PURPOSE

The Befriending Co-ordinator plays a key role in ensuring the success of Befriend a Child’s befriending programme by co-ordinating and supporting safe, high-quality befriending relationships between volunteers and children / young people.

You will lead on Befriend a Child’s Healthy Minds Befriending project, being the main point of contact for volunteers, families, children and partner agencies. You will promote the welfare and wellbeing of children and young people at all times and ensure that the befriending project achieves agreed targets and outcomes.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Project Delivery and Management

• Manage a befriending project (Healthy Minds Befriending project), from its inception through to evaluation, working to achieve agreed targets and outcomes
•Oversight of the befriending project budget
•Collate statistics and impact data and information on the befriending project for inclusion in project evaluation and funding reports

Volunteer Recruitment, Training and Development

•Contribute to volunteer recruitment planning and campaigns
•Participate in informal chats, interviews and selection process of new volunteer befrienders, in line with organisational procedures
•Deliver high quality volunteer induction and training
•Identify ongoing volunteer training needs and support volunteers’ continued development
•Facilitate group training and peer support opportunities for volunteers

Matching and Ongoing Support

•Lead and participate in the matching process between volunteers and children / young people, including home visits
•Liaise with referrers and families to gather relevant information and ensure appropriate, safe and successful matches
•Provide regular supervision and support to volunteers throughout their befriending relationship
•Ensure monthly volunteer reports are submitted and reviewed
•Facilitate structured review meetings at 3, 6 and 10 months, and thereafter as required
•Identify and respond to any issues or safeguarding concerns promptly, escalating to the Befriending Manager where necessary

Administration and Record Keeping

•Maintain accurate, comprehensive and confidential records for all befriending relationships in line with organisation policies
•Support annual programme evaluations by gathering feedback from volunteers, children / young people, parents / carers and referrers
•Produce case studies and written summaries for reporting and evaluation purposes
•Input into funder reports

Resource and Service Management

•Work closely with the Befriending Manager to review volunteer availability and ensure the most effective use of resources
•Contribute to reducing waiting list times by supporting proactive volunteer engagement and timely matching
•Analyse and review project data monthly and provide feedback and recommendations to support service development
•Provide weekend cover for Playzone on an ad hoc basis, where required, outside of core working hours
•Participate in the on-call rota

Relationship Management and Partnership Working

•Build and maintain positive working relationships with referring agencies including school, social work and other partner organisations
•Attend case conferences and multi-agency meetings as required
•Respond to complaints or concerns relating to the Healthy Minds Befriending project, ensuring the Befriending Manager is kept informed
•Act as an ambassador for Befriend a Child, promoting the organisation and its services in a professional and positive manner

Promotion and Wider Organisational Support

•Provide the Marketing and Communications team with stories, case studies and quotes for promotional use (with appropriate permissions)
•Contribute ideas and content for the volunteer newsletter
•Represent the charity at volunteer recruitment events as required
•Carry out any other duties appropriate to the role, as requested by the Befriending Manager, Head of Operations or the CEO

This job description outlines the main duties and responsibilities of the post. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list. The postholder may be required to undertake other duties in line with the needs of the organisation.

PERSONAL SPECIFICATION

Experience

Essential

•Minimum 1-2 years’ experience in a relevant role
•Experience of working with children, young people and / or families
•Experience of supporting or coordinating volunteers including involvement in recruitment, training and / or ongoing support
•Experience of maintaining accurate records

Desirable

•Experience of working with partner agencies(eg schools, social work, third sector)
•Experience of delivering training or group sessions
•Experience of working within the voluntary sector
•Experience of contributing to project budgets, monitoring or evaluation reports

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

•Strong understanding of safeguarding and child protection principles
•Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to build positive relationships with children, families, volunteers and professionals
•Understanding of the challenges faced by vulnerable children and young people
•Strong organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritise competing demands
•High attention to detail to ensure accurate case recording and reporting
•Confident IT skills, including Microsoft Word and Excel
•Ability to work independently while contributing effectively as part of a team
•Full driving licence and access to a car

Desirable

•Ability to analyse information and use data to inform service development and reporting
•Knowledge of local services in Aberdeen / Aberdeenshire

Personal Attributes

•Committed to improving outcomes for vulnerable children and young people
•Calm, empathetic and resilient
•Professional, solution-focused and proactive
•Flexible, including occasional evening / weekend work and on-call participation

Apply

To apply, please forward a copy of your CV along with a covering letter giving an overview of your skills and experience and how you meet the personal specification.

Please also include the name and contact details of two referees, one of whom must be your current employer. Please send application information to Nicola Milne, Befriending Manager at nicola@befriendachild.org.uk by Sunday 8th March at 11.59pm.

Interviews will be held on Thursday 12th March. Please let us know if you need any special arrangements for interview.

For further information please contact Nicola Milne at nicola@befriendachild.org.uk or tel: 01224 210060.

Further Details

At Befriend a Child we believe every child deserves a happy childhood and the best chance in life to succeed and thrive. We support children and young people growing up in difficult life circumstances across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. We help them develop into confident young adults and achieve their full potential. We do this by matching them with trained volunteers who deliver 1:1 befriending and mentoring programmes, which over time have a transformational effect.

We are seeking a personable, proactive, and compassionate individual to join our befriending team as Befriending Co-ordinator.  This role will lead our Healthy Minds Befriending Project, making a positive difference to children and young people across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire who are growing up in challenging circumstances.  You will play a key role in creating safe, high-quality befriending relationships that help children build confidence, resilience and improved wellbeing.

A central part of the role involves recruiting, matching and supporting volunteer befrienders. You will be a main contact for volunteers, families and partner agencies for the Healthy Minds Befriending Project, ensuring strong communication, effective safeguarding and positive outcomes for all.

If you are inspired by our cause, can demonstrate success achieved in a similar role, are organised, with excellent communications skills and have a passion for working with volunteers and children, we would love to hear from you.  This is an exciting time to join the charity as we grow and develop our programmes for local children, young people and families.

This is a full-time post, working 37.5 hours a week.  Our working day is generally 9.00am – 4.30pm with occasional evening and weekend work in which we operate flexitime and TOIL.  This role is based in our office at 9 Bon Accord Square Aberdeen with some hybrid working if desired.  A full clean driving licence and access to a car is essential due to the nature of the role.

For an informal chat to find out more please contact Nicola Milne, Befriending Manager on nicola@befriendachild.org.uk or call 01224-210060. For a recruitment pack please visit our website at www.befriendachild.org.uk or see below. Closing date for applications is Sunday 8th March, interviews are scheduled for Thursday 12th March.  A full CV and a covering letter are required for application

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