This valued charity based in Thurso offers free support to people and family members experiencing Cancer. Volunteers offer a listening ear and practical, social and emotional support at the Centre on Mondays & Thursdays. Can you offer a couple of hours to help the service continue, training offered.

: Support Volunteers are directly involved with visitors to the Kyle Ward Oncology Day Unit, Ayr Hospital offering support in a safe and positive environment where there is continuous support from paid NHS staff and other volunteers complementing, not replacing, their work. Responsible to: Head of Cancer Support Services (HoCSS) Hours: Thursday and Friday, 9am – 1pm or 1pm – 5pm. Key Tasks: • Offer a warm welcome in clinical waiting areas. • Put visitors and patients at ease, offering a listening ear and an understanding manner. • Preparing and offering light refreshments (tea, coffee and juice). • Be familiar with the services offered by ACS. • To ensure patients know where facilities are located. • Referring any patient concerns about their clinical care to a nurse. • Participate as part of a team. • Attend regular support sessions with HoCSS. • Adhere to the policies and procedures of ACS. • Undertake training sessions relevant to your role. • Other duties as required Personal specification: • Volunteers must be 18 or over. • This is not a clinical role, and you will not be shadowing or assisting staff. • Willingness to undertake any necessary training as outlined by staff. • Ability to work as a team player. • Ability to communicate well with patients. • Enjoy interacting with people. • Warmth, sensitivity, and a willingness to listen. • Patience and composure. • A caring, empathetic, sensitive manner and a non-judgemental approach. • Reliable/ dependable and flexible. • Understanding of confidentiality. • Have a positive outlook and enthusiastic approach. Personal specification: • Volunteers must be 18 or over. • This is not a clinical role, and you will not be shadowing or assisting staff. • Willingness to undertake any necessary training as outlined by staff. • Ability to work as a team player. • Ability to communicate well with patients. • Enjoy interacting with people. • Warmth, sensitivity, and a willingness to listen. • Patience and composure. • A caring, empathetic, sensitive manner and a non-judgemental approach. • Reliable/ dependable and flexible. • Understanding of confidentiality. • Have a positive outlook and enthusiastic approach. Additional requirements and general information: • Successful placement will be dependent on Disclosure Scotland PVG, Covid Age Risk assessment and two-character references. • Maintain patient confidentiality, at all times. • Volunteers should not: undertake duties outside this role description without checking first with the Nurse in Charge / HoCSS; undertake any manual handling tasks without the appropriate training; undertake patients’ personal or clinical care. • A volunteer can offer emotional support and empathy but must under no circumstances offer advice or medical opinion on a patient’s treatment. • Volunteers are in place to complement the work of the paid staff and are not used to replace roles that are normally undertaken by paid hospital employees. • Volunteers are bound by the ‘Volunteer Agreement’ which should be signed and returned to the HoCSS prior to undertaking this role. • You will be required to undertake training relevant to the role including ACS induction; role training prior to ward placement and other training as identified for the role whilst on placement. • Ability to commit to the same times each week would be preferred. • Expenses: All actual travel expenses will be reimbursed. • All volunteers will be provide with 4-6weekly supervision by HoCSS.

Everyone has the right to live life to the full. After a diagnosis of a chest or heart condition or a stroke, many people experience fear and isolation and struggle with the impact on their lives. The care and support we deliver every day ensures everyone can live the life they want to. Across Scotland, we will provide vital advice, information, and support through our No Life Half Lived strategy. Join our amazing team of Community Support Volunteers, who support people with one or more of our conditions to develop autonomy and confidence in self-management, enabling them to fully engage with their community and activities of their choosing. The service follows a pathway from hospital to community and can be delivered in a one-to-one and/or group setting in person, virtually or via telephone.

Bring your organisational and communication skills to support a tram of volunteers to deliver our telephone Buddy, Digital Buddy and Community Buddy Services. This is a varied role and below are some examples of activities you could be involved with. Together, we can be right there for people with cancer. What you will be doing - leading initial home visits and risk assessments for Community Buddying - inputting and updating sensitive personal information on our data system - matching service users and volunteers, following our matching process - checking in with service users and volunteers after first call or visit - supporting Buddy Volunteer recruitment and induction - acting as a point of contact for Buddy Volunteers regarding wellbeing, offering group support sessions and signposting to wellbeing resources - attending regular team meetings to share good practice - having regular calls and meetings with a Volunteering Services Delivery Lead What's in it for you - meet new people as part of a friendly team that makes a difference - enjoy a rewarding experience making a difference to people living with cancer who are especially isolated - use and develop your communication and people skills - ongoing support from your volunteer manager - receive an induction, relevant training, and support you need to carry out your role, and agreed out-of-pocket expenses (reimbursed within our guidelines)