local #HealthNow Coordinator who will allocate individuals accessing the service directly to you.
*If you are successful in applying for this role, you will need to attend 6 days training on 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 27th, 28th June. Please make sure you would be free to attend this course*
Essential
Desirable
This role requires an enhanced DBS check but having a previous criminal record is not a barrier to volunteering. Similarly, some people may struggle to provide identity documents for DBS checks – this should not be a barrier to volunteering.
We expect volunteers to comply with Crisis policies including health and safety, data protection and code of conduct at all times.