We all need to be heard for a little while.

Errata

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

I have one per session, so three a a year, with the manager, who does similar work in his paid job. I am also able to approach him at any time and request a meeting for advice and guidance, and also, seeing as this is a Christian ministry, prayer. He has been really empathetic and encouraging.

I'm taking part in an interview, along with the manager, for a new volunteer at the end of this month, to start in the new session in April. I've already taken part (unplanned!) in the 'sacking' of an unsuitable volunteer. This is also all new to me, but I actually find this easier than the coaching! I think it is because it is not so 'open', there are more rigid rules. Being a bit Aspie-ish, I like rules and scripts

Thanks all again xx

TBH empathy and encouragement without an agreed Action Plan on the bits that you may be struggling with are very nice, but they're extras, not something in place of what should be happening.
Doesn't matter if it's voluntary work, and prayer is used or not, the clients deserve a fair crack of the whip from those tasked to deliver a knowledgeable, professional and skilled service.
But......... every negative has a positive. Why not do some personal development work by way of, say, suggesting 3 supervisory sessions a year aren't sufficient (they're not) and should result in an agreed Action Plan with a timeline, monitoring and reporting?
Don't want to seem harsh, but the only difference between a volunteer and a paid worker is the payslip - the standard of work, skills, knowledge, training, confidenceshould be the same.
Never forget when you're paddling around in people's lives, they deserve a good service.

seven-day-weekend

Errata wrote: »

TBH empathy and encouragement without an agreed Action Plan on the bits that you may be struggling with are very nice, but they're extras, not something in place of what should be happening.
Doesn't matter if it's voluntary work, and prayer is used or not, the clients deserve a fair crack of the whip from those tasked to deliver a knowledgeable, professional and skilled service.
But......... every negative has a positive. Why not do some personal development work by way of, say, suggesting 3 supervisory sessions a year aren't sufficient (they're not) and should result in an agreed Action Plan with a timeline, monitoring and reporting?
Don't want to seem harsh, but the only difference between a volunteer and a paid worker is the payslip - the standard of work, skills, knowledge, training, confidenceshould be the same.
Never forget when you're paddling around in people's lives, they deserve a good service.

I couldn't agree more. I would say however that I think I DO do a good job, just because I feel unconfident and anxious doesn't mean I don't do the job well.

At the end of every ten-week session our participants have to fill in a confidential questionnaire that goes straight to CAP, about the service they have received, including that from their coach.

Some of the participants have actually shown or told us what they have said about us and the ones that have told me have given me great feedback. CAP has also said that our Job Club has been given good feedback from the participants (they haven't said who has said what) and that the one-to-one coaching has been particularly helpful. So I think I am doing OK, I just find it stressful.

Errata

I'm sure you do a good job, and with good support and appropriate supervision you'd do an even better one.
Working with vulnerable people is stressful which is why so many workers get burnout. It's not for everyone, however goodhearted they may be and however much a charity wants them.

seven-day-weekend

Errata wrote: »

I'm sure you do a good job, and with good support and appropriate supervision you'd do an even better one.
Working with vulnerable people is stressful which is why so many workers get burnout. It's not for everyone, however goodhearted they may be and however much a charity wants them.

I do agree with you. The manager is also a volunteer with three days training, he does his best, we have to work as a team.

The intensity of the job is one of the reasons why we don't run the Job Club all the time, we have three ten-week sessions a year , more or less the same as school terms, although we carry on the one-to-one coaching throughout the year, this is probably once a month for each coachee (I have four at the moment).

No system is perfect and I do think we give our participants hope and help, and are not like the Jobcentre. I'm sure we improve their lives in other ways than jobseeking, they get friends, a social life and people who care. Many also have found work

Thanks for your instructive comments, most helpful. x

Gingernutty

I'm on my 'phone.

I'm playing truant!!

Instead of gardening, I saw the good weather and thought S@d it!.

I'm in Wellington
, Shropshire, enjoying the sunshine.

So there.

tea_lover

Sounds lovely GN, enjoy the sun

Right - am off to try and sort out various paperwork with various officials. Hate doing things like this, wish me luck!

Waves_and_Smiles

Good luck, tea! You can do this!

That sounds lovely, Ginger!

Our new windows are being painted on the outside. Where is that fly swatter?

Pyxis

Good luck,
Tea, it'll soon be sorted!

tea_lover

Phew, jobs done, washing done, flute practice done. Even managed to avoid buying 5 toblerones from pound land for my tea. Even more impressively (imo lol) I turned down FOH's offer of going out to eat. Bout 3 years too late mate!

Determined to shift these sneaky pounds that have come back, can't go for pub food on day 2 :rotfl:.

elsien

I'm the opposite - house is a tip, ironing is still looking at me from 3 weeks ago, and instead of doing something useful I'm fannying around on the laptop trying to sort out the internet which keeps dropping. Not to do anything useful, obviously, just so I can lie in bed and watch downloads.

If you need saving from toblerones send them my way, I'm aiming for death by chocolate tonight. Got next week off, which I'm looking forward to. Hoping it'll be nice so I can be an old person and get into the garden. And possibly a spot of national trusting and all the other things I used to laugh at my mother for doing till I started turning into her.

How are you feeling WaS, any better?