Parent to Parent Emotional Support Helpline Volunteer

• National Autistic Society

• VO100764

Why we want you
Parent to Parent is the National Autistic Society’s award-winning UK wide confidential emotional support helpline which is provided over the phone by trained volunteers, who are all parents of autistic children and adults. The volunteers all have personal experience of autism and the impact it has on their own families. They are there to give parents and carers the opportunity to talk through any issues, feelings or problems they’re experiencing. They can suggest helpful strategies, signpost them to other sources of information and support, or just provide a non-judgmental listening ear. Volunteers provide this from their own home.

All volunteers must be a parent or primary carer of an autistic child or adult.

What you will be doing

Calling parents and carers of autistic children and adults who have contacted the Parent to Parent Emotional Support Helpline
Providing emotional support and a non-judgemental listening ear to other parents and carers
Signposting parents, when appropriate, to information and advice services via email
Recording details of interactions with parents on the service’s secure system
Dealing appropriately with confidential information and documentation in line with the service’s policies
Some occasional travel to attend training and forums will be necessary
You will need access to your own computer/laptop with internet access

Experience required

Be a good communicator as the role involves providing emotional support over the phone
Be able to respond sensitively to the emotional and practical content of the calls
Be emotionally ready to undertake this role and support other parents
Be able to self-motivate and work on your own initiative
Be able to organise, prioritise and manage your own time
Have a positive and flexible approach
Be able to deal with people at all levels, using tact and diplomacy
Be able to remain calm, even in stressful situations
Be reliable, consistent and dependable
Be reliable, consistent and dependable
Be able to use MS Outlook
Be able to use MS Teams
Be able to learn how to use our call system

Travel expenses

Agreed expenses reimbursed

• About
• Notes

Support

Training details

There is a full induction for volunteers

Restrictions

Minimum age: 18

Availability

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

Sun

Morning

Afternoon

Evening

Frequency & commitment

When and where You will volunteer from your own home You will need access to a computer and a good internet connection The role will take place Monday to Friday during office hours (9am to 5pm) We would like you to volunteer for one 3 hour shift per week You will need access to your own computer/laptop with internet access

Volunteers (aged 18-25) taking part in this opportunity are eligible to claim Saltire Awards hours for their activity.
Find out more

This is a home based, or remotely based opportunity

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