1. Volunteer Role Description for:
Location:
Main contact:
Visitor Support/Meet and Greet/Reception Volunteer
Ballymena Rehoming Centre
Aimee Bird
Volunteer Co-ordinator
Purpose of the role: To support and assist the Receptionist staff at the centre to ensure visitors receive a warm welcome and receive a first class level of service.
Skills/experience required:
Excellent customer service skills (ideally with previous experience working in a customer service environment).
Excellent face to face communication skills with the ability to listen.
Good IT skills, specifically Microsoft Office; Word, Excel and Outlook as well as the use of databases and the internet.
Confident and approachable manner.
Common sense approach to problem solving.
Conscientious with a can-do attitude.
Able to use own initiative.
Non-judgemental.
Diplomatic.
Ability to work comfortably in a close knit team or alone.
Ability to follow instruction.
An interest in dogs and dog welfare.
Key tasks:
To acknowledge and welcome all visitors on their arrival at the centre in a friendly, professional and efficient manner.
Direct visitors to an appropriate member of Dogs Trust staff to assist them.
Take phone calls, direct queries, respond to voic messages and s.
Explain the adoption procedure and help visitors complete home finder forms.
Be knowledgeable on the work of Dogs Trust and specifically the Ballymena Rehoming Centre.
Help keep literature well stocked in the welcome areas.
Maintain high standards of presentation and cleanliness in the reception area during public open hours.
Other admin tasks as requested by Dogs Trust staff.
Report any faulty or damaged equipment to Dogs trust staff.
Operate equipment in the centre for photocopying and printing.
Assist other members of the team as needed.
Time commitment:
Ideally we are looking for volunteers who can commit to at least two shifts a week and come regularly.
Shift hours: Mon - Sun, 12:00-16:00
Volunteer Appointment Process:
Volunteer application form
Interview
Selection (successful / unsuccessful)
References taken
Induction session (1 ½ hours)
On the job training
Three month review meeting

2. Volunteer Role Description for:
Visitor Support/Meet and Greet/Reception Volunteer
What you can expect from Dogs Trust as a volunteer:
A staff member main contact who will manage your tasks, answer your questions and help you with the volunteer rota.
A buddy (either another volunteer or a member of staff) who will help you through your first few weeks at the centre.
Volunteer uniform.
Induction and ongoing role-specific training, guidance and support.
An opportunity to feed back to your main contact about your experience volunteering with Dogs Trust.
Recognition of the role that you are carrying out in support of Dogs Trust through our Volunteer Merits Scheme.
Opportunities to try new things and learn new skills, where appropriate.
A message from the CEO
Without our dedicated volunteers we couldn’t hope to achieve as much as we do for the dogs in our care; the support from our volunteers is absolutely vital to our work.
The work that volunteers help us with may not always be easy, but I know that volunteering with Dogs Trust is a rewarding experience.
Adrian Burder
Chief Executive
What we expect from our volunteers:
Support Dogs Trust in its work and carry out your volunteer role to the best of your ability.
Complete a Rehoming Centre volunteer induction session, this will be held at your centre and complete any other additional training as required.
Make new people welcome and work well within the team.
Recognise the importance of our members, sponsors and donors in supporting the work of Dogs Trust.
Wear your Dogs Trust volunteer uniform at the centre and ensure you are presentable at all times.
Support Dogs Trust procedures and standards by:
Being aware of your own health and safety and of that of others.
Respecting others and treating people equally in line with our Equal Opportunities Policy.
Ensure all activities undertaken in the name of Dogs Trust achieve the charitable aims and objectives and do not bring the organisation into disrepute.
Be accountable and accept constructive comments.
Maintain confidentiality regarding Dogs Trust activity, the dogs in our care and our team.
Meet time commitments and standards agreed, and give reasonable notice when unavailable, so other arrangements can be made.
Be a positive representative of Dogs Trust, ensuring you are polite and friendly to all visitors to the centre.
Dogs Trust
Ballymena Rehoming Centre
60 Teeshan Road
Fairview
Ballymena
BT43 5PN E: T: @:
Dogs Trust is the UK’s largest dog welfare charity. Through our network of 20 rehoming centres across the UK and one in Ireland we care for almost 17,000 abandoned and unwanted dogs a year. No healthy dog is ever destroyed.