Perinatal Befriender

  • VO93512


Description

As a volunteer befriender with our perinatal support project you will provide listening and emotional support to parents who are suffering with low to moderate mental health issues or are identified as vulnerable to developing mental health issues in the perinatal period. This support may be through telephone calls, home visits, group work or support to access other local services.

What will I be doing?

Offer regular listening and emotional support to reduce social isolation and to help mum be more emotionally available for her baby and other family members.

Observe how mum responds to her baby and offer guidance if required.

Help mum take the baby and other children outside of the home so they can access services they need – i.e. health services, shops, parks and children’s centres.

Give mum support with issues which concern them, for example by signposting to organisations that can help with benefits and housing.

Organisation aims and objectives

Aberlour supports children, young people and families to give them the best chance to flourish, and we’ve been doing it for over 140 years. We work with families, listening to them, to make sure they get the help they need and want, so we don’t take a ‘one size fits all’ approach. We are progressive in our approach to work and we encourage and support our staff to be innovative and proactive in improving what we do to get better outcomes for children. We’re really proud of our work, our staff and volunteers across Scotland and we live by the values that drive our passion to ensure every child has the chance to flourish. Our values of respect, integrity, innovative and challenging reflect what we are, how we do things and where we want to be.

Availability

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

Sun

Morning
Afternoon
Evening

Flexible - to be discussed with organisation. Meet with their befriendee once a week, with a minimum commitment of 3 hours per week. 1 year commitment. 1 hour every 6/8 weeks for support and supervision.

Restrictions

For all roles involving regulated work with children and/or protected adults, Aberlour will require the applicant to submit a PVG Scheme Record or a PVG Scheme Record Update application.
Experience required: Someone who has an understanding of perinatal mental illness, and is able to empathise with the needs of families during the perinatal period Or someone who has understanding of mental distress, the emotional effects of pregnancy and birth and the demands of parenthood, and who is able to empathise with the needs of families during the perinatal period. A genuine interest in the well-being of children and families.
Minimum age: 18

Support

Expenses paid: Yes
Expenses details: Expenses reimbursed.
Training details: Induction and child protection training, befriending training, specific perinatal support training.