Introducing TCF - For health and social care professionals

UK Helpline: 0 345 123 23 0 4 | tcf.org.uk Training and supporting our volunteers “The care TCF shows for volunteers is very much appreciated and enables me to continue supporting others.” Lynda TCF members who wish to become volunteers are required to be at least three years past their own bereavement (ideally more) and are interviewed for suitability as peer supporters. Training includes safeguarding, boundary maintenance, self- care and code of conduct guidance and policies. TCF volunteers and staff have up-to-date DBS checks and confidentiality agreements in place. Those facilitating support groups, whether in person or online, usually work in a team of at least two facilitators. Members of the staff management team (some are bereaved parents themselves) keep in close contact with our volunteers to ensure they feel supported. In addition, experienced counsellors who are also bereaved parents are involved in TCF’s work, providing training, supporting the volunteers in their own grief journeys, or offering one-to-one therapeutic support at supportive events. For the volunteers, their roles can make substantial emotional demands (Embuldeniya et al., 2013). Realising this, TCF has developed an extensive ongoing programme of training and support. This includes volunteer meetings and webinars offering information and opportunities to hear from individuals in the world of grief support both within and outside of our charity, and a monthly forum where our volunteers can discuss experiences and challenges in their roles. We provide dedicated training to teams of volunteers based throughout the UK who are offering particular forms of peer support, such as the grief companion programme or where volunteers are supporting parents bereaved in specific circumstances, such as through suicide. A listening support service called Hear for You was developed specifically with our peer supporters in mind. This service, available free of charge to volunteers, is offered by qualified counsellors. All volunteers are encouraged to make use of this listening support scheme to help manage the emotional demands of their role. TCF’s Helpline receives an average of 120 calls and email requests for support each month. Those who answer the helpline are trained and supported for this specific role. Initial training is through the Helplines Partnership Association, of which TCF is a member. This is followed by in-house training by our Volunteer and Helpline Manager who also provides regular ongoing support. Helpline team members are kept up-to-date with best practice. Call record forms are closely monitored to assess the appropriateness of the support already offered and whether additional support or signposting is required.