Has anyone done this, and specifically did you volunteer to visit and support a parent in their home? What sort of things did you do to support that parent and what did you feel your experience was like overall?
I am now cleared to volunteer and have been offered to support a mum directly at her home (as all the group sessions have no volunteer vacancies). I know absolutely nothing yet about her situation and what sort of support she may need/want. The volunteer coordinator could only say before she left her job a few weeks ago that home volunteers do things like help the parent get out of the house to a play group. Nothing else she could think of, and as her position has not been replaced I have no one to ask.
The HV has given me a date for us to meet this mum but I feel I need to make it clear to the HV that I have had no training whatsoever (except a Safeguarding course), and I refuse to change nappies or deal with any toileting in older children/personal care, and will not tidy/clean the house. I am particularly concerned about not having had training as that means I don't necessarily understand exactly what the professional boundaries are doing this type of support. Obviously I want to offer support but I need to know what I can/can't offer, and whether you don't offer advice unless asked etc.
I will however try and support in many other ways such as being a listening ear, helping them to get out of the house to wherever etc. I found our local children's centre really good for the various groups it offered and you could always ask questions of the staff so I'd just like to offer some support back now my DC is at school.