Check In and Chat Volunteer
Getting You Started Guide
As a Check In and Chat volunteer you will provide short-term telephone support to people in need of a friendly phone call and encouragement to improve their mental health and wellbeing.
Check In and Chat volunteers can make up to 3 calls a month, this is due to the activity not requiring a DBS check. If you would like to make more calls, we would ask you to consider supplementing these calls by signing up as a Check In and Chat Plus Volunteer as well. This would mean on top of the 3 one-off calls you make a month, you would have regular conversations with the same person (3 calls per week for 6 weeks). Check In and Chat Plus supports more vulnerable people and requires a DBS Check.
The support you will be giving is a one-off phone call. You are calling to help them feel better, you should always be guided by what is important to them, and what they would like to chat about – just having you there to listen might be what they need most.
If you think it is appropriate, and if they are happy to do so, you may choose to use elements of the evidence-based NHS 5 steps to mental wellbeing, which is an approach to supporting mental health. The aim of this is to help them explore positive changes they could make to their lives to help them feel better. If you use this approach, you should always be sensitive to limitations that they may have, for example around their mobility, or if they might have dementia.
You will find everything you need to get started in this guide, including a list of some questions you might use to guide your call and some points to consider about the people you will be supporting.
You will support a range of people in diverse communities and we ask that you make sure everyone feels supported, welcomed and valued for who they are.
Further information on how you can support people with accessibility needs and learn about different backgrounds and communities can be found in our Inclusion Hub.
Print entire guide
Page last reviewed: 19 February 2024
