Volunteer Coordinator - Part Time - Temporary

Information

CrossReach Counselling East provides a wide range of therapeutic support and counselling for individuals or couples. Anyone can contact us for therapeutic support for any life challenge they may be facing. We also have a specialist experience in working with children and young people, those affected by substance use and with those expecting a baby, or with an infant up to two year's old. Support is delivered from our two city centre premises at Queen Street and Palmerston Place as well as over the phone and online.

 

Across the five services which make up CrossReach Counselling East we have over 100 volunteers working as part of our teams.  The majority of these are Volunteer Counsellors however we also have a number of other volunteer positions for Administrators, Receptionists, Taxi Buddies, Crèche Volunteers and more.  We have a well-established reputation for delivering a very positive volunteering experience and we are looking to continue and develop this further. 

You will work closely with both our Business Support team and Clinical teams to provide the support required around volunteer recruitment and experience.   

‘Working with Simpson House as a Volunteer Counsellor has been an uplifting and rewarding experience, from the initial interview to supporting clients. Expert modelling and experienced mentoring from the leadership team have both encouraged and developed me in working professionally with the client-base. Working with any trauma requires a delicate and holding touch. The extensive preparation and service training designed and delivered expertly, by the team recognises this need by giving a living voice to thoughtful safeguarding and professional process. With the whole Simpson House team working together to encourage the humanity, respect, and warmth which are often lacking in the world we live in today, it creates an atmosphere that offers something uniquely different - for clients and team-members alike.’ Volunteer Testimonial

This is a temporary post for 9 months.

Salary is pro rata of 38.5 hours per week.

#Crossreach

Main Function

To ensure a consistently high standard of volunteer experience across all counselling services in CrossReach Counselling East; supporting services in attracting and retaining volunteers and in achieving high engagement levels for all volunteers throughout their time with CrossReach.

Main Duties

Advertising, Recruiting & Networking

1. Support services in forecasting and assessing volunteer requirements and recruitment planning.
2. Support services, in collaboration with HR, by overseeing the processing of enquiries, applications, co-ordinating interviews and co-ordination of all paperwork associated with applications, record keeping and archiving of Volunteer data.
3. To represent counselling services at key volunteer and university recruitment opportunities as well as raising their profiles within volunteer forums.
4. To leverage social media and other channels, building awareness of volunteer opportunities within CrossReach and build a strong presence and reputation amongst the voluntary sector.
5. Develop new volunteer opportunities in tandem with services as and when appropriate.

Quality Of Volunteer Experience

1. To share good volunteer practise amongst services, ensuring each service understands and adheres to the processes and procedures associated with recruitment and on-boarding of volunteers.
2. To build consistency in volunteer experience across all counselling services, allowing for and understanding where there may be exceptions or differences between services.
3. Support services in the training and induction of volunteers where applicable.
4. Support services in communication with volunteers during recruitment and throughout their time volunteering at CrossReach including potential use of formal acknowledgement schemes such as Saltire Awards, Queen’s Voluntary Award and CrossReach’s annual awards.
5. Act as primary liaison with HR and other central CrossReach services in relation to volunteer practice and policy, delegating to services where appropriate to do so.
6. To monitor and evaluate volunteer experience and feedback sharing findings with services.
7. To provide up-to-date management information relating to volunteers.

Volunteer Retention

1. Facilitate and develop appropriate volunteer appreciation opportunities for volunteers in the East to come together through events such as CPD Counsellor Evenings, and wider Christmas and National Volunteer Week events.
2. To gather and facilitate an open culture of two-way feedback and continuous improvement with regard to volunteer experience.

Qualifications

Desirable:

• HND (or equivalent) Business Administration
• Continuing professional development in Volunteering

Personal

A warm and friendly manner is essential as well as a professional attitude as the post holder will have contact with service users, their carers and other professionals.

Have respect for all aspects of Christian worship.

This post requires you to either complete a Disclosure or be a member of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme and undertake the necessary vetting checks.

Skills and Abilities

Essential:

• Experience of working with volunteers or as a volunteer.
• Proficient computer skills in Microsoft packages (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook etc).
• Ability to work on own initiative and work within agreed deadlines.
• Be able to communicate with staff at all levels of the organisation as well as people from external agencies.

• Good organisational skills, ability to motivate and inspire, teamwork.