Team Leader
At Take Back Your Mind UK, our volunteers come from diverse backgrounds and experiences. We truly rely on their dedication and compassion to carry out our mission.
Volunteering with us is a rewarding experience. You'll gain a sense of pride, satisfaction, and purpose by engaging in meaningful conversations that can make a real difference in someone’s life.
Join our welcoming and supportive community of fellow volunteers, where you can forge lifelong friendships and connect with others who share your passion for mental health advocacy.
Additionally, volunteering is an excellent way to enhance your CV. No prior experience in mental health is necessary; we provide training and ongoing support to equip you for the role.
Leadership Experience: Previous experience in a leadership or supervisory role
Strong Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication abilities, focusing on active listening and empathetic engagement.
Conflict Resolution Skills: Ability to mediate conflicts and facilitate discussions, fostering a collaborative and constructive team atmosphere.
Tech Savvy: Proficiency in digital communication tools, data management systems, and online platforms relevant to service delivery.
Passion for Mental Health: A strong commitment to promoting mental health awareness and support, with an understanding of related issues and challenges.
Empathy and Compassion: A desire to support and uplift others, creating a safe and nurturing environment for volunteers and service users.
Adaptability: Flexibility in responding to the dynamic needs of the team and service users, adjusting strategies as necessary.
Initial Enrollment: Upon joining, you will be welcomed as a Learner and enrolled in a training program designed to equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge for effective support.
Training Structure: The training consists of five levels, culminating in a Practical Week where you will engage in practical learning experiences. This structured approach ensures a smooth transition into solo support work, allowing you to feel confident and prepared.
Take Back Your Mind UK Volunteers receive free training in Understanding your Role, Communication, Risk Management, and more. The training is self-paced and conducted online, equipping you with skills to help people in distress and valuable life skills.
Commitment: Complete all levels of training within six weeks.
Training Requirements: Access training using a computer and Google Chrome.
Practice: Engage in activities, earning a pass grade before progressing.
Our Volunteer Training Support team is here to assist you, answer questions, and provide feedback throughout your training and volunteering journey. You’ll join a supportive community of volunteers and have access to essential resources for your role.
While you train, we request you have a background check, which is mandatory before you can start helping others.
As a team leader, you will be supporting volunteers supporting individuals, so it’s crucial to demonstrate the skills learned in training. While most trainees successfully complete the training, not everyone will pass. If this happens, there are still other ways to contribute to our mission.
We ask volunteers to contribute 2 to 4 hours a week, if they can.
Introduction
Service Team Leader Volunteers are responsible for the volunteers within their team, ensuring they are sufficiently equipped during their time with the organisation.
We're looking for volunteers with a passion for helping others.
Responsibilities
Team Leadership:
Supervise and Inspire: Lead a diverse team of Talking Service Volunteers, providing guidance, mentorship, and support to enhance their performance and confidence in delivering mental health support.
Promote Inclusivity: Cultivate a positive team culture that emphasises open communication, mutual respect, and inclusivity, ensuring that all volunteers feel valued and supported.
Training and Development:
Facilitate Onboarding: Assist in the onboarding and training of new volunteers, ensuring they acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to fulfil their roles effectively.
Ongoing Development: Identify team training needs and coordinate opportunities for continued learning and professional development, enhancing the skills and capabilities of volunteers.
Service Oversight:
Quality Assurance: Monitor the quality of services provided by volunteers, ensuring adherence to organisational policies, procedures, and best practices in mental health support.
Performance Evaluation: Regularly assess volunteer performance through feedback and observation, providing constructive evaluations and support to foster growth.
Coordination and Communication:
Liaise with Service Manager: Act as the primary point of contact between volunteers and the Service Manager, effectively communicating updates, challenges, and successes within the team.
Collaboration with Scheduling Team: Liaise with the Scheduling team regarding the availability of volunteers on your team, ensuring their schedules are coordinated each week. Keep the Scheduling team updated with any changes to a volunteer's availability to ensure effective service delivery.
Handle Referrals: Manage referrals made by volunteers through SERVACT, assistance when a complaint has been raised or if a case is deemed too serious for a volunteer to handle, such as safeguarding risks.
Engage with Human Resources: Liaise with human resources regarding recruitment needs, volunteer onboarding, and any conclusions related to volunteer engagement.
Support and Crisis Management:
Resource Guidance: Offer guidance and support to volunteers facing challenging situations or service users in crisis, ensuring they have the tools and resources needed to respond effectively.
Emergency Protocols: Familiarise yourself with and enforce emergency protocols and procedures, ensuring the safety and well-being of both volunteers and service users.
Engagement and Community Building:
Volunteer Engagement: Actively promote a culture of appreciation and recognition within the team, celebrating volunteer contributions and achievements to maintain high morale and commitment.
Additional Responsibilities:
Manage Volunteer Duties: Oversee the responsibilities outlined in the Talking Services Volunteer role, ensuring all team members effectively support service users and accurately document interactions.
Signposting and Referrals: When necessary, follow established internal referral processes for other TBYM services.
Policy Adherence: Stay informed of and adhere to all organisational policies, guidelines, and best practices to maintain a safe and effective support environment.
Volunteer Engagement:
Promote a volunteer culture that values diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Volunteer your time based on your availability.
Volunteers are added to the service schedule once trained, solely dependent on their availability.
Something for you:
Opportunity to make a meaningful impact.
Flexible scheduling and remote work.
Volunteers' Hub
Ensuring volunteers have easy access to resources to effectively contribute means having a place where it all lives. Ease of access means more efficiency and volunteers have the freedom to get tasks done without barriers.
So, you've decided you want to get started, huh? Awesome.
Generally, after onboarding, your role is self-led, under the supervision of the department manager or one of the organisation directors.
Support service volunteers are required to provide evidence of a valid standard or enhanced DBS, otherwise the organisation will apply for a certificate. TBYM does not cover the cost, therefore, our DBS partner will issue a charge of £13.20 to the volunteer
Unpaid Volunteer Standard Disclosure (Online) £13.20
Unpaid Volunteer Enhanced Disclosure (Online) £13.20
Yes, even volunteers have these.
Although we guide and support volunteers, it's important for each individual to take ownership of their volunteering and ensure:
Active Engagement: Participate fully in training and ongoing development opportunities.
Commitment to Availability: Adhere to your agreed-upon volunteering schedule and communicate any changes promptly.
Professionalism: Maintain a respectful and supportive demeanor when interacting with service users and fellow volunteers.
Confidentiality: Uphold the highest standards of confidentiality regarding sensitive information shared by individuals in distress.
Feedback and Growth: Be open to receiving feedback and actively seek opportunities to improve your skills and effectiveness in your role.
Self-Care: Prioritise your mental health and well-being, recognising when to take breaks or seek support for yourself.
Community Involvement: Contribute positively to the volunteer community, sharing experiences and supporting fellow volunteers.
By taking these responsibilities seriously, you will enhance your impact and help us create a supportive environment for everyone involved.