Volunteering Opportunity: Ward befriender - In-patient Volunteer with Central London Community Healthcare Trust

Come and make a huge difference to patients in our care with your time. The patients on our wards are with us to get better and work up to going home, but being in hospital can be a bit boring. Come and spend time with our patients, chat to them, play games or do activities to help them pass the time, reduce their loneliness and improve their wellbeing. Even a short amount of volunteer interaction makes a big difference to patients, so come and make someone’s day.

Opportunity Type: Long-term Commitment

District: Watford

Location: Indoor

Time of day: Weekday Mornings, Weekday Afternoons, Weekday Evenings

Practical Considerations: We ask for 3-4 hours a session but this can be flexible based on your schedule.

Volunteers will receive Statutory and Mandatory Training provided by CLCH to help prepare you for volunteering with the NHS.

Skills:

· You’ll be friendly and proactive

· You’ll be able to use your initiative and ask for help when
needed.

· You’ll understand the importance of confidentiality · You’ll be
a good communicator with excellent people skills in person
and over the phone · You’ll be comfortable volunteering
within a group or by yourself.

Volunteers should provide 2 references and Volunteers will have a Standard DBS Check done by CLCH.

Requirements: Will require a criminal record check (DBS)

Suitable for: 18 – 25 year olds, Aged 26 and over, University students, Older People

Suitable for volunteers interested in: Carers Support, Health and Wellbeing, Voluntary & Community Action

Does this opportunity provide wheelchair access?: Yes

Full Description:
You’ll work alongside members of the Ward Staff team to create a welcoming, safe and comfortable environment.

Main role duties:

· You’ll spend one on one time with patients providing them
with company. The staff in charge will identify patients who
could benefit from visitors and you’ll prioritise your time.

· You’ll get to know the patients and do activities they’re
interested in, like playing games, colouring in, reading,
listening to music etc.

· You’ll use the resources on the ward to keep patients busy
and entertained and use your initiative to find fun new
ways to engage the patients.

· You could also help patients with the use of the IPAD to
help them to keep in touch with friends and family if you
feel comfortable

· You’ll help patients with tasks such getting newspapers,
toiletries, refreshments · You’ll help ensure patients and
visitors concerns and complaints are dealt with
immediately and locally by telling them how to give their
feedback.

· You’ll ensure all medical queries are directed to the nurse
in charge.

Additional optional duties:

Sometimes the ward may be quiet or you may have visited everyone looking for company. If you’d like to help in other ways, you could help with the following:

· When new patients arrive on the ward, you could assist in
welcoming them e.g. unpacking belongings, providing
water jug, etc.

· You could help family members and visitors around the
inpatient unit if they are lost.

· You could help ensure the general ward areas are kept tidy
e.g. bays, corridors, linen store

· You could help make sure patient products and facilities
are available and fully functional, and discrepancies
reported

· You could assist patients and carers with
completion of questionnaires


General duties:

· You’ll maintain the highest standards of personal and
professional integrity in line with The Trust’s code of
conduct

· You’ll practically implement Equal Opportunities in your
daily work, ensuring that patients and their families’
diversity and cultural needs are respected, and
discrimination or harassment is challenged.

· You’ll report any concerns or risks to the ward manager or
the Volunteer Manager

· You’ll follow all policies and procedures in relation to your
role,

· You’ll help out with other duties as may be reasonably
required from time to time

· In the event of accidents, emergencies or untoward
occurrences, you’ll respond as directed by the
Ward/Department lead