Location: Barnstaple, EX31 1TA
Salary: Negotiable
Date posted: 10th April 2025
Closing date: 21st April 2025
Volunteer - TALKWORKS
Job Description:
TALKWORKS is part of the national NHS Talking Therapies for Anxiety and Depression. It provides evidence-based talking therapies to adults across Devon [excluding Plymouth] who are experiencing depression and anxiety.
The bases for volunteering are:
West Pilton Health Clinic, Barnstaple
Interviews will be held on Thursday 1st May in Barnstaple.
What we are looking for: to support activity that either promotes access to TALKWORKS; or which facilitates TALKWORKS clients path to recovery and wellness.
Why volunteer for TALKWORKS?
- To learn new skills and try something different
- To feel more confident and make new friends
- To make a difference to the lives of adults in our local community
- To gain work experience in a mental health environment
It is important to note that voluntary work at TW is for the most part sporadic and intermittent, i.e. it will not be possible to offer regular work, so flexibility of availability is important in order to maximise the work opportunities available.
Main duties of the job
- Supporting clients to complete inter-sessional tasks. This would usually involve going for a coffee to a coffee shop with a client but could involve other everyday tasks that take place in a public setting such as doing some shopping.
- Responding to surveys. Surveys for clients are a key way for therapists to help clients test out unhelpful beliefs, and it is very useful to have additional responses from people who are not themselves therapists.
- Being a conversational partner: this will involve a series of very brief conversations with clients as part of their therapy. It may be done remotely, via MS Teams, or face to face.
- Supporting marketing events: attending a marketing event and providing information [e.g. leaflets] to members of the public attending the event.
- Leaflet drop off: delivering bundles of leaflets to community venues.
- Meet and greet: Being present at reception at those times when reception would usually be closed to welcome clients to the waiting room.
- Speaking to patients on waiting lists
- Entering numerical data into service IT systems
- Helping trainee therapists by role playing being a client
- Attend volunteer meetings
- Promoting volunteering within the service.
About us
About Devon Partnership Trust
We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.
We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do
Our values
We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.
We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.
Contact information:
Early Career and Volunteer Co-ordinator
Pauline Champion
