Volunteering Opportunities

Volunteers fulfil a variety of roles with the purpose of enhancing patient experience.  Although volunteers do not perform any clinical roles, they are able to get some hands on experience of what it is like to work in a hospital environment and to work alongside hospital staff.  Below is more information about the type of volunteering we offer.

Dining companion / volunteer visitor

Dining companions and volunteer visitors are allocated to a specific ward where they build rapport with staff and patients.

At mealtimes, volunteers are involved in providing basic assistance and company to patients. Volunteers are not involved in feeding patients, and will receive training to ensure you have awareness of the role and how to give encouragement and support to patients.

Outside of mealtimes, volunteer visitors will spend time with patients who might be lonely, isolated or anxious and who may not have visitors of their own. Volunteers will talk to individual patients or engage in an activity such as playing cards or doing a crossword.

Dining companion information here.

Volunteer visitor information here.

Patient experience volunteer

Patient experience volunteers support the Patient Experience team to increase the voice of our patients, carers and their families by promoting opportunities for them to give their feedback.

Patient experience volunteers may be placed in wards or departments and/or volunteer directly with the Patient Experience team on projects. Training for this role will include active listening skills and effective communication skills. The role is about listening to what patients have to say about their experience of our services. More information here.

Clinic/Department Liaison

Liaison volunteers are based in an outpatient area. They meet and greet patients as they attend for their appointment or clinic visit. This role involves proactively explaining to patients how the clinic works, giving directions, communicating time delays where appropriate and generally ensuring that the patient journey runs as smoothly as possible. More information here.

Chaplaincy Volunteer

The Chaplaincy service is here to help meet the spiritual needs of patients, relatives and staff.

The role of Chaplaincy volunteer is to complement the work of the Hospital Chaplains with the spiritual support of patients in a number of ways which include visiting wards, meeting patients and being there for patients with a listening ear or a prayer as support.

Volunteers may also help patients who wish to attend a service in the chapel, on the ward or taking part in worship where appropriate. Training will examine aspects of Chaplaincy work, communication, fears and anxieties, listening skills, spirituality and issues such as grief, pain and loss. More information here.

Activity volunteer

Activity volunteers deliver activities for patients, based around a chosen area of interest. Activities could include arts and crafts,
music, drama, reminiscence, games and reading. More information here.

Activity volunteers are most needed on our dementia and stroke wards, and we ask that volunteers are aged 18 and above. Volunteers recruited to this role will receive a training package before starting.

Welcomer

Coming into hospital can be daunting for a lot of people, and finding your way to an appointment can be difficult. Welcomers help patients find their way to their appointment, perhaps by showing someone on a map or perhaps by walking with someone to the right part of the hospital. More information here.