Sitter (Support in a Family Home for Children and Young People-Dundee)

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.

The Dundee Child & Family Support Service adopts a whole family approach, taking into account each individual’s vulnerabilities and strengths to enable children and young people to achieve the best outcomes. The Dundee Service supports children and families experiencing disabilities and complex additional support needs; children at risk of being removed from home; children experiencing adverse childhood experiences (including trauma, bereavement and loss); neglect and abuse. We support children and young people up to the age of 18. We are looking for volunteers from 18+ to support children/young people in the family home to enable respite for the parent/carers for around 3-4 hours per session. The timing can vary depending on the family but it could be during the day, early evening, evening (no later then 11pm) and could be during the week or at a weekend. The role would take place either once a month for 6 months or twice a month for 6 months. In the home the volunteer’s role would be to support the child/children with any routines, to play games, watch films/TV and to be able to make sure that they are supported in the home setting while the parents/carers are out for a few hours for respite.

We are also looking for volunteers who have experience and knowledge in supporting children and young people with additional support needs and who may have knowledge with using Makaton. Previous experience is not essential with children and young people with additional support needs but for some of our roles previous experience would be much welcomed.