Volunteer FAQs
Find out what it takes to be a volunteer family mentor
Volunteer FAQs
Find out what it takes to be a volunteer family mentor
Do I need any qualifications to be a Volunteer Family Mentor?
The only real “qualification” needed, is experience of looking after children. Friendliness and a caring attitude are essential as well as an understanding of the pressures of parenting. We value people who don’t judge others; people who respect the fact that they have been invited into a family’s home; people who treat a mother or father as an equal.
Do Volunteer Family Mentors get any training?
We would never send anyone out to our families until we were certain they had the skills, training and support they needed to make it a positive experience for everyone. That is why all Volunteer Family Mentors are required to complete a thorough training course that is delivered in 8 weekly sessions and will includes supervision and review meetings as you go along.
The training sessions will prepare you for the home visiting role, covering topics such as child development, difficulties and issues experienced by families, boundaries and values, supervision and support, and will provide you with a ‘toolkit’ of skills and strategies for working alongside parents and their children.
Feedback from the training is always very positive;
“The session was delivered very clearly and moved along at a good pace.”
“All the information felt useful and relevant to take forward with us when we are working with families.”
“Great start to the course with clear structure and what to expect.”
“It was very useful to understand different people’s values, respect them and see it from their point of view.”
What if I go away or can’t do every week?
The volunteer manager will always discuss a family with you and check your availability before you are matched with them. If you take the family on, you are expected to commit to every week; however, if you know you are going to be away for a week or two, arrangements can be made to provide alternative support if it is appropriate. Sometimes volunteers have things going on with their own family’s, children’s exams, bereavement etc. in this situation the volunteer may take a break from supporting families and would be classed as ‘resting’.
How do I apply to be a Volunteer Family Mentor?
Please call the office on 01438 367788 or email us:
admin [at] home-startherts [dot] org [dot] uk
