Posted bydaniellegoonetilleke

Could you support children and young people with their mental health?

Stepping Stones is a brand-new project that was developed, and will be delivered, collaboratively with the Milton Keynes Clinical Commissioning Group and Service Six addressing the need to support children and young people transitioning from long-term inpatient mental health units back into the wider community. Volunteering Matters are looking for volunteers to support this project that starts in April 2021.

The key purpose of the volunteering role…

To support children and young people to transition successfully back to the community after long-term inpatient stays and to reduce the readmission rates back into mental health units. The role will revolve around being a supportive, kind and friendly face for the young person to have as they are going through this transition. This will be alongside their outpatient work with Service Six.

About the project –

The project will see a transition from inpatient mental health provision to that of outpatient support from Service Six, and the commencement of a mentoring match for the young people for a period of one year. The aim is to decrease readmissions,
enhance the mental health, well-being, social inclusion and opportunities for children and young people after discharge from inpatient units. The project offers flex’ to also provide support to the families of these children and young people and to develop a youth social action approach to peer-to-peer support. This volunteering role requires flexibility and understanding and commitment to Volunteering Matters organisational values. The key purpose of the volunteering role is to support children and young people to transition successfully back to the community. The post holder will be supported and supervised by a Volunteer Manager, Project Manager and Business

Key attributes:

  • Patient, resilient, open, and honest
  • Ability to set and maintain clear boundaries
  • Willingness to be open around your own mental health and wellbeing with your Volunteer Manager
    to ensure safeguarding
  • An understanding of the intersectional inequalities which impact mental health and wellbeing
  • Knowledge of, or willingness to, explore the meaning of Trauma Informed Practice

This volunteer role is subject to an enhanced disclosure check. Having a conviction will not necessarily
cause a bar to volunteer.

To apply for the role and/or find out more information please email – miltonkeynes@volunteeringmatters.org.uk

A bit about Volunteering Matters –

At Volunteering Matters we use volunteering’s unique power to bring people together and build stronger, more resilient communities across the UK. We bring people together to resolve some of society’s most complex issues. From social isolation and loneliness; improving health and wellbeing; building skills, confidence, and opportunity, to ensuring young people can become change makers in their community, the impact that we make is great. And we will not stop until everyone in the UK has the opportunity to thrive. People-led and impact driven, we are a national charity that is deeply embedded in local areas across the UK. We operate in five regions: London and the South East; Wales and the West of England; East of England; Central England and South Yorkshire; Scotland and North East England. We also have an Employee Volunteering Team with over 25 years’ experience, acting as a broker to provide tailor-made solutions to employers.

‘Volunteers are the cornerstone of our work with vulnerable people in our local communities and we are grateful that you are offering your time to help us to make a difference.‘