At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and innovate the Befriender programme, supporting bereaved families through peer support.
- Company: Sands, a compassionate organisation dedicated to supporting bereaved parents.
- Benefits: Flexible working, meaningful impact, and a supportive community environment.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team focused on inclusion and continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of bereaved families while leading a passionate volunteer team.
- Qualifications: Experience in volunteer management and a passion for community support.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 € per year.
Volunteer and community involvement is a core part of what we do here at Sands. From Sands United Teams, Support Groups, knitters, Parent Speakers and event volunteers, volunteers are at the heart of Sands delivering peer support and building a local community for bereaved parents. Sands Groups are volunteer led and community driven. Sands has a vision to grow community-based peer support, community activity and volunteer involvement across the organisation. This requires an investment in enabling, innovation in peer support and volunteer involvement and partnership working.
At the heart of this is our Befrienders. Befrienders are in every Group across the UK and enable online support groups too. This post is all about developing, delivering and managing our fantastic volunteer befriender programme across Sands, ensuring that Sands befrienders are enabled to provide warm, supportive, evidence-based and values-driven peer support to bereaved families across the UK.
This maternity cover post will have two key focus areas:
- Maintaining key components of the befriender programme, including regular communications and meetings with Befrienders, driving recruitment opportunities, supporting innovation in Befriending and troubleshooting in partnership with volunteers.
- Delivering a fixed timeline project focused on developing the Befriender programme.
Responsibilities
- Best practice in peer support and befriender programmes.
- Manage the direction and growth of the Befriender programme.
- Work with the Development Leads and Community Development Officers to create plans for regions to support existing Befrienders and grow the peer support offer across the UK.
- Engage, inspire and support existing Sands befrienders, providing a positive volunteer experience from recruitment to saying goodbye.
- Be the point of contact for Befriender safeguarding issues, proactively addressing and being an escalation point for challenges, risks and safeguarding issues.
- Practice and support excellent standards in all aspects of inclusion and diversity, particularly in reaching marginalised groups in recruitment and enabling volunteers to provide inclusive support spaces.
- Lead on development of processes, guidance and resources, ensuring good governance and risk management of the Befriender Programme.
- Work with the Volunteering Coordinator to ensure delivery of key processes, process development and improvement to enhance the volunteer experience.
- Identify learning and development opportunities for befrienders and create a culture of continued learning for all Befrienders.
- Be an opportunity spotter, picking up innovation opportunities to grow and develop the Befriender programme, alongside relevant Sands’ staff teams.
- Manage short- and long-term projects and where appropriate join cross organisational working groups to represent the Community and Volunteering Team, including projects that may have budgets.
- Advocate the voices and needs of Befrienders, bringing in knowledge and feedback to enable good decision making and volunteer participation in new ways of working.
- Through supporting approaches to recruitment and partnerships, ensure that individuals with a wide range of bereavement experiences are at the heart of Sands’ volunteering.
- Build a data driven understanding of gaps in service and representation, and make promotion and recruitment decisions to support growth for under-represented towns/regions/groups.
- Support continuous improvement and accurate delivery of processes in the welcome journey for new befrienders, including in recruitment, onboarding and offboarding processes in partnership with the Volunteer Coordinator.
- Use the CRM to record accurate information and help make data informed decisions.
Internal and external partnerships
- Work with the Bereavement Support Services Team (BSS) to ensure collaboration across the Befriender programme and national BSS support groups and ensure the Befriender programme continues to be rooted in trauma-informed practice.
- Work with the Training Team to ensure that training and learning experiences for Befrienders are up to date, relevant and accessible.
- Work with the Philanthropy and Partnerships team and the Head of Community and Volunteering to maximise compelling cases for support, storytelling and funding opportunities at a national and local level.
- Work with the Engagement Team to ensure Sands befriending is represented in an engaging and positive way across Sands social media and the media.
Befriender Programme Lead (Maternity Cover) employer: Sands - baby loss charity
At Sands, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that values the contributions of our volunteers and staff alike. Our supportive work culture fosters innovation and collaboration, particularly in our Befriender Programme, where you will have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on bereaved families across the UK. With a strong commitment to employee growth and development, we offer a nurturing environment that encourages continuous learning and inclusivity, making Sands a truly rewarding place to work.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Befriender Programme Lead (Maternity Cover)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former befrienders and get the inside scoop on what it’s really like. They can give you tips on how to stand out and what skills are most valued in the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Show your passion for community involvement! When you chat with potential colleagues or during interviews, share your experiences with volunteering or supporting bereaved families. It’ll show that you’re genuinely invested in the mission.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! If you see an opportunity to contribute ideas for the befriender programme, don’t hesitate to bring them up. This shows initiative and that you’re already thinking about how to innovate and improve the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, you’ll find all the latest updates and opportunities there, so keep checking back!
We think you need these skills to ace Befriender Programme Lead (Maternity Cover)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:When writing your application, let your passion for community involvement and peer support shine through. We want to see how much you care about making a difference in the lives of bereaved families.
Tailor Your Experience:Make sure to highlight any relevant experience you have with volunteer programmes or community support. We love seeing how your background aligns with our mission at Sands, so don’t hold back!
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured responses that get straight to the heart of your skills and experiences. Remember, less is often more!
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this fantastic opportunity with Sands.
How to prepare for a job interview at Sands - baby loss charity
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into Sands' mission and values. Understand how the Befriender Programme fits into their community support efforts. This will show your genuine interest and help you connect your experience with their goals.
✨Showcase Your Volunteer Experience
Be ready to discuss any previous volunteer roles you've held. Highlight how those experiences have prepared you for managing and supporting a volunteer programme. Use specific examples to illustrate your ability to inspire and engage volunteers.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions about handling challenges in volunteer management or peer support. Think of scenarios where you've successfully navigated difficult situations, especially around safeguarding or inclusion. This will demonstrate your problem-solving skills and commitment to best practices.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
At the end of the interview, ask insightful questions about the future of the Befriender Programme or how they measure success in volunteer engagement. This shows you're not just interested in the role but also in contributing to the organisation's growth.
