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 working hours with opportunities for personal growth and development.
- 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:
- Support people affected by mental health challenges by coordinating befriending relationships, supporting volunteers, and helping individuals feel more connected to their community.
- Build trusting relationships, carry out assessments, coordinate hospital visits, manage safeguarding concerns, and work 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. Through a wide range of services including care homes, community support, social work, and mental health services, we help people live meaningful, connected, and fulfilling lives. 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:
- Manage and support a caseload of volunteer‑client matches.
- Monitor and record interactions, ensuring safe and effective relationships.
- Recruit, train, and support volunteers.
- Carry out client assessments and support individuals to access additional services.
- Facilitate new matches and support ongoing engagement.
- Coordinate hospital visits for patients.
- Liaise with volunteers, patients, and Chaplaincy teams.
- Visit patients in mental health settings.
- Support and supervise hospital visiting volunteers.
- Maintain 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:
- Identify and respond to safeguarding concerns.
- Build partnerships with hospitals, community organisations, and internal teams.
- Promote the services and contribute to service development.
- Maintain accurate records and contribute to reports and case studies.
About You:
- 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.
General Requirements:
Please refer to the job description above.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check:
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.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Befriending and Hospital Visiting Officer in London
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Jewish Care.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Jewish Care!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Jewish Care, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Jewish Care or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Befriending and Hospital Visiting Officer in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Jewish Care:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Jewish Care! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Jewish Care
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
