Volunteer Speech Support Worker

Are you friendly and patient? Can you spare a couple of hours every week? - if so, we would love to hear from you!

Aphasia Support is a registered charity (Charity Number 1143106) who support people with aphasia to communicate with confidence. We are keen to hear from new volunteers who would like to join our Speech & Language Therapy programme and be part of our growing team in Bradford. Prior experience is not necessary for this role as training and support is given.

Providing one-to-one support in people’s home, the volunteering role is based around your availability, however we would be looking for a minimum of 6 months’ commitment and the ability to offer fortnightly sessions to one or two clients over a 6-month period.

This role can really make a difference to someone’s life and is a great way to learn new skills and it can benefit people keen to move into healthcare related roles.

What you will do:

This skilled befriending role involves supporting a person with aphasia in a one-to-one capacity to work on their speech and communication using speech therapy apps on an iPad and supported conversation techniques. Volunteers are supported by the charity’s speech and language therapy team to complete the following duties: • Working one-to-one with a person with aphasia face-to-face in the client’s home. • Submit weekly visit reports detailing the actions taken in each session. • Developing a good understanding of the speech therapy apps recommended for use by the speech and language therapist. • Providing the opportunity for supported conversation practice using a variety of resources. • Attend regular training and supervision in-line with the expectations of the role.

What’s in it for you?

The volunteer role will look great on your CV, especially if you are looking to move into a healthcare related role, for example speech and language therapy. • Excellent volunteer support and supervision • Out of pocket expenses paid • Knowing you are making a vital difference to the work of the team • Develop new and existing skills, gain confidence and meet new people.

Skills

• Good communication skills • Ability to be calm in the face of difficult situations and able to escalate safeguarding concerns, should they arise, to the appropriate named contact. • IT literate and able to work independently • Friendly, positive and patient • Available during the day (9.30 – 3pm) for just a few hours every 2 weeks • Over 18 years of age