ACVVS Volunteer

Company Description

Russian Ethnic Representative Council of Victoria (RERC/ Russian Aged Care) is a charity and a leading community organization founded in 1984. RERC represents the interests of Russian-speaking people living in Victoria. We provide a range of community services to support elders, people with disabilities, and disadvantaged individuals with a CALD background. Our programs include the Commonwealth Home Support Program, Community Visitors Scheme, aged care brokerage services, CALD programs, and various community awareness initiatives. Additionally, RERC acts as an umbrella organization for a range of community organizations, offering a platform for cultural initiatives and community events.

The Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme

The Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme links volunteer visitors to residents of Residential Aged Care Facilities, and/or one visitor to a group of residents living in an Aged Care Home for the purpose of social interaction and Community involvement.

The Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme is funded by The Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care and operates in Commonwealth funded aged care homes.

Russian Ethnic Representative Council's Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme cover the whole of Melbourne, and will work with at least 45 residents at any one time.

Community Visitors are matched to a compatible resident(s) after receiving an orientation to the role and responsibilities of a Community Visitor and discussing details about a suitable visiting arrangement; including suitable suburbs.

PRIMARY ROLE

The primary role of Community Visitors is to provide friendship and companionship.

• Community Visitors do not have an advocacy role and as such do not monitor the standards provided at the residential aged care facility they visit, nor do they become involved in investigating or following up complaints.
• Community visitors are not permitted to provide nursing or personal care to the resident, do not become involved in the resident's financial affairs, and have no access to the resident's care or personal records.
• Community Visitors are not utilised as general volunteers or activity volunteers in the residential aged care home and take care to not displace relationships between the resident and their family, staff and other relationships.

KEY TASKS OF COMMUNITY VISITORS

·       Visit a designated resident on a regular basis (at least once a fortnight) for the purposes of friendship and companionship.

·       Provide a record of the dates of visits to the Coordinator and sign the visiting book at the aged care home.

·       Respect the rights of resident/client including confidentiality and privacy.

·       Do not witness or sign any documents.

·       Not be involved in any financial matters relating to the resident/client.

·       Exercise a duty of care at all times. (Community Visitors duty of care is using common sense and exercising reasonable caution in any activities undertaken with the resident).

·       Inform the Coordinator if they are experiencing any difficulties with visiting.

·       Notify the Coordinator of any accident or incident that occurs whilst they are visiting.

·       Notify the Coordinator if they intend to cease visiting on a temporary or permanent basis.

·       Inform the Coordinator if they wish to stop visiting a particular resident.

The Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme specifically aims to match one volunteer with one or two specific residents, or a small group of residents.

As such, Community Visitors agree to not visit other residents without the approval of the Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme Coordinator. (Approval would only be given in circumstances where doing so would not diminish the quality of the relationships with the residents concerned, for example where the volunteer was able to visit at two different aged care homes.)

KEY SELECTION CRITERIA

·       A commitment to building a friendship with an older person.

·       Maturity and reliability.

·       Empathy and understanding of older people.

·       Effective communication and listening skills.

·       Ability to visit independently.

·      Ability to seek advice as appropriate.

·      A satisfactory Police check has been conducted.

ACCOUNTABILITY

Community Visitors are accountable to the Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme Coordinator.

The Coordinator maintains phone/email contact with Community Visitors. This is regular in the early stages and about three monthly, once the visiting relationship is well established.

• As mentioned above, Community Visitors are required to complete a brief report of their visits and to sign the visitors book at the home. These are mandatory requirements, as on‑going funding of the scheme is dependent on the ACVVS Coordinator being able to verify that visits are occuring.