About BCH
BCH is a major provider of primary health services to the Bellarine Peninsula, operating from seven health centres: Drysdale (2 sites), Ocean Grove (3 sites), Point Lonsdale and Portarlington. BCH employs around 175 staff supported by 90 volunteers. BCH provides health and support services for all Bellarine communities including primary and specialist care for children, youth and adults. Some services focus on health promotion and prevention, including to keep people living well at home.
Volunteer Role Summary • The Social Support (SS) program is an opportunity for older people and people with a disability to attend and participate in social activities, including outings. The aim of the program is for people to enjoy a social day out. • SS is one program within the Social Support and Community Transport programs in Adult Health and is attended by clients across the Bellarine.
• Volunteers and staff work in a flexible way to share tasks on the day and create a friendly, welcoming, and respectful environment for all. The aim is to help clients have a fun day out! • Social Support volunteers work with each other and staff to organise and run various activities. This includes helping set up and serve morning teas and lunches, and related kitchen duties (eg dishwasher stacking.) • Activities may be onsite or outings and are outlined in a monthly calendar. • Clients usually come on a particular day of the week, every week. • The Activities role is approximately 9:30am – 2:30pm (varies depending on the day of the week), Volunteers usually attend the same day every week, preferably on a weekly roster.
Social Support volunteers are friendly, helpful and empathetic and must be confident they are able to manage their time to meet their roster commitment (of course life happens!!) This is an important role that requires volunteers who can relate to older people, maintain confidentiality, work in a team, follow procedures, make sound judgements and use common sense. You need to be flexible, and it’s also important to enjoy a laugh!
Expectations
• Current BCH Volunteers are familiar with organisational guidelines and expectations. This includes helping keep your Working with Children Check and National Police Check up to date BCH can help with this, no cost to volunteers.
• Wear BCH name identification at all times during rostered shifts.
• Social Support relies on volunteers to run an interesting program for clients. Please let staff know as soon as possible if you may need to make changes to your availability.
• Attend annual team ‘Review and Refreshers’ sessions and team meetings whenever possible
• Stay familiar with current procedures
• Ask for help or advice from the Social Support staff or Coordinator. There are no silly questions!
Day, time, location
This role is based at BCH Point Lonsdale or Portarlington on weekdays from 9:30am – 2:30pm or as agreed. We are looking for people who are happy to be asked to fill in from time to time, when other volunteers are unwell or on holidays. This could be for a day here and there, or for blocks of time. There is no expectation you will always say yes when asked but we do need people to be on the back up team.
Dress code
Neat and comfortable with closed in shoes, appropriate to be representing BCH in public places.
What you will get out of volunteering for BCH Social Support
• Use your skills, experience and time to value and include older people
• Meet new people in the community
• Social connection with clients and other volunteers