International Family Tracing Interpreter Volunteer Leeds

International Family Tracing Interpreter Volunteer
Location: Leeds
We are currently looking for people who can speak Tigrinya, Kurdish Sorani and Amharic

About the role
This role is an essential communication link between people who use the service, and staff and volunteers who provide the service. Many of our service users do not speak English as their first language and they rely on high-quality, confidential interpretation and translation to relay their personal information. For many of our service users having to give information about loved ones and how separation occurred is a difficult and distressing process so a certain amount of personal resilience is required to carry out this role.

About the Team
The British Red Cross International Family Tracing service is part of a global network of Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies, which works together to restore and maintain contact between families who have been separated by armed conflict, political upheaval, natural disaster or migration.

In these situations, communications often break down and families become separated. As a result, people do not know where to turn to find a missing relative or how to get a message to them. Knowing what happened to family members left behind or who have migrated around the world is vital.


About the person
You need to have good interpersonal, diplomacy, communication and teamwork skills although full training will be given for specific organisational requirements. We keep the beneficiary at the heart of what we do, working to understand their needs and the difference we make. Also someone who is:

• Experienced in interpreting or trained/professionally qualified in interpreting and/or translation
• IT literate and competent working with complex and detailed personal information, demonstrating good attention to detail
• Able to verbally communicate fluently and/or write in the language required (as well as in English), and who has proven listening skills
• Able to respect confidentiality of service users at all times and remain responsive to their specific needs, adhering to the confidentiality policy where risks to the service user or others are identified
• Experienced, or has an understanding of, issues around working with refugees and people of diverse ethnic backgrounds
• Personally resilient in order to communicate with distressed clients and available to work at short notice if necessary
• Able to use emotional support skills in a calm and responsible manner
• Willing to uphold the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and adhere to the Society's Equal Opportunities Policy

This role requires a DBS/PVG/Access NI check to the appropriate level.

Tasks included in this Role:

• Facilitating communication between caseworkers and service users by providing interpretation and/or translation services, either by telephone or in person
• Interpreting/translating according to the British Red Cross Interpreting Guidelines
• Assisting clients in completing forms in their own language if required

Please click here to view the full role profile and person specification.

What We Offer

• Access to relevant in-house training and development opportunities, including British Red Cross intranet site and e-learning facility
• A full induction, support and supervision throughout your volunteering period
• Valuable exposure to the work of the Red Cross in the UK and around the world
• Reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses when on duty
• Being a volunteer for The British Red Cross means that you can proudly say you are part of the world's largest humanitarian organisation.

About the organisation
The British Red Cross helps millions of people in the UK and around the world to prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies, disasters and conflicts.

We are part of the global Red Cross and Red Crescent humanitarian network and we refuse to ignore people in crisis.

Young People and This Role
Whilst we value the contribution Young People make to the British Red Cross, to carry out full delivery of this service volunteers must be 18 years or older.

Our Promise
We value the skills and experience that people bring to the organisation. We will work with you to look at your knowledge and skills and help make an assessment about which elements of the learning for your role you will need to complete with us and recognise where you may already know all that you need to confidently and safely carry out your duties. We want to try and make sure that you get all the training you need, no more and no less.
The British Red Cross is committed to being an inclusive employer with a diverse workforce. We encourage applications from people from the widest possible diversity of backgrounds, cultures and experiences - including disabled and ethnic minority candidates. This is to contribute to the breadth of experience we need to respond to people in crisis.

Refusing to ignore people in crisis