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Community Connectors

Ability Borders SCIO
VO83516

The Community Connectors service will operate throughout the Scottish Borders to provide a service to people who have a Personal Alarm but do not have local friends or family who can respond to them if they need assistance at home.

The service relies on volunteers from the local community to attend alarm calls through an informal relationship with the alarm client.
When an alarm call in made it is received by trained Operators in the Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC).
Wherever possible the Operators try to resolve the call by providing an appropriate telephone based response.
Where it is not possible to resolve the call over the phone, they will contact Community Connector volunteers to check on and reassure the caller by attending to them at home.
Sometimes, alarms may be set off by accident. In this case the volunteer will be on hand to provide reassurance and to reset the alarm.

Volunteers are required from local communities across the Scottish Borders. Volunteers will be required to:

• attend alarm calls, providing reassurance to service users
• Provide any help as necessary where able to safely do so
• report back to necessary professionals (e.g. Alarm receiving Centre or emergency services)

Experience required

Due to the nature of the opportunity we expect the volunteer: to have excellent communication and interpersonal skills to deal with a diverse range of people; an empathy with other volunteers and clients to understand ; capacity or willingness to inspire and motivate others with a flexible and non-judgemental approach to people. At all times volunteers will be required to remain confidential. Dependability, honesty, and time management skills are expected.