Samaritan role

[AppleRoad]

I’m interested in becoming a Samaritan but understand from a friend that safeguarding is now a new element that is added to the role. Whilst I understand the Samaritans ethos is to reduce death by suicide does this mean I’d be responsible for calling an ambulance if a situation may arise?
Thank you, any advice or information welcome.

If you are interested in becoming a Samaritan then they offer training to all new volunteers which goes through (in painful detail) their procedures.

if you don’t agree with them you do not need to proceed to full volunteer status.

The short answer is yes you might be required to do so, but there is a lot of subtly and nuanced behind it. The best thing to do would be to go to your local branch’s open night and talk to them.

Why are you interested in this? Would you object to calling an ambulance?

Thanks for your reply. From what a friend has told me, it’s not just listening but an added element of safeguarding alongside this. If you have volunteered, would you mind me asking what your experience was of them?

Thanks. It looks like due to sickness, the open evening will be a little later than expected. If you have volunteered I’d be most interested to hear what you thought?

I’ve been a Samaritan for 18 years.
I find it extremely rewarding. You’ll never have to make any decision on your own. You will always have your shift partner and there is always somebody on the end of the phone to support and advise you.
I stopped for about a year when Covid was on as it was very difficult to fit it in because I had to work through it . I went back as the training is so good and I felt as though it would be wasted if I didn’t go back

I’ve never been a Samaritan, but two close friends did it for years. Both have now stopped because the increased level of nuisance and sex calls meant neither of them felt they were being of use to the people who needed the service most. But both of them seem to have found it meaningful, though sometimes very tough, up to that point, and found kindred spirits among other listeners.

It has been many many years since I did it, so my experience is not current in any way shape or form.

active listening is a very dynamic and interactive process and it’s not as simple as just listening. I found the training and the experience very fulfilling. At the time I volunteered “safeguarding” wasn’t really a thing but there were policies and protocols for various situations.

Yes safeguarding is a big thing, as it absolutely should be. But as pp said, there are always at least two of you and the shift leader is only a phone call away.

And just to add, it is the shift leader who calls an ambulance. Your role would be to inform the shift leader and they make the decision whether or not to do so.

I was a Samaritan for 8 years and trained new volunteers for 3 years but stopped about a year ago due to other commitments.

I was also worried about the safeguarding changes but in reality the interactions with callers are such that the occasion arises so rarely as to be irrelevant. I called the ambulance service 3 times in my volunteering career.