HOW TO VOLUNTEER with the WEST SUSSEX LOCAL INVOLVEMENT NETWORK

1] Tell us you are interested

Have a chat with us. Mark Habibi is overseeing this activity and would be delighted to talk to you about our volunteering opportunities and what they entail.

You can contact Mark by emailing mark.habibi@helpandcare.org.uk and asking him to call you, or by telephoning the Local Involvement Network’s office on 01403 276 601 and asking to speak to Diane Ruban.

2] Come to a briefing session

If, having talked to us, you would like to find out more about volunteering with the West Sussex Local Involvement Network (LINk), you will be invited to a briefing session along with other potential volunteers.

These sessions have been designed to give you (and us) all the information we each need to see whether volunteering for the LINk is the right thing for you. They last around an hour and a half.

3] The briefing session

The sessions begin with a brief introduction to the network, what it does, how it works and its structure. You will also be familiarised with the rules and principles that volunteers must work to – including the Code of Conduct and the Nolan Principles.

Members of the Host Team will then tell you about our current work and projects and how, as a volunteer, you will be able to help.

Examples include working on a project that is reporting on patients’ experiences of being discharged from hospital; going out to community groups and presenting a DVD we have made to raise awareness of stroke; and being part of our ‘Enter & View’ team that visits hospitals and care homes to report on specific areas of the services provided.

There could also be opportunities to help the network assess the impact of West Sussex County Council’s recent funding decisions on adult social care on individuals (customers), carers, their families and Community & Voluntary Sector Organisations.

4] Training and Support

The sessions also explain how volunteers are trained and supported by the Host team, how CRB checks are undertaken, and the process for claiming expenses. There are plenty of opportunities for asking questions too.

Still interested? Then, please get in touch.