Home Visiting Volunteers

Home-Start Portsmouth is a voluntary organization which offers free support to families with a least one child under 5, who are experiencing difficulties and are referred through their Health Visitor. We works in partnership with other agencies and organizations to give children the best start in like that is possible, including a Ready for School programme and parent mentoring. 

We work with other agencies such as: Health, Social Care, Family Hubs, Community Groups and many others to enable parents to be the best they possibly can be.

•  Attend initial 8 week preparation course (1 morning a week).
•  Be committed to visiting a family once a week for a minimum of 3 hours in their own home for up to six months.
•  Communicate regularly with co-ordinators at Home-Start
•  Attend face to face supervision with the co-ordinator every 6-8 weeks
•  Take appropriate action should any safeguarding situations arise
•  Be able to research what appropriate support is available and signpost the family to it
•  Accompany the family to community events, groups and appointments when necessary.
•  Be able to work effectively to an agreed support plan

Skills

A volunteer undertaking this role must have:

A supportive and non-judgmental attitude and approach

An understanding of the reasons families may be experiencing difficulties

A good track record of reliability and time to support a Portsmouth family in their own home.

The ability to maintain confidentiality

Good communication skills

 A satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

 2 satisfactory references

Knowledge of Portsmouth and community resources or a willingness to find out