Safeguarding Adults Project

Building on the success of our original award-winning Elder Abuse project, this new three year project, funded by Comic Relief, aims to identify and protect vulnerable adults receiving residential care in Kingston borough.

The objectives of the project are as follows:

• To recruit volunteer residents' supporters to offer one-to-one visiting to care homes in the borough. The project aims to support and empower older people living in residential care, so that they feel more confident in dealing with issues that affect their quality of life and are enabled to choose appropriate remedies.
• To access residential care homes to identify older people who would benefit from a visiting programme.
• To allocate volunteers to act as 'Home Buddies' with individual older people.
• To promote peer support groups for residents, relatives, staff and carers as a means o providing regular open discussion in care homes.
• To identify and encourage best practice in the involvement of residents and staff in the development of policies and procedures within homes.

The development and delivery of the project will be informed by individual assessments with older people entering care and will be monitored regularly.

Casework and advocacy will be provided to residents and their families as required.

If you operate a residential care home in Kingston Borough and would like to participate in the scheme, contact Sharon Fleming.

Can you spare a couple of hours a week to visit someone who lives locally to you?

How can I help?

There are many older people living in residential care homes who do not have regular visitors coming to see them but who would enjoy the benefits of the friendship you could provide. By becoming a Home Buddy you can improve an older person's emotional well-being, by sharing stories, interests and, most importantly, humour and fun to improve the quality of their life.

What support will I have?

• Support from Project Coordinator
• Expenses reimbursed
• Appropriate training
• Social events where you can meet other volunteers

What qualities and skills do I need?

• Friendly and approachable manner
• Listening skills
• Patience and understanding
• Sensitivity to the needs of older people in residential care

What do I have to do?

• Be able to attend two three-hour training sessions prior to visiting
• Undertake a CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) check
• Visit the older person on a regular basis dependent on your availability

Click here to read more about opportunities for volunteering with the Home Buddy scheme in the April 2008 edition of Volunteer News.

Who do I contact?

Get in touch with Project Coordinator, Sharon Fleming, to find out more.

Need a Home Buddy?

A Home Buddy can visit an older person once a week to chat, listen and help them enjoy their time in residential care.

Do you or someone you know need a Home Buddy?

There are many older people living in residential care who do not have regular visitors, but could take advantage of the benefits a Home Buddy can provide.

Even someone who has family visiting might still value the opportunity to talk to someone different.

We all enjoy sharing stories, interests and fun with others, making us feel better and involved.

Who is a Home Buddy?

• A volunteer
• Trained and supported by Age Concern Kingston
• Someone who has undergone police checks
• Someone who wants to help the community and make a difference

How does someone in care get a Home Buddy?

Easy as 1-2-3:

1. Call 020 8942 8256
2. The Project Coordinator will arrange a time to meet the person and take some details
3. Age Concern Kingston will then match the person to a Home Buddy

What will the Buddy do?

• Listen
• Get to know the individual in care
• Share interests
• Support the individual
• Be a friend
• Have fun!

Call Sharon Fleming on 020 8942 8256 to request this service.

Contact Details:

Sharon Fleming - Project Coordinator:
Protection of Vulnerable Adults
020 8942 8256
sharon@ageconcernkingston.org