Job Description
Befriender (part time)
West Lothian Befriending Service for Older People
The service is currently funded until March 2016. Cyrenians are hopeful of
an extension to this funding arrangement in the case of continued
successful service delivery.
For almost 50 years, Cyrenians (an independent Scottish Charity, number
SC011052) has served those on the edge; working with the homeless and
vulnerable to transform their lives by beginning with their story, helping
them believe that they can change their lives, and walking with them as they
lead their own transformation.
Our Vision is an inclusive society in which we all have the opportunities to
live valued and fulfilled lives. We work to make that vision a reality by our
Mission to support people excluded from family, home, work or community
on their life journey.
Cyrenians has around 100 employees and twice as many regular volunteers
spread across three service groups: Early Intervention, Progression and
Social Enterprise.
Cyrenians is currently based across four local authority areas; Edinburgh,
West Lothian, East Lothian and Falkirk. The head office is based in
Edinburgh, with smaller offices in the other areas. We also have several other
sites throughout Edinburgh, Midlothian and West Lothian. Our Scottish
Centre for Conflict Resolution is based in Edinburgh and is a national initiative
working across Scotland.
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General
Cyrenians has developed innovative models to prevent homelessness by
tackling social isolation and loneliness by linking people into local amenities,
resources, services and social activities. It has successful experience of
using volunteer befrienders to achieve this.
This has led to the charity’s interest in transferring its skills to provide a new
prevention and early intervention Befriending Service. It aims to improve
the quality of life for people resident in West Lothian aged 50 years plus and
to enable them to live independently in their own homes, where this is their
choice.
The service will tackle social isolation and loneliness by providing a volunteer
befriending service and encouragement and companionship to engage in
social, leisure and community activities.
August 2015
2
Main Aims
The key outcomes expected from this role are:
a. Facilitating excellent relationships with older people accessing the service
and consistently promoting best practice to tackle and prevent social
isolation and loneliness
b. Contributing to sustaining older people to remain independent in their
own homes with improved quality of life, health and social connections
c. Contributing to the continuous improvement of the service
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Tasks and Responsibilities
To provide a befriending service to those clients who have been identified
within the West Lothian Befriending Service as requiring a higher level of
support or with more complex health needs.
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Building a sensitive and caring relationship, maintaining these
relationships by spending time with clients in their home or local
community and encouraging them to participate in social and leisure
activities appropriate to their needs
Supporting clients, working with empathy and in a non-discriminatory
manner, refraining from making judgements about clients, their
situations or their circumstances
Establishing and maintaining appropriate boundaries
Being aware of and working within Cyrenians policies and procedures and
maintaining confidentiality
To work with the West Lothian Befriending Team to ensure we continue
to provide a quality service by participating in team meetings
To report back on a regular basis to the Befriending Service Coordinator
and Assistant Coordinator raising and clarifying any points of issue or
concern regarding clients
To keep appropriate records of visits and activities for monitoring and
evaluation purposes
To be flexible and adaptable with client caseload whilst retaining a
consistent approach
To participate in training and supervision as required
August 2015
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Person Specification
Knowledge of:
 Client needs in a befriending context and support they may
require
 Best practice in Befriending and Peer Support
 Recognising and applying own limits and boundaries
 Reshaping Care for Older People Strategy
 Older people’s community based services and networks in
West Lothian
 Working using a person centred approach
 Understanding of an Outcome based approach and service
monitoring and evaluation
Experience
Previous experience of working in a similar role, incorporating:
 One to one befriending work particularly for those who may
have additional support needs or more complex health needs
 Maintaining regular contact for the purpose of client
monitoring and feedback to the service staff. This will include
the Befriending Service Coordinator, Assistant Coordinator and
Befriending Service Manager
 Being able to work within boundaries and in accordance with
the charity’s policies and procedures;
 Supporting, assisting and encouraging clients to engage in or
take part in their chosen activities.
 Managing a small caseload with an adaptable and flexible
approach
Previous experience of supporting older people
Skills
Time management skills with a proven capacity and ability to
manage a diverse caseload and prioritise effectively to meet
deadlines
Excellent interpersonal skills, including:
 Strong listening & communication skills
 Confident with the ability to establish and build good
relationships quickly
 ability to motivate and encourage
 ability to work with and respect confidentiality and to be nonjudgemental
 Flexible, adaptable and a team player
 To understand, respect and maintain confidentiality and work
within and follow the organisations policies, processes,
procedures and best practice guidelines
Effective IT skills
Approach
Essential
Desirable
Essential
Desirable
Desirable
Desirable
Desirable
Essential
Desirable
Essential
Essential
Desirable
August 2015
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Collaborative working as part of a team
Able to work independently and proactively with a minimum of
supervision
 A sensitive and professional approach towards colleagues,
volunteers and service users, mindful of confidentiality and
anti-discriminatory practice
Qualifications
 Health & Social Care SVQ Level 2
 Trained in health and safety
Circumstances
 Able to work flexible hours in line with the requirements of the
Service
 Ability to travel independently across the area of the service
Our experience of delivering services in the West Lothian has
informed our decision to advertise this post as requiring a
driving licence and use of own car. Full expenses will be
reimbursed.
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Essential
Essential
Essential
Desirable
Desirable
Essential
Essential
Terms & Conditions
Employer:
Accountability:
Line Manager:
Reporting:
Liaison with:
Workplace:
Working Hours:
Annual Leave
Salary:
Pension:
Disclosure:
Edinburgh Cyrenian Trust
Cyrenian Board of Trustees (via the Chief
Executive of the Edinburgh Cyrenian Trust)
Service Manager
Report
Writtenagainst
report against
work plan
work
at regular
plan at support
regular and supervision meeting
support and supervision meetings
Other Cyrenians staff, particularly in Prevention
Services; West Lothian Health & Social Care
staff; staff and volunteers in resources dealing
with older people based within and beyond West
Lothian
Bathgate office
16 hours per week which will include occasional
evening and weekend work
25 days plus 10 public holidays (pro rata)
SCP15: £17,477.00 per annum (pro rata)
This equates to £7,558.00 per annum for a 16
hour week at SCP15
Auto-enrolment into Qualifying Workplace
Pension Scheme (QWPS) which is a Group
Stakeholder Pension Scheme – current
contributions being 1% employee and 1%
employer. Option of enhanced Employer
contributions to the same QWPS of 6% initially,
rising to 9% after 2 years and 12% after 5
years (subject to employee contributions of 6%)
PVG Scheme membership required
August 2015
Duration:
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The role is currently funded until March 2016
and Cyrenians envisage an extension of the
contract in the case of a successful service
delivery.
Application deadline and interview dates
Closing date:
Interview date:
Second stage:
12 noon on Monday 31st August 2015
Monday 14th September 2015 – Bathgate Office,
19b South Bridge Street, EH48 1TU
TBC
Please refer to the Recruitment Information leaflet for further information on
completing and submitting your application form.
For full details and an application pack, please visit www.cyrenians.org.uk,
call 24 hour recruitment line, 0131 475 2490 or email
recruitment@cyrenians.org.uk. Please note that CV’s will not be accepted as
applications for this role.
August 2015