Dementia Befriending Volunteer

Dementia Befriending 

Supporting older people living with memory loss and dementia 

Dementia Befriending supports people to live independently and safely at home for as long as possible, stay socially engaged and carry on doing what they love. The service supports Camden residents over the age of 55 in the early or moderate stages of dementia. 

We offer Camden residents the opportunity to join our Dementia Befriending service. We match people with a volunteer befriender who will visit on a regular basis  

In this role you will  

• Make a regular weekly visit at a time suitable to the older person.  
• Provide conversation and company 
• Spend time chatting with the older person, talking with them about their current and past life experiences 
• Provide feedback on your conversations to our coordinator as required 

Make our coordinator aware of any emerging issues or concerns that the older person has agreed to be shared with us. 

We are looking for people who have: 

• Good verbal and written skills in English  
• Enjoy conversation. 
• A desire to learn more about an individual and their interests and their past, and life history 
• Consistency and reliability  
• Understanding of Confidentiality 
• Understanding of and empathy with the needs of older people, particularly those living with memory loss and dementia. 
• Patience and Sensitivity 
• Confidence to deal with emergencies 
• We welcome people with community languages, Bengali and Somali in particular. 

Volunteering Hours: 

• Befriending (in person) - 1.5 /2 hours a week, (Some flexibility for weekend visits) 
• Befriending (telephone) – 30 minutes  

Training and Induction for the role is provided and includes: (this is mandatory) 

• Online Dementia Awareness course  
• Age UK Camden organisational induction  
• Induction to Dementia Befriending Service and Dementia Befriending Relationships  

• Safeguarding Adults online course 
• Data Awareness online course 

We will give you: 

• Ongoing support including regular supervision by the coordinator of the service. 
• Reimbursement of agreed expenses  
• Access to Volunteer Forum events  

If you are interested, we will ask you to:  

• Complete an application form 
• Meet with the Befriending Coordinator 
• Provide details of two Referees 
• Complete an Enhanced DBS check (we arrange this with you) 
• Induction and training (as laid out above) 

We understand that completing the various steps takes time and we support and keep in touch with you through the process.  

As this role brings our volunteers into regular contact with vulnerable older people, we make sure that all volunteers understand their role and have completed our recruitment procedures to both our and their satisfaction.  

Thank you 

You can find out more about the Befriending Service and Age UK Camden here: 

www.ageukcamden.org.uk