WHAT DOES BEING A CA VOLUNTARY ADVISER INVOLVE?
What does being a CA volunteer adviser involve?
Interviewing
All kinds of people come to the CA with all kinds of problems. One of the first things a bureau worker has to learn is to listen. It is important to let the clients explain their problem in their own time. Then you will need to talk with them and ask questions to make the issues clear.
Giving Information
The Information System is comprehensive and easy to understand. It is backed up by various reference books, directories and specialist support centres. Other organizations are sometimes contacted, to provide all the information the client may need.
Giving Practical Help
This can be drafting letters, making phone calls, filling in forms. You will need to do calculations for benefits or tax. You don’t need to be good at maths but you must be willing to learn how to do these calculations.
Case Recording
It is very important that all clients’ cases are recorded so that the bureau can offer an efficient service if the client comes back or if the case is ongoing for several weeks or months. Full training is given on how to record cases.
Impartiality
Whatever your views are, you will be expected to work with all kinds of clients with many different kinds of problems. You will need to be prepared to examine your own views and feelings to make sure that you are able to give an equally good service to everyone.
Anti-Racism
All CA staff workers are expected to carry out the CA’s policy on anti-racism. This means an active opposition to all forms of racism and discrimination, and to make sure that the service is equally available to all people.
Confidentiality
Everything that you see and hear in the bureau has to be private, and every worker has to sign an agreement to observe the strict rule of confidentiality before they begin work in the bureau.
Bureau Meetings
Attendance at these meetings is a crucial part of bureau work – for training, case discussion, policy issues, preventative work, as well as mutual support. They are held monthly, and it is desirable that you attend six per year.
Time
We ask volunteers that as part of a team, attendance at the Advice Centre is entered on the rota on a weekly basis and that volunteers acknowledge their responsibility to the team e.g arrive in time for allocation of roles, chat with the Manager and fellow advisers prior to session commencing.