Volunteer Community Advice Volunteer

What will you be doing?

As a community advice volunteer, you will support the team by engaging with court users, be them defendants, victims, witnesses or friends and family. You will be completing needs assessments with clients, identifying how we can support them. We can offer advice around numerous support areas such as Housing, Benefits, Debt, Substance Use, Mental Health and more. After completing needs assessments, you will then be giving them advice, completing referrals or arranging further casework with the client. We don't offer any legal advice, but can help our clients try and find the appropriate service that may benefit them. You will work independently from the court and be approachable for clients who may be experiencing distress and anxiety. Alongside practical support, you will be available to court users who may need some emotional support or who just need somebody to talk to on the day. As well as offering a holistic, client centred approach to clients, you will have an keen eye for researching voluntary and statutory organisations and be confident liaising with external agencies. No two clients are the same and new support needs may need specific support that requires searching for relevant organisations that can assist. You will be ideally have knowledge around the benefit systems and pathways for drug and alcohol support, or be keen to learn more about relevant support services both locally and further afield.   

What are we looking for?

Skills and experience:

Strong writing skills and good spoken English The ability to undertake thorough needs assessments with clients Skills in engaging a variety of audiences (service users and professionals) constructively Insight into challenges faced by court users (including defendants, their families, witnesses and victims) Previous experience working for a statutory or voluntary sector organisation supporting individuals in the criminal justice system. Ability to listen and understand client concerns, worries and support needs empathetically and without judgement.

What difference will you make?

Making active steps to make a difference in your community. Community Advice has a strong record of accomplishment of offering holistic support to people who offend, their families and their victims. Achieving brief interventions and ensuring support is in place to help people not to reoffend. Make court users experiences less daunting and anxious.