Children's Services Office Support/Receptionist (Cape Hill Children’s Centre Smethwick)

Barnardo’s is committed to providing ‘Better Outcomes for More Children’. Our children’s services volunteers help the charity to deliver essential services in local communities, providing support to over 300,000 children, young people and their families. This role provides a great opportunity to join our fantastic children’s services and help make a real difference. **Barnardo’s Office Support Volunteers** support a range of children’s services, such as Care Leavers, Advocacy and Mental Health support services, as well as back office support, providing administrative and reception support. Completing general admin duties, alongside booking rooms, ensuring notice boards are up to date and recording service user information, our Office Support Volunteers keep our services running efficiently. Barnardo’s has Children’s Centres across the following areas, Sandwell, West Bromwich, Rowley, Tipton, Smethwick, Oldbury and Wednesbury. Each provide support for children, young people, and their families. We offer a wide range of services that can be accessed, such as, family support, health services, parenting programmes and antenatal support, early year’s education services such as ‘stay and play’ sessions, school readiness sessions, speech and language support, and family learning. Barnardo’s Office Support Volunteers are the first port of call for families visiting or calling our Children's Centres. Completing general administration duties, alongside booking rooms, ensuring notice boards are up-to-date and recording service user information, our Office Support Volunteers keep our services running efficiently. We are looking for organised people, with basic admin skills. As a good communicator, you will be friendly and approachable and able to communicate with professionals from a range of backgrounds.
Barnardo's protects, supports and nurtures the UK's most vulnerable children. Barnardo's helps bring out the best in children – no matter who they are or what they have been through. Our volunteers help make this happen.

• Tasks: Office administration such as, preparing and distributing materials, such as mailings, leaflets, training materials and group resources.
  Answering and re-directing phone calls in a professional and efficient way.
  Updating notice boards and creating wall displays, for special events and festivals.
  Ensuring all rooms are kept clean, tidy and safe for the use of children, young people and families.
  Managing room bookings and online calendars.
  Adhering to Barnardo's policies and procedures at all times, including Barnardo's: Safeguarding; Equality, Diversity and Inclusion; Health & Safety; Data Protection; Confidentiality; Recording policies and procedures.
  Participating fully in training and supervision.
  Volunteering within Barnardo's Basis and Values.

• Skills: Reliable, punctual and trustworthy.
  Approachable and welcoming.
  Good communication skills and be able to interact with colleagues, service-users and visitors.
  Welcoming, with a confident telephone manner.
  Good organisational skills with the ability to prioritise tasks.
  Familiar with and having a good understanding of information systems, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Word, Excel, Publisher and other computer packages.

• Benefits: Full induction and training.
  Other training opportunities relevant to the volunteer role.
  Regular supervision and support.
  Out of pocket expenses agreed in advance.
  Access to the Barnardo’s internal vacancy listing.
  Our volunteers tell us about lots of other benefits of volunteering including; experience of working with children, young people and families; experience for your CV; supporting your local community; meeting new people; increasing self-confidence; feeling like you are making a difference; improving your health and wellbeing; and a chance to contribute to a worthwhile children’s charity.

Disclaimer: We look to recruit a diverse range of volunteers. If your skills don't fit the role exactly, please do not let this put you off as we are able to be flexible with most of our roles. If you are unable to apply online through the link on this page, please contact the Barnardo's Volunteering Team on volunteering@barnardos.org.uk or call us on 0208 498 7320