Volunteer Peer Support Group Facilitator in Farnham

We are now recruiting new volunteer facilitators for our peer support group in Farnham, Surrey. The peer support group will meet every Thursday evening, 7.30 - 9pm in The Community Room at Farnham Fire Station, Guildford Road, Farnham, GU9 9QB - so applicants would need to be available at this time.

A Training Day takes place on a date and venue TBD. The closing date for applications is xxxxx.

The training to become a Facilitator includes input around depression and how it might present in those who attend the group from a mental health professional. We practise skills used by volunteer facilitators in the group. There's role play of a peer support group scenario. We share information about how PeerTalk came to be, and we consider some of PeerTalk's policies and procedures. The volunteer's expected commitment and ongoing support is outlined. Plenty of interesting discussion along the way. And lunch is provided. We will reimburse your travel costs for the day.

Our volunteer facilitators do not need to have any experience in counselling or in mental health - we don\'t offer advice to the attendees at the support group. Instead, facilitators enable attendees to share and support each other, as it\'s peer to peer support, and we do this by facilitating the meeting using active listening skills.

Volunteer Support Group Facilitator Role

• PeerTalk Support Groups are for individuals who experience depression, anxiety or similar distress.
• The Support Group meetings are facilitated by two Volunteer Facilitators who receive initial and ongoing training from PeerTalk.
• All volunteers adhere to PeerTalk’s ethos, policies and procedures.
• The Facilitators work on a rota basis (usually at the same venue, same day/time of the week) usually for three consecutive weeks per quarter and are supported by, and report to the Support Group Coordinator.

We are also developing other Volunteer roles within PeerTalk which will support aspects of our work other than facilitating at our groups. Further information will be shared here as these developments take shape.

Role description

Facilitator duties at meetings are to:

• arrive 20 minutes prior to the Support Group meeting time
• prepare the room for the meeting
• engage in pre brief with co facilitator
• meet and greet new and regular attendees
• check that new people are at the right meeting and to introduce them to the rest of the group
• begin and close the meeting punctually
• facilitate the meeting according to the training given
• debrief with the other Facilitator after closing the meeting
• complete attendance statistics on a weekly basis
• keep a record and receipts of expenses incurred in your role as a Support Group Facilitator and to send your completed expenses form to the PeerTalk office
• ensure the meeting room is left as you found it.

Commitment:

The minimum volunteer time commitment with the support group is 18 months, following the initial training. Additionally, we invite our volunteers to attend a meeting every 8 weeks for mutual support and to receive ongoing training.  We may offer other training opportunities, which will be optional.

Our volunteer facilitators do not volunteer every single week.  They volunteer on a rota basis, and the requirement is to facilitate for approximately 3 sessions in every 12 week rota.  The rotas are produced every 3 months. Volunteers are asked for their availability in the 12 week period and we work as closely as we can with this.

Training overview:

• There is an initial training day for Support Group Facilitators, followed by some online preparation
• Volunteers are introduced to the requirements of the role in terms of commitment and expectations
• Various characteristics of depression, anxiety and related mental health conditions are explained
• The skills of facilitating a group are introduced and practised through role play
• The policies and procedures of PeerTalk are explained.

What skills do I need?

Person description:

The sustainability of a PeerTalk Support Group depends on the commitment, personal qualities and enthusiasm of the people who volunteer as Facilitators. These personal qualities include:

• Being -
•     a good listener
•     able to show compassion and empathy
•     non judgemental
•     able to present balanced viewpoints
•     able to keep a confidence
•     respectful of others
•     a good team player
•     a person of integrity,
• and having -
•     common sense
•     a strong sense of commitment
•     a willingness to learn
•     a sense of humour
•     good communication skills
•     enthusiasm for this area of mental health and for the work of PeerTalk.

All Support Group Facilitators will undertake a DBS check and have an appropriate awareness of safeguarding issues related to fulfilling the role.

Creating a space where people feel accepted and valued is one of the core tasks of the PeerTalk Support Group Facilitator.