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What does Parenting NI look for in a Helpline Volunteer?
The role of the Helpline Volunteer requires a special combination of skills, qualities and experience.
Helpline Volunteers must ...
- have substantial parenting experience and/or significant experience of working with families
- have good communication and interpersonal skills
- be able to complete our OCN Level 2 accredited preparation training course
- have a reasonable standard of written and spoken English
- be comfortable using a telephone
- be able to commit to a minimum of one 4 hour rota per week and to attend bi-monthly supervision group meetings and skills development workshops
- be reliable
- be willing to question their own attitudes e.g. different forms of parenting
- have a commitment to a non-judgmental, non-directive approach to supporting callers.
The Parenting NI helpline operates all year round and it is desirable that Helpline Volunteers can commit to the organisation for a minimum of one year.
Student Placements
As the Parenting NI helpline is not a counselling service, we cannot offer ‘placements’ to counselling students. All Helpline Volunteers work within the same procedures, whatever their qualifications, and so it is not possible to guarantee any individual Helpline Volunteer a minimum number of face-to-face client contact hours. Similarly, all Helpline Volunteers have to complete our own accredited preparation training prior to commencing work on the helpline - regardless of what other qualifications they may hold. However, many of our Helpline Volunteers are studying towards, or already possess, certificates and diplomas in counselling, and find volunteering with the Parenting NI helpline very rewarding.
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