The Telephone Contact Person (TCP) plays a vital role in placing homeless young people in appropriate volunteer host homes or at our Shelter.
Like all volunteers, they are trained and vetted to undertake this important role in a professional manner which keeps both our volunteers and young people safe.
Telephone Contact People work from home at times to suit them between 11.30am and 4.30pm Monday to Friday. They are part of a team and the shifts are three hours long and most TCPs offer one shift a week and others as they can.
They take telephone calls from agencies requesting a bed for a young person. Over the phone, the TCP and agency worker complete a form which we call a referral form. The referral form includes a risk assessment which ensures young people are placed with a suitable host. Our Telephone Contact People liaise with suitable hosts and also offer young people a safe place to wait. The Telephone Contact person informs our office of all referrals taken so that office staff can ensure young people are moving on from our system to appropriate longer-term accommodation.
Telephone Contact People always refer borderline referrals to the office or the Out of Hours Support Team who also undertake police checks on new referrals.
Anyone over 18 meeting our criteria (we've had people start to train at age 81!) is welcome to apply to become a TCP. As our training can be done on a one to one basis we welcome interest from people who are housebound. Make a difference and apply today here.
Being a TCP is a great way of volunteering without leaving your own home. I answer the phone for three hours once a fortnight and do this whilst I am studying or watching TV. There is loads of support available and there is always some one on the end of the phone if there are any problems during the shift. When a young person has been placed with a host it is rewarding to know that I have helped a young person find a safe bed for the night and they will not have to sleep on the streets. - Alison, Halifax-based TCP of over 3 years
