RNIB Talk and Support
RNIB Talk and Support provides the opportunity for people with sight loss to meet each other in telephone groups of up to eight people.
Volunteers will provide the friendly voice of Talk and Support by telephoning individual participants and using the telephone conference system to connect them to their telephone group. You will use your telephone skills to ensure that all group participants are comfortable during this process and will help us maintain our records of group attendance.
This role does not require a CRB check
What will I be doing?
-
Accessing records using MS Excel and MS Word
-
Accurately and efficiently telephoning a list of group participants
-
Accurately and efficiently following a list of instructions to use our dial-up system to connect the participants to each other
-
Using a standard telephone keypad to enter system commands
-
Responding to group participants' questions about their participation in the group
-
Responding to unforeseen circumstances that prevent participants from joining the group
-
Updating records of group attendance using MS Word
-
Assisting in administrative tasks that help Talk and Support monitor our groups using MS Word and Excel
-
Carrying out all tasks in a way that helps promote a friendly and approachable experience for the group participants
Volunteers are expected to work with participants and participant information in confidence as part of their role.
What skills and qualities can I bring to this role?
A friendly and approachable telephone manner
-
Comfortable talking over the telephone
-
Clear telephone voice and good listening skills
-
Competent and comfortable using MS Excel and Word unsupervised to access, edit, create and save documents
-
The ability to work in confidence with personal information
-
To be able to work accurately to tight deadlines
-
To be able to respond to people in a sensitive and supportive way
-
You should have a natural empathy with people with an ability to relate to a wide cross section of people including age groups, cultures, gender, race, and religion.
When will I be needed?
One day a week (10.00 - 16.30) on a Tuesday or Wednesday (we look for a minimum commitment of six months).
Location
You will be based in the RNIB Talk and Support office at 105 Judd Street, London WC1H 9NE Map
What will I gain from the role?
Participants of these telephone groups join the groups because they want to talk to others, gain useful information and share experiences and interests all from the comfort of their own homes. As a volunteer in this role you will help make sure that participants benefit from their group experience.
Carrying out this role you will:
-
Use your telephone skills to talk to many different people and have direct contact with people with sight loss
-
use your computer skills in a variety of tasks
-
gain the satisfaction of knowing that you have helped people take part in their weekly telephone group.
-
provide essential administrative back-up to the telephone groups
-
get used to working to tight operational deadlines
-
learn how to use a telephone conferencing system
-
be part of a friendly and supportive team
-
spend time in a busy office environment
-
help RNIB Talk and Support make a difference to people's lives
What support will I be given?
Talk and Supports volunteer training carried out with all volunteers before starting their role covers: the work of RNIB; raising awareness and knowledge of sight loss, providing appropriate services to people with sight loss and working with confidentiality procedures. Specific training will be provided about Talk and Support's telephone conference system.
When carrying out the role all volunteers have the opportunity to:
-
Work closely with assigned members of the Talk and Support team
-
Gain support and assistance from the Talk and Support team
-
Review their volunteer work on a regular basis in order to identify any further support and/or training needs they may have.
-
Discuss their role on a one-to-one basis with the Talk and Support Volunteer and Training Manager
-
Meet with other office-based volunteers
-
All out of pocket expenses are reimbursed.
Volunteer responsible to: Mark Berkeley Volunteer and Training Manager. An assigned member of the Talk and Support team will work directly with volunteers on a day-to-day basis
How do I apply?
To apply for this role, please complete and return the Application form (Word 79KB) to volunteering@rnib.org.uk
If you would like the application form in a different format (such as standard print, large print, braille or audio) or if you have any general enquiries, please contact the Volunteering Team on: 0845 603 0575 or 01733 375 450 or email volunteering@rnib.org.uk