Senior Befriender

 Action Ability Belfast

Action Ability aims to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities into the community and to support the development of their natural abilities.

FUNCTION:

The Senior Befriender role is to befriend isolated people with disabilities and to spend a minimum of 3 hours per week on average with each person matched to them or within a small group setting. The aim of the role is to improve self-confidence and remove/reduce barriers so that people are included in their community. Talking to people and forming relationships of trust and friendship are important aspects of this work. In addition, a senior befriender will also assist the Team Leader to supervise a team of befrienders to carry out befriending duties and provide outcome focused support to ensure that the befriending team achieve the highest standards of practice, service user satisfaction and positive outcomes.

PRINCIPLE RESPONSIBILITIES

Befreinding Support:

1. To meet with those people referred to the service, either individually or to facilitate a small peer group who could benefit from the Befriending.
2. To spend a minimum of 3 hours on average per week with a person or persons with a disability. T0 accompany them on outings or activities chosen by person or persons, which increase their social inclusion.
3. Communicate effectively and sensitively with people with disabilities on a one-to-one basis and in groups.
4. To maintain absolute integrity and confidentiality in relation to personal issues raised by befriending service users and or family members and carers.
5. To participate in staff meetings, service user forums, personal supervisory support sessions and any other work-based meeting relevant to your role.