What We Do

Volunteering on the Helpline

I Am Interested In Becoming A Helpline Volunteer For Childline Gibraltar.

What Will Be Expected Of Me?

What Kind Of Person Is Suitable To Be A Helpline Volunteer?

• Childline Gibraltar is looking for people to volunteer to work on its Helpline who:
• Have experience with children, either at work or as a parent or carer;
• Are interested in talking with people and listening to what they have to say;
• Do not have criminal convictions and would pass the Police Check;
• Have the time in the evening, to commit to a minimum of two shifts a month on a regular basis. (The Helpline Service will be available 365 days a year.)

What Will Happen When I Am Interviewed?

The interviewers will:

• Ask you questions about yourself and your experience, to check out your suitability for working on the Helpline;
• Answer any questions you may have.

What Will Be Included In The Training?

There will be 7 training sessions which will include the following areas:

• Child Protection - history of child protection, good parenting, types of child abuse and their different signs and symptoms, ways of assessing whether a child is at risk, agencies involved in child protection and how they can support the child.
• Communication - communicating effectively over the telephone, obtaining information, dealing with issues of confidentiality and anonymity, and managing different types of call.
• Creating Safe Systems – understanding Childline Gibraltar’s Principles and Standards and what is required in good practice, and record keeping.
• Summary Session – the roles of the Helpline Volunteers, Supervisors and Managers, and a review of what will be required of the volunteers on the Helpline.

Training will take place one evening a week, and each session will last for 2.5 hours.

During the training there will be group work and role play so that the volunteers have the opportunity to practice using their skills and knowledge for when they are listening to callers. At home between the training sessions, volunteers will be expected to read materials they have been given, maintain their Learning Record and complete exercises for the next session.

Following the training, volunteers will be able to practice using the telephones and computers in the Helpline office.

Working On The Helpline

There is one 4 hour shift each evening (6pm to 10pm), though the two Helpline Volunteers would need to be in the office for 4.5 hours to open the service and for record keeping afterwards.

When on shift and answering the telephone, Helpline Volunteers would be listening to callers, giving information, advice and support and, in situations where it is considered that a child is suffering from or at risk of abuse, contacting the relevant agencies. At all times it will be possible for the Helpline Volunteers on shift to talk to a Manager for advice.

Further Involvement

Once a part of the team, there are opportunities for further involvement in other projects e.g. talks in schools and youth groups, acting as an appropriate adult for minors who are arrested and various other projects.

Supporting The Helpline Volunteer

Each Helpline Volunteer will be required to participate in Supervision three times a year. Supervision is there for the volunteer to have the opportunity to talk about both Helpline and personal issues. Childline Gibraltar is aware that, from its discussions with the NSPCC in the UK, working on a Helpline can be stressful and difficult at times for volunteers and is therefore committed to fully supporting them.

If you would like to apply to become a volunteer, please download this application form

If you have any further questions please contact Childline on 20043503

or

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We look forward to hearing from you and hope that you will join our dedicated team.