Barnardo’s is committed to providing ‘Better Outcomes for More Children’. Our children’s services volunteers help the charity to deliver essential services in local communities, providing support to over 300,000 children, young people and their families. This role provides a great opportunity to join our fantastic children’s services and help make a real difference. **Barnardo’s SEN Champions** provide information, advice and support to children/young people with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and the parents/carers. We are looking for volunteers who are excellent communicators and looking to make a difference in the lives of children and young people with special educational needs and their families. Do you want to help raise awareness of support available to SEND families in Portsmouth? Have you got a passion to improve their situation through empathy, information and support? Barnardo’s Special Education Needs (SEN) Champions will be part of Barnardo's Portsmouth Special Education Needs and Disability Information and Advice Service (known as SENDIASS) who provide information, impartial advice and support to children and young people with Special Educational Needs and/or a disability and their parents and carers. We are looking for volunteers living in the Portsmouth area who are excellent communicators, with some knowledge, understanding and experience of special educational needs. As well as helping families navigate the SEND system, there is also the opportunity to help promote and the connect the service in the local area through: - Representing SENDIASS as an ambassador at events and coffee mornings. - Researching opportunities for Portsmouth SENDIASS to promote our service. - Supporting colleagues to establish networks with other organisations within the Portsmouth community (such as educational providers, local SEND groups and other family support services). Ideally volunteers will commit to at least six months to help us provide a consistent service. Please note, our service is impartial so you mustn’t be tempted to give any personal advice or suggestions to families. There may be opportunity to do the IPSEA level 1 accredited training depending on commitment and tasks you will be completing.
Could you support children, young people and families to navigate the SEN systems, supporting them to complete forms, understand the statutory assessments and to liaise with education professionals?
Tasks: Helping children, young people and parents, to understand the SEN system.
Assisting parents to fill out forms, such as Statutory Assessment for an Education and Health Care Plans (EHCP).
Providing impartial information and guidance about the SEN system and processes.
Liaising with schools or colleges and professionals on behalf of children, young people and parents.
Organising and accompanying children, young people and parents to meetings and visits to prospective new schools or colleges.
Providing emotional/moral support for children, young people and parents, while maintaining an appropriate volunteer/service user rapport.
Encouraging children, young people and parents to access resources, groups and activities within their local community, such as after school activities, youth groups, and sports clubs.
Signposting service users to other agencies and services where necessary.
Adhering to Barnardo's policies and procedures at all times, including Barnardo's: Safeguarding; Equality, Diversity and Inclusion; Health & Safety; Data Protection; Confidentiality; Recording policies and procedures.
Participating fully in training and supervision.
Volunteering within Barnardo's Values and Behaviours.
Skills: Some knowledge of the Special Educational Needs system or a willingness to learn.
Reliable, punctual and trustworthy.
Approachable and welcoming.
Good literacy skills.
Good communication skills with empathy, patience and understanding.
Good IT skills and be computer literate.
Benefits: Full induction and training.
Other training opportunities relevant to the volunteer role.
Regular supervision and support.
Out of pocket expenses agreed in advance.
Access to the Barnardo’s internal vacancy listing.
Our volunteers tell us about lots of other benefits of volunteering including; experience of working with children, young people and families; experience for your CV; supporting your local community; meeting new people; increasing self-confidence; feeling like you are making a difference; improving your health and wellbeing; and a chance to contribute to a worthwhile children’s charity.
Disclaimer: We look to recruit a diverse range of volunteers. If your skills don't fit the role exactly, please do not let this put you off as we are able to be flexible with most of our roles. If you are unable to apply online through the link on this page, please contact the Barnardo's Volunteering Team on
[email protected] or call us on 0208 498 7320
