Check In and Chat Plus Volunteer

Getting You Started Guide

As a Check In and Chat Plus volunteer you will provide regular telephone support to vulnerable people who may be housebound and have little contact with others, are anxious about leaving the house or have recently been discharged from hospital and are in need of companionship and encouragement to improve their mental health and wellbeing.

You will call the person you are supporting 3 times a week over a 6 week period. You are calling to have a friendly chat to combat loneliness. 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 5 steps to mental wellbeing, which is an approach to supporting wellbeing. 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: 25 January 2024