Description

If you are aged 18 or over and fit and well with no underlying health conditions, could you offer some of your spare time to help at your local hospital or community healthcare setting?

Key duties:
• Spending time with patients who are on their own.
• Recreational, social and therapeutic activities including: games, puzzles,
reading, reminiscing hobbies and musical entertainment.
• Accompany patients to non-clinical areas e.g. chapel, shop, restaurant/café
with consent from families/patient. Patient must be independently mobile and
deemed fit for leaving the ward area.
• To ensure patients know where facilities are located.
• Referring any patient concerns about their clinical care to a nurse.
• Assisting at mealtimes with guidance from nursing staff.
• Helping patients complete menu cards.
• Handing out food trays and collecting used trays.
• Cutting up food/opening containers
• Checking and completing food/fluid charts (depending on ward area)
• Providing fresh drinks and refilling water jugs
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
• Patience and composure
• A caring, sympathetic, 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 and
Occupational health clearances plus two character references
• Maintain patient confidentiality at all times
• Volunteers should not: undertake duties outside this role description without
checking first with the Volunteer Manager; 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 Volunteer Manager prior to undertaking this role
• You will be required to undertake training relevant to the role including:
corporate induction; role training prior to ward placement and other training as
identified for the role whilst on placement
• Volunteers are required during the following hours: breakfast 8am – 9.30am;
lunchtime – 12 – 2pm (approx.); and evenings 5pm – 7pm.
• Ability to commit to the same times each week would be preferre

Organisation aims and objectives

Volunteering opportunities within NHS Ayrshire & Arran

Restrictions

Successful placement will be dependent on Disclosure Scotland PVG and Occupational health clearances plus two character references.
Minimum age: 18