Voluntary Helpline Operator

To become an Operator you will need to have a mature outlook and have a non-judgmental approach to people's problems. You will be required to complete an initial training course before starting volunteering for the service, and attend regular training and feedback sessions as required. You will be trained to provide emotional support via text and telephone conversation in a professional and sensitive manner to the people of Lancashire & South Cumbria relating to mental health issues and provide factual information where appropriate.
Those interested in becoming a volunteer will be required to complete a mandatory training package. Please note, full reference and Standard DBS checks will be made in line with NHS regulations.
For this role applicants must be over the age of 18

Working for our organisation
If you have an FY or PR postcode and want to make a real difference to people's lives, the service would welcome your input and is looking for individuals that can spare four hours a fortnight to provide emotional support for those concerned about their own mental health or that of someone they know.
The service is open Monday to Friday 7pm to 11pm and Saturday and Sunday 12 midday until midnight.

The Trust's Wellbeing, Mental Health Helpline and Texting Service is looking for caring and compassionate individuals who have an interest in mental health to volunteer within their busy listening and texting service. Volunteers need to be 18 or over for this volunteering opportunity. As volunteer expenses are limited to a 20 mile round trip, we are unable to proceed with applications if you live to far from the location you are volunteering for.

Our Vision is to provide the best mental health, learning disability, autism and community based services for the populations we serve.
As an integrated Mental Health, Learning Disability and Community Trust, Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including:
+ Primary and secondary mental health care for children and adults including specialist inpatient child and adolescent mental health provision, perinatal mental health, forensic services including low and medium secure care.
+ Specialist community support for children and adults with learning disabilities and autism, including intensive support.
+ Community physical health and well-being services for children and adults.
The Trust was first established in 2002 and employs approximately 7,000 staff who provide care from more than 400 sites. The organisation offers opportunities for medics, mental health and general nurses, allied health professionals, Psychology, administration and clerical staff, apprentices and volunteers.
Lancashire & South Cumbria Foundation Trust supports flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, home/remote working, and flexi-time.
For more information about Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT please visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT.

Please note that further communication from Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCFT) will normally be to the email address given on the application form. You should also ensure that email addresses and telephone numbers are provided for your referees, to enable LSCFT to contact them.
Please ensure that you read the Person Specification attached below as your application will be measured against this document. Applications from job share partners are welcome and other forms of flexible working will be considered for all posts.
For all posts which require a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check please be aware of the Disclosure & Barring Service Code of Practice, a copy of which is available by logging on to the DBS website. If the post is subject to DBS disclosure, a charge will be made to the successful candidate(s).
You are advised to consider applying for LSCFT vacancies as soon as possible as in some instances vacancies are closed as soon as a sufficient number of applications have been received. If you are not invited to interview within three weeks of the closing date then please assume that on this occasion you have been unsuccessful, as it is not possible to contact all unsuccessful candidates.
Lancashire & South Cumbria Care is committed to celebrating difference as an asset and we know that recruiting talent from diverse backgrounds helps to create a more flexible, creative and effective workforce. We actively challenge discrimination and welcome applications from people regardless of age, disability (especially those with experience of accessing mental health, or Learning Disability Services or caring for someone who has accessed mental health services or Learning Disability Services), ethnicity, gender, religion or belief or sexual orientation. Our goal is for the Trust to be truly representative of the communities we serve so we are particularly keen to receive applications from people in under-represented groups. If there is anything you'd like to discuss in relation to your application then please ask.