Team: Services

Location: Central Office, Mortlake, SW London

 Time commitment: 4 hours per week, minimum 1 year. Anytime between 10am and 10pm seven days a week

Application deadline: 7^th September 2012

Purpose
To answer calls and emails giving emotional support and advice to anyone affected by the issue of ‘missing’ and to trace missing people.

Duties:

• Answering calls on a national 24-hour helpline and emails from families, missing people, runaways, police, social services and other organisations
• Recording information on a database
• Signposting to other agencies
• Consulting with the Services Supervisor
• Other administrative duties

Skills and experience:

• Excellent communication and listening skills, both verbal and non-verbal
• Fluent and colloquial English, both spoken and written
• Calm, empathetic, non-judgemental manner
• Competency in Microsoft Office and ability to understand new technology quickly
• Accuracy and attention to detail
• Good timekeeping and reliability

Training

Missing People provides full training through a comprehensive series of training sessions. These sessions will provide you with helpline skills, information on the missing issue, a guide to supporting vulnerable adults and children; and the opportunity to listen-in to calls in preparation for the volunteering role.

The induction training is approximately 14 three-hour sessions. These sessions will begin in early 4 October 2012. Volunteers are required to attend all sessions before taking up this complex and extremely rewarding role. Training takes place at the location described above.

Support 

Volunteers are supported at all times by a Supervisor and debriefed during and after shifts. Regular supervisions are provided; these are to establish further training needs, discuss progress and future development, exchange feedback and acknowledge achievements. Volunteers also have the opportunity to attend group support sessions with a qualified counsellor.

Next steps:

• Download and complete the application form from the link below
   Volunteer application (141 kB) 
• Invitation to a Selection Session involving: an introduction to Missing People, a discussion about the helpline volunteer role, individual/group tasks and an informal interview. The Selection Session dates are being held in 19^th and 20^th September 2012.
• The training course is run during evenings and weekends.
• You will be asked to complete a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check. This is provided by Missing People
• Missing People has a three month probation period for all volunteers 

Why volunteer for Missing People?

• You will gain valuable experience and new skills to add to your CV
• You will meet lots of friendly people who, like you, have a passion for our work
• You will be part of a team giving invaluable support to people at a time of crisis in their lives
• We insist on equal opportunities and fair treatment for all people applying to be volunteers
• We provide out-of-pocket travel expenses of up to £10 a day

Further information:

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Tel: 020 8392 4590

Address: Missing People Volunteering, Roebuck House, 284 Upper Richmond Road West, London SW14 7JE