Volunteer Carer

Who we are:

Lagan's Foundation is a charitable organisation in which volunteers offer regular support, friendship and practical help to families with babies and children under the age of 5 diagnosed with congenital heart defects and/or feeding difficulties in their own homes.

Volunteer Role Description:  

The volunteer will be responsible for carrying out their duties as described below in full accordance with Lagan’s Foundations policies and procedures.  The post holder must report any concerns about a child or family without delay to their line manager within the Charity.  The Post Holder will be directly accountable to the Area Team Leader and will be expected to carry out their role as a representative for Lagan’s Foundation, in a sensitive and professional manner at all times.

Job Duties:    

The role includes the following:

• To understand the Mission Statement for Lagan's Foundation
• To understand and adhere to Lagan's Foundation policies
• To attend the mandatory training requirement arranged by Lagan's Foundation before being placed with a family.
• To assist on a regular basis with a child's personal care requirements to allow the primary carer a short break. This may include:
• toileting needs
• delivering or continuing a feeding regime
• changing clothes
• playing
• supervising while the child is sleeping
• any other specific daily requirements for the identified child
• To offer friendship and personal support to families experiencing high levels of emotion.
• To communicate what additional assistance may be available to the family for their child.
• To listen to families concerns and relay these concerns to Lagan's Foundation so that appropriate help or advice may be sought/offered.
• To share information with Lagan's Foundation if there any concerns about the physical or emotional well-being of any member of the family.
• To maintain records as instructed with regards family visits, incidents etc.

To attend/complete additional training programmes supplied by Lagan's Foundation where required/requested.

• submit travel and telephone expenses promptly as agreed.
• inform insurance companies of any car used for voluntary work with Lagan's Foundation. Business Use Cover may be required.

Required Commitment:

• To complete and return the application form via the website
• To complete the Charity DBS Check supplied on email
• To complete the online courses supplied by your line manager or HR.  

To attend a Lagan's Foundation arranged training induction which will involve:

• Basic Life Support skills
• Cardiac Care
• Alternative Feeding  
• Speech and Language
• Manual Handling Theory & Practical Assessment
• Infection Control
• Play
• Medication Theory & Practical Assessment
• Plus any additional skills training as required to care for the child

• To be available on a weekly basis for a minimum of 2 hours for 1 year.
• To attend any additional training required.

Individual Personal Requirements:

As a Lagan's Foundation volunteer, we will be looking for people to join our team who have the following attributes:

• Professional and committed to delivering high standards.
• Be extremely caring and understanding of children with additional needs.
• Be reliable and understand why reliability is essential to our families and their child/ren
• Have a non-judgemental attitude.
• Have a positive attitude to working with people of any age, gender, family status or sexual identity, who may be from any ethnic background, culture or religion or who may have a disability.
• Willing to learn/adapt.
• Maintain utmost confidentiality. Adhere to the confidentiality policy.
• Have good communication skills including listening.
• Friendly personality.
• Good time keeping.
• Understand the stresses and needs of our families.
• Have an ability to keep basic records as requested by Lagan's Foundation.

Lagan's Foundation will provide full support to each volunteer.

Location: Induction and Training are held in our Bolton Office and the family you might support with would be based in Greater Manchester. We are currently seeking Volunteer Carers in Lancashire region.