Caseworker

Volunteer Caseworkers are the lifeblood of SSAFA, supporting a growing number of people in need of financial, practical and emotional support. Clients come from all backgrounds and age groups and may have served in WW2 or in a more recent conflict like Iraq or Afghanistan. Our trained volunteers listen without judgement to assess and provide tailored support to help people navigate life in and beyond military service. We need you to join your local SSAFA team to help us achieve this.

The essential part of the role is visiting clients, so you will need access to a vehicle or another way to travel to meet clients at home or elsewhere. As part of your local branch you might have access to an office, but many volunteers are based at home.

• Support people in your community with a military background

• Use your skills, knowledge and life experience to benefit others

• Support and friendship from your local SSAFA branch and the wider SSAFA community

• Experience, training and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews

• Better physical and mental health – studies show that volunteers live longer and experience lower levels of stress and depression!

• Three-day training course for new caseworkers. Your trainer will guide your group of like-minded volunteers through everything you need to know to get started as a SSAFA caseworker

• Some short on-line training modules to complete at home, so you are up to date on how to keep clients, their families and personal information safe

• SSAFA branches have regular opportunities to update your training

• Access to a range of e-learning courses

• Local induction including who supports caseworkers in your branch and how to contact them

• Most branches have regular gatherings for caseworkers to meet and share ideas

• There is a Volunteer Support Manager for each region and the Welfare Team and Volunteer Support Team based at our central office can support you with any issues that arise as a caseworker

• Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses

• Good listening and communication skills including written and spoken English

• Ability to be respectful and non-judgemental with clients, their family, other agencies and SSAFA colleagues

• Ability to send and receive emails – you will receive your own SSAFA email address

• Ability to make enquires on behalf of clients by phone, email, letter or by filling in forms

• Willingness to use our on-line case management system (this is covered in the caseworker training course)

• Ability to keep within boundaries of the role with regards to friendship or giving advice

• Reliable attitude, contact clients promptly, keep appointments, update the branch regarding your availability

• Ability to maintain confidentiality and keep information safely

• Access to public transport or a car to travel to appointments with clients

• Able to provide two referees: former employers or other people that know you well (other than relatives)

Yes.

*A disclosure certificate that contains convictions, cautions, warnings, reprimands or other information may not automatically mean that you are not able to volunteer. All certificates will be reviewed on a case by case basis and, where possible, a modified or alternative role will be offered.  

• Complete the volunteer application form below.
• Call our friendly central Volunteer Team on 0800 260 6775. They can answer any general questions about volunteering and put you in touch with your local branch.

The information you provide will be used to create a personal record on our database if your application to become a SSAFA volunteer is successful. It will not be used for any other purpose or shared with any other organisation; all data collected from unsuccessful applicants will be destroyed as soon as it is no longer needed. SSAFA complies with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 2018.  Please read our privacy policy for more information.

We welcome volunteers of all backgrounds, abilities, races, sexual orientations, socio-economic backgrounds, and of all faiths and none. SSAFA are committed to making reasonable adjustments to support disabled volunteers, so they have access to the same opportunities and experiences as non-disabled volunteers.

For further details see our equality and diversity policy.