Befriending Service

Coventry Irish Society’s befriending project aims to help older, vulnerable or isolated members of the local Irish community enjoy social visits and if appropriate, become more active and / or independent. Depending on the needs of each service user (befriending client), this may mean a volunteer visiting them at home or in a residential home for an hour once a week or fortnight.

All befriending volunteers have provided suitable references and a CRB check, as well as undertaking Coventry Irish Society’s induction training and a basic befriending training course in partnership with the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation. Coventry Irish Society is currently working towards the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation's 'Approved Provider Standard,' a national benchmark to ensure the highest standard of befriending services possible.

Stages of the befriending programme

• A worker or relative will make sure the client would like to receive visits from our befriending service and then refer the client to Coventry Irish Society. We also welcome requests from the clients themselves
• The volunteer coordinator will meet with the client to discuss their own individual needs before considering who to allocate as a suitable volunteer befriender.
• If there is a suitable volunteer befriender, the volunteer coordinator will arrange for an introduction, usually accompanied by the person who made the referral and/or the volunteer co-coordinator.
• Following that meeting, both the client and the volunteer befriender will decide if befriending will continue.
• If both decide to proceed, a following meeting will be arranged between the client and the volunteer for a time that is mutually convenient. The date, time and duration of visits will be reviewed at the end of each visit. The volunteer and client will make future arrangements to suit their joint convenience.
• If either decides not to proceed with this befriending arrangement, the volunteer coordinator will attempt to make alternative arrangements. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT NEITHER THE SERVICE USER OR VOLUNTEER CONTINUE IF THEY ARE IN ANY UNCERTAIN OR UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE ARRANGEMENTS
• The volunteer will be expected to report back to the volunteer coordinator following each visit.
• The volunteer coordinator will also contact the client at suitable intervals to ensure that they are happy with the service.

For service users who do not require one to one befriending
There are a number of different social groups and activities that Coventry Irish Society members are welcome to take part in and provide an opportunity to socialise and meet others. Please see 'social groups and events' for more information

BEFRIENDING VISITS AT HOME OR RESIDENTIAL HOME: IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The rights of the service user (befriending client)

The service user has the right:

• To be treated with respect by our volunteers at all times.
• to confidentiality WITHIN the befriending service. Our volunteers will not pass on information about without permission UNLESS there is concern for the service user’s health, safety or well being. If this is the case, information will initially be shared with the volunteer coordinator who will then decide on the appropriate action to take.
• to privacy – the client does not have to discuss subjects/issues they are not happy to.
• to ask a befriending volunteer to come back at another time if it is not suitable (however, it is appreciated if the volunteer coordinator is informed in advance)
• to ask for the befriending service to be stopped immediately, and without explanation. In such an event, the person who referred you and/or the volunteer co-ordinator may be able to find someone else to visit you if you wish.

Coventry Irish Society expects the service user (befriending client) to:

• treat our volunteers with respect and confidentiality.
• respect the volunteer’s right to privacy.
• not ask volunteers to break the befriending service rules, such as giving you their telephone number or staying for longer than arranged.
• try to be in when you arrange to see a volunteer. If this is not possible, try to let the volunteer coordinator know so that the volunteer can be contacted.
• ensure the complaints procedure (available on request) is followed in the unlikely event of a complaint

As the service provider, Coventry Irish Society will:

• do our best to assign an appropriate volunteer to you. However volunteer numbers, suitability, availability, compatibility, etc will determine this.
• work only with volunteers who have agreed to work within the service boundaries and guidelines; these are necessary for the welfare and safety of all concerned.

Please remember that our volunteers:

• do not visit people who have not been formally referred to the project.
• re not professionals, although they will have been given some training. If you need specific advice, you are welcome to mention it to the volunteer so that they can refer the matter to a relevant agency.
• are limited in the amount of time they can offer. Visits are usually no more than one hour a week.
• are not allowed to give or receive gifts/money, or be involved in the service user’s finances.
• are not to administer any forms of medication.
• are not to take clients in their car.
• are not to be left alone with children, even if you are present in the building.
• are not permitted to give out personal information such as telephone number, address, surnames or details of where they work or socialise.
  Any messages for volunteers must be passed via the volunteer co-ordinator through the Coventry Irish Society office