Parent mentoring fosters a supportive relationship between a parent/carer and a trained volunteer mentor. Parent Mentors support and encourage parents in the use of positive parenting approaches with their children. Parent mentoring services increase the capacity of families to care for, and meet the needs of their children.
What is involved?
The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC) mentoring services aims to empower young people to make positive social connections with others. Having an improved social network and social support system acts as a buffer in times of stress helping to ensure the young person has added resilience in times of adversity. Young people build self-esteem and learn to develop coping skills which impacts positively on their overall well-being.
Parent mentoring fosters a supportive relationship between a parent/carer and a trained volunteer mentor. Parent Mentors support and encourage parents in the use of positive parenting approaches with their children. Parent mentoring services increase the capacity of families to care for, and meet the needs of their children.
What is required for the position?
A young person or a parent are matched with a volunteer mentor for periods of up to one year. Our dedicated volunteers are good listeners who meet their mentees weekly at an arranged time and place. Mentees receive guidance and support throughout this period and afterwards through our tracking service.
Qualities we look for in volunteers;
- Belief in the child centred ethos
- Non judgemental
- Flexible and committed
- Communication skills
- Genuine positive interest in children
- Patience
- Open and honest
Time and commitment required for the role?
Volunteer mentors are required to commit to giving 2-3 hours a week for at least 12 months to the ISPCC.
Location
Volunteer mentors will be matched with youth or parent mentees throughout Limerick city and / or county.
Screening for role
Our recruitment process is thorough and includes;
- Expression of interest,
- A group information event,
- Application form,
- Interview,
- Reference checks,
- Garda vetting,
- A six week training programme,
- Shadowing, ongoing supervision and support by an ISPCC Childhood Support Worker.
Note: Participants will not be accepted as full volunteers until a final meeting with their trainer has been carried out to discuss progress.
Age restrictions
All volunteers are required to be 21 years or above.
Benefits for you as a volunteer
- Become a member of The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC), Ireland’s national child protection charity, committed to best practice, high quality services and securing outcomes for children
- A chance to support a young person/parent’s to make changes that will improve their life for the better through being a reliable and consistent support
- An opportunity to grow & develop both personally & professionally
- Opportunities to make friends & learn new skills
- Participation in a comprehensive training schedule
- Practical training in the form of shadowing
- Practice shadowing by staff to allow for one to one feedback
- One to one and group supervision
- Continuous Practice Development & ongoing training
- Annual appraisal system
- Team meetings
- Staff availability for support
- Manager on call out of hours for child protection concerns
- Annual Volunteer Recognition Event
- One to one counselling support service
Group Information Events
We are holding a group information evening:
Time: 6.30 – 7.30
Dates: Wednesday 19th October
Venue: ISPCC Office, 115 O’ Connell Street, Limerick
Expression of Interest
To express interest in this volunteering opportunity and to book a place at an information event please contact Shellie Murnane, your local Childhood Support Worker in Limerick on 061 400077 / shellie.murnane@ispcc.ie.
You can also find out more about the ISPCC on our website www.ispcc.ie
Kilde: ISPCC Limerick: Youth and Parent Mentoring Services Volunteers | activelink
