What's involved in being a Helpline volunteer?
Our 24 hour Freephone Dementia Helpline is a vital support for people with dementia, their carers & families and the wider community by ensuring that there is always someone there to listen and act when needed, be that day or night.
The Helpline is delivered entirely by trained volunteers. This role can include telephone and online support.
The role includes:
- Offering person-centred emotional support and information to people affected by dementia, primarily but not limited to, over the telephone.
- Developing and maintaining knowledge on health and social care issues that relate to people living with dementia, including statutory services and welfare benefits.
- Maintaining knowledge of other organisations and services that can help people living with dementia and sign post when appropriate.
- Recording information about enquiries on our database in line with our data protection policy.
- Attend ongoing training opportunities either online or in-person.
- Keep up to date with Alzheimer Scotland news and our work across Scotland.
This volunteer role is available to people who can commit a minimum of 1 shift every 2 weeks. The Helpline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week so a variety of shifts are available.
What skills are required for this role?
This role requires the ability to convey information sensitively during periods of high stress for our callers. Due to this, these roles are open to people over the age of 18.
Our Helpline volunteers should display excellent listening, communication, empathetic and interpersonal skills; feel confident using the telephone and the computer; be able to convey information in an easily understandable manner; be willing to develop skills, knowledge and practice and display emotional resilience.
To find out more download our:
Helpline volunteer role profile & application form