HOLBORN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
Bedford House Community Centre, 35 Emerald Street, London WCIN 3QW
POST: BEFRIENDING SCHEME ORGANISER
REPORTING TO: HCA’s Board of Directors and Trustees
through the line management of the Older People’s Service
SALARY: £16,726.20 pa (£27,877 pro rata inclusive of London weighting)
HOURS: 21 per week (specific times and days to be negotiated)
CONTRACT: Permanent (subject to future funding)
BACKGROUND
Holborn Community Association is a charity and company limited by guarantee, which is based in Holborn and runs
three community centres, Bedford House ,1a Arts and Millman Street Resource Centre in a busy, multi -cultural inner
city area.
The services run at these centres include, Resource centre for older people, Under 5’s Activities, Arts, Gymnastics
and Ballet classes for children, media arts project for young people, community outreach and space for self-running
groups.
The Befriending project will work to complement our Resource Centre for older people to provide support for people
both in their own homes as well as in the community centre.
HCA had 13 years of experience of running this type of project until funding for Good Neighbour Schemes from
Camden Council stopped. HCA has obtained funding to launch a new Befriending Project. The plan for the project is
to employ 2 part time workers, as a job share, to cover a 5 day service. This will be the first of these posts and will
be for 21hours per week. HCA are still fundraising for the other post.
The purpose of the Scheme is to identify isolated, mainly housebound, older people and to recruit volunteers to visit
and befriend them.
A. PURPOSE OF THE POST
To relaunch, develop and sustain the Befriending Scheme in order to improve the quality of life and reduce
isolation of older people living in Holborn and Covent Garden.
B. ACCOUNTABILITY
Line-manager: Older Peoples Service
Overall: Director/CEO
C.
MAIN AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
The Befriending Scheme Organiser will be responsible for:

The day to day management and administration of the scheme, including monitoring and evaluation.

The recruitment, supervision, management and training of volunteers.

The assessment, recruitment and retention of older people participating in the scheme.
Job Description: February 2016
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Holborn Community Association
Befriending Scheme Organiser
Specifically:
 To line manage a 1 day per week project worker.
 To work with the other members of the HCA staff Team to identify the needs of older people in Holborn and
develop strategies to meet these needs.
 To develop and review policies and procedures relating to the scheme.
 To identify, recruit and induct volunteers for the scheme.
 To sensitively and appropriately match volunteers and older people.
 To develop and deliver training for volunteers.
 To be aware of wider training opportunities from other agencies for volunteers.
 To develop and maintain supervision for volunteers to enable them to increase their confidence and skills so
that they can better respond to the needs of local older people and support older people to participate in
their local community.
 To identify, visit, assess, recruit and monitor older people who wish to be involved in the scheme.
 To organise publicity to attract members and volunteers to the Scheme including through social media.
 To organise a variety of methods to promote and publicise the scheme including making presentations to
other agencies and the wider community.
 To ensure suitable quantitative and qualitative monitoring and evaluation of the Scheme and work with the
volunteers to collect the required data.
 To prepare and complete the monitoring required by funders.
 To ensure good practice in regard to safeguarding for both older people and volunteers.
 To provide regular written and verbal reports on the development of the Scheme for Trustees and funders.
 To develop and maintain appropriate administrative, communication and IT systems.
 To develop a knowledge of, and links with, other local agencies and services for older people in order that:
o These agencies are aware of and can refer older people to the Befriending Scheme.
o The organiser can inform and refer older people to these agencies and their services.
o Good working relationships can be developed to ensure older people’s needs are met.
 To work closely with the local Community Connector to assess how best to meet the needs of the scheme
members and that both projects complement each other.
 To participate in appropriate training, in order to keep up to date with relevant knowledge, skills and good
practice.
 To be a full and active member of the Holborn Community Association team of staff and volunteers.
 To participate in local community activities i.e. festivals, social events, forums, etc.
 To attend meetings or events including representing HCA
 To cover other staff within HCA when required.
 To perform all the above in line with the HCA's policies and procedures.
HOURS
To be agreed with OPS Line Manager. Some flexibility will be required to meet the needs of the service.
This job description is subject to periodic review and may change according to the needs of HCA and its
services.
Terms and Conditions
Salary:
£16,726.20 pa (£27,877 pro rata inclusive of London weighting)
Job Description: February 2016
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Holborn Community Association
Befriending Scheme Organiser
Hours:
21 hours per week to include some evening and occasional weekend work. No overtime
payment is payable. Time off in lieu is allowed in line with HCA’s policy.
Holidays:
25 days a year plus Bank Holidays (pro rata).
Pension:
No current pension but under review.
Probation:
6 months
Notice:
1 month.
Job Description: February 2016
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Holborn Community Association
Befriending Scheme Organiser