Volunteer Co-ordinator in London

Responsible to: Head of Operations; Chief Officer

Salary: £13.22 per hour

Days/times: 16hrs, days/times flexible to ensure all volunteers are supported

Work base: Town Centre

As this position will include a base in our women only spaces (including Refuge), we are only accepting applications from women. (Schedule 9, Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010 applies)

Purpose of post

The purpose of this role is to support the volunteer programmes within our domestic abuse support services only: Refuge, DA Hub and Women's Centre (not retail).

Main duties

• To manage, supervise and support a team of approximately 20 volunteers, who assist and help our support teams and projects.
• To promote and encourage volunteer engagement.
• To recruit and train volunteers in a variety of settings and buildings.
• To co-ordinate our reception areas and ensure all visitors and clients feel welcomed and supported.
• To manage relationships between volunteers, staff and clients.
• To plan and lead volunteer meetings.
• To manage rotas including holidays, sickness, absence, etc.
• To plan, organise and deliver volunteer training when required (with other staff members).
• To monitor and evaluate the volunteer programme, assessing the project's progress and goals, recording statistics and outcomes, as requested.
• To work with the CEO to develop any new policies, procedures and risk assessments as necessary.
• To oversee task descriptions, volunteer agreements and personnel files for each volunteer.
• To ensure excellent communications between volunteers and also between volunteers and other staff and projects.
• To represent and be a voice for the volunteer team.
• To have a high level of awareness of our mission and knowledge of how we use volunteers across the organisation.
• To be involved in any volunteer events and/or activities.
• To maintain volunteer information, files and databases electronically as required.
• To stay up to date with any volunteering guidance and/or legislation as required.
• To offer a calm and professional approach to supporting volunteers, undertaking support for any situations of conflict.
• To encourage volunteer involvement and feedback in developing services.
• To assist with providing cover for volunteers in an emergency.
• To establish safety and carry out any risk assessments and health & safety checks when necessary.
• To support the volunteer in exploring opportunities, identifying and encouraging aspirations and developing these into meaningful future plans and goals, when appropriate.
• To work within a framework of safeguarding under Women's Aid NEL and local authority guidance.
• When requested, to prepare and undertake project reports and feedback on success.

General responsibilities

• To work as a team member under the guidance and management of the Head of Operations.
• To participate in fundraising activities on behalf of Women's Aid.
• To work alone and on one's own initiative with due regard to our lone working procedures.
• To participate in staff training, ensuring mandatory training is up-to-date and refreshed regularly.
• To discuss any training personally identified in supervisions.
• To attend team meetings, external meetings and Trustee meetings as requested.
• To draw to the attention of the Support Manager any issues which may impact on clients or Women's Aid.
• To be familiar with all policies of Women's Aid; to ensure policies are signed off as instructed; to ensure policies are implemented and adhered to at all times.
• To work at all times in accordance with the confidentiality policy of Women's Aid.
• To comply with data protection legislation, ensuring information sharing procedures are adhered to at all times.
• To ensure the highest standard of anti-discriminatory and equal opportunities practices are adhered to and to work in a non-judgemental way.
• To work in a safe and responsible way, ensuring that health & safety practices are followed.
• To work in accordance with staff values and ethos as described in our staff agreement.
• To constantly raise awareness of domestic abuse locally.
• To assist with providing cover for absent colleagues during periods of sickness, holidays, etc., as requested by the Head of Services or CEO.
• To carry out any other duties commensurate with the level of this post.

Person specification

• Experience of managing or supporting staff or volunteers.
• Recruiting and training staff or volunteers.
• Organising, planning and evaluating projects.
• Knowledge of the impact of domestic abuse on everyone.
• Safeguarding practices.

Skills

• Excellent communication and organisational skills.
• Computer skills (file management is undertaken electronically).
• Ability to cope with crisis management, conflict and deadlines.
• Ability to support and encourage progression.

General

• To foster a tolerant, supportive and empathic approach to volunteers, with an ability to build rapport quickly.
• To ensure a positive image of the organisation through personal behaviour and appearance.
• Demonstrate a high level of motivation.

Desirable criteria

• Any recognised professional qualifications.
• Experience of working to performance indicators and standards.
• Report writing and presentations.
• Knowledge of education/training and employment opportunities.

Values and Culture

We are a values-led organisation committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and empowering environment for both our staff and the people we support.