Volunteering

Please see below the Expression of Interest form, once completed please send it to: esth.voluntary.services@nhs.net

After submitting the expression of interest, you will be invited to attend an informal interview, to discuss the volunteering roles you have shown an interest in.

If successful, you will be sent a link to our onboarding portal: the application form (including two referees); occupational health form and online mandatory training.

During the following seven days, a meeting will be arranged with the voluntary services manager to see your identification to enable a DBS to be processed.

Once we have received the references, occupational health clearance, DBS clearance and you have completed the mandatory training, you will be invited to come to the hospital to process your identification card, you will be shown to the area/ward where you will be volunteering, you will sign the volunteering agreement, and your start date will be chosen.

Expression of Interest form; Application form for volunteering 

Work Experience :

Volunteering is not the same as work experience or work placements; at our Trust we have a dedicated team who organise work experience please follow the link to the work experience page on our website:

https://www.epsom-sthelier.nhs.uk/work-experience

Key knowledge/skills/experience

• Appreciation of equality and diversity and the need to treat each patient with respect
• To have Patience and a caring and compassionate approach
• A polite, friendly manner when dealing with people
• Professionalism and emotional maturity
• Strong communication and customer care skills

About this role: As a volunteer you will be providing both the practical and emotional support to patients while they are being assessed in the emergency department.

You will play a vital role in providing support to Emergency Department staff to ensure a comfortable environment is provided for all patients and visitors.

Core tasks (under guidance of Nurse in Charge)

·       Helping patients to understand how the department works

·       Spending time with patients who are on their own

·       Serving refreshments where appropriate

·       Greet and signpost visitors to the relevant area or member of staff

·       Helping patients contact relatives/friends/carers and explaining how they can get to the Emergency Department

·       Assist patients and visitors with completion of the Friends and Family Test

·       Ensure that all information on display is current and relevant

·       Replenish where appropriate; gloves, aprons, blankets etc

·       Develop an awareness of hospital layout

·       Helping to keep the waiting areas always tidy

 

 

 

 

Vision: 

A Patient Partner has an interest in the provision of healthcare and wants to become involved and influence how it is planned and delivered to increase positive experiences for patients in hospital. Patient Partners are essential in terms of partnership working, and to ensure the voice of the patient is heard and considered in Trust improvements and transformation projects. St George’s serves a large and diverse community and patient partners should reflect that diversity.

 

Objectives: 

We are looking for Patient Partners to become involved in several patient engagement activities across the Trust. There are multiple improvement projects and panels ongoing at the Trust and we are looking for people with an interest in:

·       Become involved in specific projects with the aim of improving services

·       There are several openings to work with specific departmental projects including therapies and outpatients

·       Accreditation and inspections – surveying patients to get their views on their experience

·       To attend meetings representing the voice of the patient assisting the Trust in patient panels and improvement activities

 

Key tasks: 

Tasks will vary depending on project, but general activities will include the following: 

·       Attend meetings and consider being part of subgroups, where appropriate

·       Commit to reading all the papers for the meeting

·       Fulfil any actions to which they have committed

·       They will support the Trust staff and patients, relatives, and carers in achieving outstanding care every time

·       To consider how their experience and the experience of other patients and carers can improve patient services trust wide

·       Promote Trust values, equity, diversity, and togetherness

·       To support service improvement, through feedback on procedures, policies, and service strategy

 

Personal specification:

·       Current or recent experience of care at St George’s as a patient or carer or experience as a patient/carer in other relevant healthcare settings

·       Willing to commit to regular attendance at meetings (a combination of in person and online meetings) and prepared to contribute to sub-groups or projects on request

·       Able to read and digest meeting papers

·       Able to take part in meetings and express their views

·       To be honest and professional

·       To have commitment and motivation

·       To uphold and work within Trust values

·       To have effective communication and listening skills

·       To have integrity

·       To be responsible and dependable

·       Be positive and able to take a solution focused approach

 

General information:

·       Patient Partners are bound by the ‘Patient Partner Agreement’ which includes their rights and responsibilities

·       Patient Partners are reminded of the importance of confidentiality

·       Patient Partners will receive regular support and supervision and training where applicable

 

Key knowledge/skills/experience

·       Patience, caring and compassionate approach

·       A polite, friendly manner when dealing with people

·       Strong communication and customer service skills

·       Willingness to develop an awareness of the layout of and services offered by the hospital.

About this role: As a volunteer you will be helping patients, visitors and staff to navigate the hospital, helping patients to ensure they reach their appointments on time. You will also be helping to improve the patience experience by providing a friendly warm welcome to patients and visitors.

Core Tasks:

·       Greet all visitors to the hospital in a polite and friendly manner

·       Signpost patients and/or visitors to the relevant area or member of staff

·       Where appropriate, escort patients and/or visitors to the relevant department

·       Engage with patients and/or visitors around the hospital (e.g. by saying ‘hello’, or asking ‘may I offer you any assistance?’, ‘are you okay there?’)

·       Be aware of patients and/or visitors who appear to be lost or confused, approaching them to offer help in finding their way

·       Develop an awareness of information and services available in the hospital to effectively signpost patients and/or visitors

·       Report any issues with signage and/or information to the Voluntary Services Department Manager.

·       Assist in the evacuation of patients and visitors in the event of a Fire Emergency

Main Aims:

Wellbeing Volunteers provide a friendly, compassionate presence on inpatient wards, helping to improve the experience of patients during their hospital stay. Working alongside nursing and multidisciplinary teams, volunteers support patients' emotional wellbeing by offering companionship, reassurance and practical non-clinical assistance that helps patients feel valued, connected and comfortable.

Positive companionship and conversation encourage positive emotions which can speed up the healing process and significantly improve the patient’s experience during their hospital stay

The role is centred on enhancing patient experience and reducing feelings of loneliness, anxiety and isolation while supporting a welcoming ward environment.

Key Duties:

·       Collect pharmacy paperwork and prescriptions as instructed, from wards and departments as directed

·       Deliver packages from pharmacy to wards and departments as directed

·       Welcome patients and visitors to the Discharge Lounge

·       Provide information to patients

·       Collect specimen samples from wards and take them to Pathology

·       Collect equipment and take to wards / discharge lounge

·       Assist patients / visitors complete Friends and Family Test (FFT) questionnaires prior to discharge

·       Completing a discharge checklist with patients, helping patients to call relatives (identifying and supporting unpaid carers as needed)

·       Identify any support agencies that may be able to support the patient at time of discharge

·       Promote patient centred care by identifying any accessibility requirements and sharing this information with relevant ward staff

·       Promote patient centred care by identifying members of the Armed Forces Community, linking in with the Patient Experience Team to facilitate the recording of this information, and any visits and and/or support information

·       Promote patient centred care by identifying if the patient has an unpaid carer and sharing this information with relevant ward staff

Main Aims: 

Wellbeing Volunteers provide a friendly, compassionate presence on inpatient wards, helping to improve the experience of patients during their hospital stay. Working alongside nursing and multidisciplinary teams, volunteers support patients' emotional wellbeing by offering companionship, reassurance and practical non-clinical assistance that helps patients feel valued, connected and comfortable.

Positive companionship and conversation encourage positive emotions which can speed up the healing process and significantly improve the patient’s experience during their hospital stay

The role is centred on enhancing patient experience and reducing feelings of loneliness, anxiety and isolation while supporting a welcoming ward environment.

 

 

Key Duties:

·       Welcome newly admitted patients to the ward and help them become familiar with the ward environment and facilities.

·       Spend time with patients who would benefit from companionship through friendly conversation and active listening.

·       To sit with and talk to patients; engaging them in topics that spark their interest

·       Support patients who may feel lonely, anxious or isolated during their hospital stay.

·       Read books, newspapers or letters to patients where appropriate.

·       Assist patients with recreational activities such as puzzles, board games, colouring, arts and crafts or reminiscence activities.

·       Offer reassurance and emotional support to patients awaiting tests, procedures or discharge.

·       Help patients access personal belongings, call bells, glasses, hearing aids, reading materials or entertainment items where appropriate.

·       Assist in maintaining patient comfort by helping to organise bedside areas, ensuring personal items are within reach where safe to do so.

·       Welcome and support visitors by directing them to facilities and answering general enquiries.

·       Promote a calm, friendly and inclusive ward atmosphere.

·       Report any concerns about a patient's wellbeing, comfort or safety promptly to the supervising member of staff.

·       Make tea, fill water jugs

·       Work closely with nurses, healthcare support workers, therapists and the wider multidisciplinary team on most needed day to day activities

·       Promote patient centred care by identifying any accessibility requirements and sharing this information with relevant ward staff

·       Promote patient centred care by identifying members of the Armed Forces Community, linking in with the Patient Experience Team to facilitate the recording of this information, and any visits and and/or support information

·       Promote patient centred care by identifying if the patient has an unpaid carer and sharing this information with relevant ward staff

·       Promote feedback and learning through the support and encouragement of patient to complete Friends and Family Test (FFT) or relevant surveys (at an appropriate time)

·       Follow all hospital policies relating to confidentiality, infection prevention, safeguarding, health and safety and equality.