Volunteer opportunity. Flexible hours between Monday to Friday, 8.30am and 2.30pm.
The Day Centre is the heart of the homeless community in Southampton. We provide a safe space for up to 70 adults each day, who are experiencing homelessness, to access basic facilities such as food, clothes, showers, and laundry. The service also has a dedicated health care service on-site. We also provide accommodation for up to 10 clients.
Our aim is to support our clients to remain safe and maintain their mental and physical health; to ensure their immediate needs are met and to help clients find the right path for them to access support and long-term accommodation.
We have a close-knit, collaborative team that supports each other and our clients. If you’re looking for a fast paced, busy role, where you can make a real difference in the lives of those who you support, then this is the role for you!
You will be supporting clients who are homeless or are in unstable accommodation by providing hot nutritious meals twice a day.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Provide a welcoming environment for rough sleepers and those facing homelessness or who are living in unstable accommodation
2. Have a sound understand of food hygiene and relevant legislation
3. Provide support to kitchen staff to prepare healthy and substantial meals
4. Be client facing and respond appropriately to clients needs and wishes; including cultural differences
5. Have a sound understanding of safeguarding responsibilities and report any concerns to the day centre team without delay
6. Maintain a clean and tidy kitchen and canteen
7. Manage donations efficiently
8. Take responsibility for health and safety concerns; reporting outstanding repairs to the team efficiently
9. Manage difficult situations with clients, ensuring that they feel listened too at all times
10. Practice in a non-discriminative and person centred approach
11. Being resilient to high emotions, particularly in times of conflict
12. Recognising physiological needs.
13. Any other reasonable duties required in the interest of the organisation and clients
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS/TRAINING
Previous experience in this sector is not essential but you will be able to demonstrate a real passion for wanting to work with vulnerable people in the homeless sector. Our values will be aligned to your own ethics and ideals and you will be committed to changing the life of others for the better.
14. Clear verbal and written English
15. Able to cook to a high standard
16. Polite, assertive manner, ability to self -motivate
17. Passion for working in a client/customer facing role
18. Have an interest and genuine concern for homelessness and related issues
19. Flexible approach to what is required