Mercy Volunteers serving in the social services field work in community clinics, outreach centers, and advocacy organizations. Social services experience is available for homeless outreach, immigration and refugee services, social justice initiatives, elderly care, and disability services in the US and South America. Volunteers build relationships with clients while providing services to empower and increase independence, skills, and connections.
Service Activities
Outreach and activities coordinators will develop and execute programming for client engagement. Case managers will work with clients to build connections for legal, housing, and employment services. Client advocates and liaisons empower individuals by building skills and community connections. Community organizers will use communication skills to advocate for social change.
Community Need Addressed
Volunteers in social services positions will serve as outreach and activities coordinators, case managers, and client advocates and liaisons. Mercy Volunteers provide services for immigrant and refugee families, the elderly, people with disabilities, victims of domestic violence, and people experiencing homelessness food insecurity, or addiction.
Position Outcomes
Clients will receive services that increase independence, skills, and connections.
Benefits
Health coverage, Housing, Living allowance, Stipend, Student loan forbearance
Quarterly retreats are hosted by Mercy Volunteer Corps to provide volunteers with opportunities for reflection, spiritual growth, and shared experiences. Mercy Volunteer Corps provides volunteers with webinars for personal and professional development.
Skills you will gain
Volunteers will develop skills in client care, interpersonal relationships, organization, compassionate service, project planning, communication, and resource management.
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, Listen to and consider others' viewpoints, Maintain open lines of communication with others, Speak clearly, in precise language and in a logical, organized and coherent manner, Turn taking, Write cleary and effectively
Creativity & Problem Solving
Able to identify and define the problem, Capable of generating possible solutions, Communicate the problem to appropriate personnel, Improvise, Provide relevant expertise, Select and implement well-considered solution
Teamwork
Derive consensus, Develop constructive working relationships and maintain them over time, Establish a high degree of trust and credibility with others, Interact professionally and respectfully with supervisors and co-workers, Stay positive and outcome oriented, Use appropriate strategies and solutions for dealing with conflicts and differences to maintain a smooth workflow
Decisions
Accepts responsibility, Anticipate the consequences of decisions, Identify and prioritize the key issues involved to facilitate the decision making process, Involve people appropriately in decisions that may impact them, Quickly respond with a back-up plan if a decision goes amiss
Tools
Carefully consider which tools or technological solutions are appropriate for a given job, Consistently choose the best tool or technological solution for the problem at hand, Seek opportunities to improve knowledge of tools and technologies that may assist in streamlining work and improving productivity
Planning
Able to prioritize various competing tasks, Create environment of contribution, Create plan of action, schedule tasks so that work is completed on time, Demonstrate the effective allocation of time and resources efficiently, Drive decision making, Effectively delegate tasks, Facilitate group planning, Set goals
Service
Be pleasant, courteous, professional and respectful when dealing with internal and external customers or clients, Evaluate customer or client satisfaction, Honor the privilege of being able to work with and for those being served, Provide personalized, prompt, and efficient service to meet the requirements, requests and needs of customers, Recognize the importance of maintaining privacy and confidentiality of those being served, Understand and anticipate the needs of others, Understand the importance of one's role in the functioning of the organization, Understand the significance of maintaining a healthful and safe environment