At a Glance
- Tasks: Support individuals facing mental health challenges through befriending and hospital visits.
- Company: Join Jewish Care, a leading charity dedicated to supporting the community.
- Benefits: Make a real difference while gaining valuable experience in a supportive environment.
- Other info: Flexible hours with opportunities for personal growth and community engagement.
- Why this job: Be part of a compassionate team that helps reduce isolation and improve wellbeing.
- Qualifications: Strong communication skills and a passion for helping others are essential.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
The Befriending and Hospital Visiting Officer plays a vital role within Jamis Social Engagement Service, supporting people experiencing mental health challenges, isolation, and emotional distress to feel connected, valued, and supported. The postholder will coordinate and develop befriending and hospital visiting programmes, building positive relationships between service users, volunteers, families, and community partners.
Responsibilities include assessing service users' needs, matching and supporting volunteers, coordinating hospital visits, maintaining accurate records, promoting safeguarding, and ensuring individuals receive compassionate, person‑centred support. The role requires excellent communication, organisation, and relationship‑building skills, with a focus on reducing isolation and improving wellbeing across the community.
Main duties of the job include:
- Supporting people affected by mental health challenges by coordinating befriending relationships, supporting volunteers, and helping individuals feel more connected to their community.
- Building trusting relationships, carrying out assessments, coordinating hospital visits, managing safeguarding concerns, and working with colleagues and community partners to improve wellbeing and reduce isolation.
This is a rewarding opportunity for someone who is passionate about making a meaningful difference in people's lives.
About us: Jewish Care is the largest health and social care charity serving the Jewish community in London and the South East, supporting thousands of older people, families, and individuals every week. Jami, now part of Jewish Care, provides specialist mental health support for individuals, families, and communities, offering services including adult mental health support, carer support, education, befriending, and hospital visiting.
Guided by our values of Excellence, Integrity, Innovation, Compassion, and Inclusiveness, we are committed to creating inclusive services where people feel supported, respected, and valued.
Job responsibilities include:
- Managing and supporting a caseload of volunteer‑client matches.
- Monitoring and recording interactions, ensuring safe and effective relationships.
- Recruiting, training, and supporting volunteers.
- Carrying out client assessments and supporting individuals to access additional services.
- Facilitating new matches and supporting ongoing engagement.
- Coordinating hospital visits for patients.
- Liaising with volunteers, patients, and Chaplaincy teams.
- Visiting patients in mental health settings.
- Supporting and supervising hospital visiting volunteers.
- Maintaining accurate records and reporting.
The post holder will focus on befriending approximately four days a week, and one day a week on hospital visiting, spread out across the five‑day working week.
Across both services, the role includes:
- Identifying and responding to safeguarding concerns.
- Building partnerships with hospitals, community organisations, and internal teams.
- Promoting the services and contributing to service development.
- Maintaining accurate records and contributing to reports and case studies.
About You: We’re looking for someone who is:
- Confident working with volunteers and building strong relationships.
- Knowledgeable about safeguarding, confidentiality, and risk management.
- Comfortable supporting individuals with mental health needs.
- Highly organised, with strong IT and administrative skills.
- A strong communicator with excellent interpersonal skills.
- Emotionally resilient, flexible, and collaborative.
- Experienced in working in a service delivery or support role.
Desirable (but not essential):
- Experience in the mental health or charity sector.
- Understanding of the Jewish community and its practices.
- Experience working in partnership with other organisations.
- Lived experience of mental health challenges.
Why Join Us? This is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in people's lives by supporting individuals experiencing loneliness and mental health challenges to build connections, confidence, and independence. You'll be part of a supportive team, working within a respected organisation with strong community links and a commitment to high‑quality care and volunteering.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and is therefore required to submit a Disclosure and Barring Service check to confirm no disqualifying convictions.
