When you volunteer for CARDS you can end the isolation of someone who has a problematic relationship with alcohol.
All you need to do is have a regular conversation. As you talk, you might also learn alot about yourself from them.
Volunteering for CARDS can open up many new skills and opportunities. Through our excellent training resources, we will prepare you for volunteering so that you will feel safe and supported at all times.
The experience you will gain during your volunteering could be the to start of an important new journey in your life and the life of the person you will befriend.

About CARDS
Community Alcohol Related Damages Service, CARDS for short, is a befriending service run by Rowan Alba. Health care specialists, GP’s, hospitals and mental health services refer people to our service. These people, for various reasons have become isolated and have developed a problematic relationship with alcohol. Simply just having someone to talk to could make a big difference to them.

About Rowan Alba
Rowan Alba Limited is a charity set up to work with people who are at risk of becoming homeless. We believe that all individuals have the right to be treated with dignity and respect. We offer support in a person-centred way, with the individual actively involved in planning their own care.

Experience Required
The most important thing you can bring to CARDS is to be able to listen without judgement and understand the benefit of human contact.
You will also need to understand or have compassion towards people who have had a difficult relationship with alcohol now or in the past. If you have had experience in a role where managing relationships is key it’s beneficial, but not essential.

We specifically welcome people to our team who bring their own experiences of alcohol harm. Half our staff team have expert lived experience and we simply could not provide and develop our service without it. Some organisations chose to group people in to categories of Peer and Non Peer. We just like having lots of people that do a good job and want to move away from the labelling.

Training Details
For full details of our application process, please follow this link: https://rowanalba.org/volunteering-for-cards/

Flexibility & Commitment

Flexible
We ask that you prepare to spend the first two months joining the team and doing the necessary admin including your application to join the PVG scheme. Only after this would you be introduced to someone and start to form a relationship. It is not possible to be fully operational and offer a good service with a time commitment of less than 1 year.

Location/Travel Details
Our head office is situated at Fountainbridge however we are operating from home with limited meetings as a team in different locations. The recruitment and induction process will take place online and then you will progress to either telephone calls with the individual you will be working with or begin the double visits with our excellent team of experienced staff. You will be required to travel to and from your appointments which will be in the individuals own home or in a local cafe or community setting.

Expenses
Email or hand in an expenses form and paid on the 20th of each month. Arrangements can be made to support with advance payments if this is helpful or would otherwise prevent you from volunteering.

Accessibility Details
If you have any accessibility needs we are happy to discuss them and how they can be accommodated during your volunteering.

How you apply
If you are interested in this volunteering role, download and complete our Application Form at the link below. Once you have completed the form, please email it to at cards@rowanalba.org
We recommend you read the Person Specification and Role description before you complete the application form.

• Application form
• Person Specification
• Role description

If you have any questions about volunteering or the application process, please email our cards@rowanalba.org
For full details of our application process and lots more information about volunteering, please follow this link:

GENERAL INFORMATION:
Service: Thorntree
Role Title: Residential Service Volunteer
Expenses: Travel
Type of appointment: Volunteer
Reports to: Wellbeing & Activities Coordinator
Responsible to: Service Manager
Working hours: Working hours are negotiable dependent on personal circumstances and service requirements

ROLE PURPOSE:

To organise and create varied activities programme, from organised hobbies to group events, all of which will support our service users.
To assist with the co-ordination of activities and functions for our service users.

KEY TASKS:

• Plan and implement various activities that caters for all service users
• Develop and implement activities that are culturally and sensitively appropriate
• Encourage and motivate service users to partake in the activities
• Plan and implement various activities that will involve social inclusion
• Plan and implement various activities that will involve service users and staff Manage, monitor, and evaluate activates undertaken
• To facilitate therapeutic and recreational groups alongside Thorntree staff.
• Work as part of a team to aid and support service users.
• Provide support to service users on an individual and group basis
• To prepare and plan activities that will help break down barriers the service users may have
• Report concerns about service users and those whose needs are not being met by the service to the service manager/your supervisor.
• Suggest ideas in the overall development of the service.
• To work as part of a team to provide better and fairer services to service users, their families and the wider community.
• To cooperate with their supervisor, to work safely, to comply with health and safety instructions and information
• Not to interfere with intentionally or recklessly or misuse anything provided in the interests of health, safety and welfare and undertake appropriate health and safety training as required.
• To respect peoples’ differences, and to actively encourage equality of opportunity in all areas of one’s work.
• To ensure a safe environment for service users, colleagues, and visitors in accordance with the Rowan Alba’s Health & Safety Policy.
• To adhere to Rowan Alba’s policies, procedures, protocols, and guidelines always, Confidentiality and Information Sharing Policy.
• To always work within agreed professional boundaries.
• To maintain quality standards in every area of one’s work.
• To make use of regular supervision and support.
• To take responsibility for updating personal knowledge and skills to meet the demands of the post.

MANDATORY ROLE DESCRIPTION INFORMATION:

• Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults – All Rowan Alba employees/volunteers are required to adhere to the principles of effective and safe safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults
• Infection Control – Infection Prevention and Control is the responsibility of all Rowan Alba staff. All staff have a responsibility to protect service users, visitors, and employees against the risk of acquiring health care associated infections by consistently observing Rowan Alba’s Infection Prevention and Control Policies and procedures and best practice guidance to maintain high standards of Infection Prevention and Control.

Benefits / Training and Support :

• Regular reflective practice supervisions from a clinical psychologist/psychotherapist who works with individuals and groups effected by homelessness. (This will return when restrictions are lifted, and groups are allowed)
• Supervision is mandatory and nonnegotiable.
• Get valuable experience working with this client group and be part of a progressive organisation with a wider aim of homelessness prevention.
• Full access to Rowan Alba training package which includes reduced cost or free SVQ qualifications, ILM Coaching certificates
• Training on ARBD, person centered philosophy, coaching practice, boundaries, lone working, harm reduction, mental health and any other training deemed relevant to your work.
• We have a pathway to employment where those looking to work in the sector achieve the experience necessary to meet industry wide person specifications for the job roles within our organization and across this industry.
• We welcome individuals who have their own lived experience with problematic alcohol use and support you to use this experience in the support of another safely.

Health and Safety

• Rowan Alba take the Health and Safety of both service user and volunteer extremely seriously. Following on from referral information obtained, project staff will carry out a comprehensive risk assessment of working with the service user from a perspective of ensuring the person referred meets the broad service provision criteria and to minimise any risks to volunteers and project staff. You as the volunteer are responsible for communicating any new risks so we can keep this role safe for all.

Time Commitment:
A minimum regular commitment of two hours per week for 6 months is required. The volunteer can terminate the arrangement at any time.

Criminal Convictions Checks:
Rowan Alba Ltd carry out full disclosure and PVG checks for all employees and volunteers.

What to do next:
Contact Anastasiya (The Wellbeing & Activities Coordinator at Thorntree) at anastasiya.adashkevich@rowanalba.org or call 0131 555 5240 to receive more information about the role and the application process.

Rowan Alba are seeking a Director to join its Board. Directors are the people responsible under the governing document of Rowan Alba [RA] for controlling the management and administration of the organisation.

The role of a Director is
– To ensure that Rowan Alba complies at all times with its governing document, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulation.
– To ensure that Rowan Alba pursues its objects as defined in its governing document.
– To maintain proper financial control and ensure that Rowan Alba applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objects.
– To set and maintain vision, mission and values.
– To develop strategy, setting overall policy, defining goals and setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets.
– To ensure accountability to Regulators/Contractors/people who use services.
– To ensure policies and procedures are in place that respect the roles of staff.
– To support the operational management of the organisation.
– To ensure implementation of internal policies, which must include equality and diversity, health and safety, grievance and disciplinary procedures.
– To ensure that risk assessments of all aspects of the business are carried out.
– To safeguard the good name and values of Rowan Alba.
– To maintain effective board performance and ensure the effective and efficient administration of the charity.
– To promote Rowan Alba.
– To act in the best interests of Rowan Alba and never in the interest of self or another organisation.

The Commitment of Directors
– In addition to the above statutory duties, each Director should use any specific skills, knowledge or experience s/he has to help the board reach sound decisions. These may involve scrutinising board and working group papers, leading discussions, focusing on key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives or other topics in which the Director has special expertise.
– The Director must attend a minimum of 3 Board Meetings each year.
– The Director will meet annually with the chairperson to review their skills and commitment audit.
– The Director is required to act reasonably and prudently in all matters relating to Rowan Alba and must always bear the interests of the charity in mind.

Director Role Specification
Essential
– To be able to attend 3 out of 4 Board meetings – remain informed
– To be proficient in the use of computers, internet and word processing
– To have the ability to read and understand complex reports and accounting data
– To be able to analyse and form relevant questions to senior Managers and external advisors
– To be able to represent the Board/Organisation at external meetings
– To feel confident in developing an independent viewpoint and sharing it
– To be able to present a viewpoint and it’s rationale –clearly and concisely
– To accept the governance responsibilities as outlined in the Memorandum and articles of association, and charitable registration and regulation

Desirable
– To represent the board on additional working groups
– To represent the board and participate actively in fundraising activities
– To take on specific roles in the board e.g., convener, treasurer
– Experience of fundraising (all sources)

If you are interested and you would like to apply, please email us on office.manager@rowanalba.org 
We will send you our Rowan Alba Ltd Strategic Plan and would like you to write a short letter setting out how, as Director, you could help us achieve our five key aims. We will also send you an application form for you to fill and return. 

Rowan Alba are seeking a Vice Chair to join its Board of Directors. Directors are the people responsible under the governing document of Rowan Alba [RA] for controlling the management and administration of the organisation.

The role of a Director is:
– To ensure that RA always complies with its governing document, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulation.
– To ensure that RA pursues its objects as defined in its governing document.
– To maintain proper financial control and ensure that RA applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objects.
– To set and maintain vision, mission, and values.
– To develop strategy, setting overall policy, defining goals, setting targets, and evaluating performance against agreed targets.
– To ensure accountability to Regulators/Contractors/people who use services.
– To ensure policies and procedures are in place that respect the roles of staff.
– To support the operational management of the organisation.
– To ensure implementation of internal policies, which must include equality and diversity, health and safety, grievance, and disciplinary procedures.
– To ensure that risk assessments of all aspects of the business are carried out.
– To safeguard the good name and values of RA.
– To maintain effective board performance and ensure the effective and efficient administration of the charity.
– To promote RA.
– To act in the best interests of RA and never in the interest of self or another organisation.

Additional Responsibilities of the Vice-Chair
– Share the workload and deputise for the Chair, when the Chair is not available.
– Member of the Executive Committee, which has delegated responsibilities as agreed by the Board.
– Undertake assignments at the request of the Chair.
– Lead any sub-groups set up by the Board of Directors and specific items at the board meeting.

Personal Qualities of the Vice-Chair
– Strong inter-personal and relationship-building abilities and comfortable in an ambassadorial role.
– Demonstrates tact and diplomacy, with the ability to listen and engage effectively.
– Willingness to commit time to conduct the role well, including occasional events out with the Board.

The Commitment of Directors
– In addition to the above statutory duties, each Director should use any specific skills, knowledge, or experience they have to help the Board reach sound decisions. These may involve scrutinising board and working group papers, leading discussions, focusing on key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives or other topics in which the Director has special expertise.
– The Director must attend a minimum of 3 Board Meetings each year.
– The Director will meet annually with the Chairperson to review their skills and commitment audit.
– The Director is required to act reasonably and prudently in all matters relating to RA and must always bear the interests of the charity in mind.

Director Role Specification

Essential
– To be able to attend 3 out of 4 Board meetings – remain informed
– To be proficient in the use of computers, internet and word processing
– To have the ability to read and understand complex reports and accounting data
– To be able to analyse and form relevant questions to senior Managers and external advisors
– To be able to represent the Board/Organisation at external meetings
– To feel confident in developing an independent viewpoint and sharing it
– To be able to present a viewpoint and it’s rationale –clearly and concisely
– To accept the governance responsibilities as outlined in the Memorandum and articles of association, and charitable registration and regulation

Desirable
– To represent the board on additional working groups
– To represent the board and participate actively in fundraising activities
– To take on specific roles in the board e.g., convener, treasurer
– Experience of fundraising (all sources)

If you are interested and you would like to apply, please email us on office.manager@rowanalba.org 
We will send you our Rowan Alba Ltd Strategic Plan and would like you to write a short letter setting out how, as Vice Chair, you could help us achieve our five key aims. We will also send you an application form for you to fill and return.