Overview
We are looking for a compassionate and organised individual to join our Social Engagement Service as a Befriending and Hospital Visiting Officer for people living with mental illness.
This is a varied and rewarding role supporting two key services:
Befriending Programme – a 1:1 volunteer befriending service that supports people experiencing loneliness and mental health challenges to build meaningful connections and increase independence.
Hospital Visiting Service – providing social and emotional support to Jewish patients in mental health settings, helping them stay connected to their community during hospital stays.
You will play a central role in coordinating support, building relationships, and ensuring both services run safely and effectively.
This role is working an average of 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday.
We operate a rolling recruitment process, and suitable candidates will be invited to interview as applications are received.
What You’ll Be Doing
Befriending Service duties (approx. 4 days/week):
- Manage and support a caseload of volunteer-client matches
- Monitor and record interactions, ensuring safe and effective relationships
- Recruit, train, and support volunteers
- Carry out client assessments and support individuals to access additional services
- Facilitate new matches and support ongoing engagement
Hospital Visiting Service duties (approx. 1 day/week):
- Coordinate hospital visits for patients
- Liaise with volunteers, patients, and Chaplaincy teams
- Visit patients in mental health settings
- Support and supervise hospital visiting volunteers
- Maintain accurate records and reporting
The post holder will focus on befriending approximately four days a week, and one day a week on hospital visiting, spread out across the five-day working week.
Across both services:
- Identify and respond to safeguarding concerns
- Build partnerships with hospitals, community organisations, and internal teams
- Promote the services and contribute to service development
- Maintain accurate records and contribute to reports and case studies
About You
We’re looking for someone who is:
- Confident working with volunteers and building strong relationships
- Knowledgeable about safeguarding, confidentiality, and risk management
- Comfortable supporting individuals with mental health needs
- Highly organised, with strong IT and administrative skills
- A strong communicator with excellent interpersonal skills
- Emotionally resilient, flexible, and collaborative
- Experienced in working in a service delivery or support role
Desirable (but not essential):
- Experience in the mental health or charity sector
- Understanding of the Jewish community and its practices
- Experience working in partnership with other organisations
- Lived experience of mental health challenges
Why Join Us?
This is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives—supporting individuals experiencing loneliness and mental health challenges to build connections, confidence, and independence.
You’ll be part of a supportive team, working within a respected organisation with strong community links and a commitment to high-quality care and volunteering.
IMPORTANT: Before applying for this role, please make sure you have the right to work in the country where the role is based. Unless it clearly stipulates within in the job advert above that the hiring company is looking to or able to sponsor applicants it is deemed that the hiring employer will only consider applications from those able to comply with and work in the country where the role is based.
