BEFRIENDER SERVICE
BEFRIENDER SERVICE
Supporting Independence
SHA service users that require additional support out in the community can now request to book an SHA Befriender to support and accompany them in the community. Through the Befriender Service, SHA will provide additional support for our young people and help them to engage in activities that foster healthy, active and fun lifestyles. Our Befriender Service will also serve to cultivate and encourage service user independence and confidence.
SHA BEFRIENDER SERVICE
The SHA Befriender Service is available to all SHA service users. SHA befrienders can be booked to support and encourage our young people out in the community, engaging in external activities. SHA Befrienders are all highly skilled and compassionate members of staff that endeavour to work hard to provide our young people with all the support and guidance that they need to be able to find their independence and to engage in the community and in activities that foster a healthy, fun and active lifestyle.
Befriender Service membership packages
If you would like an SHA befriender to support you, you can subscribe to an SHA Befriender Service membership package. These membership packages can be charged weekly, monthly or annually depending on your needs and requirements.
Once you are subscribed to a membership package you will be able to book an SHA Befriender of your choice whenever you so require (depending on befriender availability and amount of allocated hours), this can be done by agreeing a set weekly booking with your befriender or by one-off bookings made as and when you need them, booked through the Befriender Booking system (see below).
This service is designed to be used at your convenience and can be as flexible or rigid as you so wish so that SHA can meet your needs as best we can, whatever they may be.
Activities you can book befrienders for
Befrienders can be booked to support you for a large variety of activities such as outings and trips, sports activities, cinema trips, walks or attending other group session/activities. SHA Befrienders will support and encourage you to engage in whatever activities you want to do. We endeavour to ensure that this service is user led so that you can choose what you want to do and receive the necessary care and support to be able to do that.
If you have any questions about the SHA Befriender Service or would like to join, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
WHO CAN YOU CHOOSE TO BE YOUR BEFRIENDER?
BOOK NOW
JOIN THE BEFRIENDER SERVICE
Please fill in this form to apply to join the SHA Befriender Service and we will contact you with more details.
FAQ
WHAT ACTIVITIES CAN WE DO?
Through the SHA Befriender Service you can book an SHA staff member to work with you for any activity that you so desire. SHA staff members can accompany you in the community at other group services or they can take you out for various different activities such as a walk, trip to the cinema, sports in the park, swimming etc.
HOW LONG CAN I BOOK YOU FOR?
The length of the Befriender service booking depends on the availability of the staff member and the number of allocated hours you have in your membership subscription package. When you make a booking you will select how long you would like the booking to last, and the befriender will be notified of your request and will be able to decide if they are available for that particular time frame, alternatively you can request set weekly hours with your befriender (this too is at their discretion).
HOW DO I PAY FOR THIS SERVICE?
To pay for this service you must subscribe to one of our Befriender Service Membership Packages. A membership package subscriber will pay a monthly subscription fee and that will allocate an allotted number of hours per week/month that you can book one of our befrienders for.
HOW MUCH NOTICE DO YOU REQUIRE FOR A BOOKING?
We require at least 24 hours notice before a Befriender Service booking. This is to ensure that the staff member has enough time to prepare for the booking and details can be sorted. Each booking is at the prerogative of the staff member and they can accept or decline any booking request should they not be available or decide that too short notice has been given. It is our preference that upon subscription to the Befriender Service, you arrange regular weekly hours where the befriender will support you/your child - this is to avoid disappointment at staff being unavailable due to other bookings.
DO I HAVE TO COVER ADDITIONAL COSTS?
The cost of any activity that requires an entry fee, additional cost or ticketed admission must be covered by you. When out with an SHA Befriender, you must have appropriate funds to hand to cover the cost of the agreed upon activity and the cost of transport to and from the venue for both yourself and the SHA staff member. SHA staff members are not expected to cover the costs for their own admissions, tickets or entry fees when working with a service user. For particular events where ticket/admission money will be required, you should discuss this with the befriender prior to booking.
DO I HAVE ACCESS TO SHA SNOOKER ROOMS VENUE?
SHA Befriender Service members will not be given access to SHA's venue at Snooker Rooms for them to use with their befriender. This is because the Snooker Rooms venue will often be in use by other services/sessions/bookings and the cost of this service will not cover venue or table hire cost.
GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK
What Did You Think?
We are always happy to hear feedback on what we are doing well and where we need to improve, so please fill out this form and let us know.