Job summary
- Main area
- Volunteers
- Grade
- Voluntary
- Contract
- Voluntary: Applicants are required to commit to a minimum period 6 months
- Hours
- 1 session per week (Mondays to Sundays 11:00 - 14:00)
- Job ref
- 317-Vols-Mealtime-Sup
- Employer
- The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Freeman Hospital/RVI
- Town
- Newcastle upon Tyne
- Closing
- 31/12/2024 12:00
Employer heading
Mealtime Support Volunteer
Voluntary
Job overview
We are looking to recruit volunteers to enhance our patient experience and support staff during mealtimes. We are looking for people with the ability to communicate with all groups of people and that are friendly and approachable.
Note: the wards we are recruiting for require Volunteers to be aged 18 or over, due to being exposed to confronting sights/experiences due to some patients having dementia, being acutely unwell, receiving end of life care, or having medical devices in place such as feeding tubes.
Main duties of the job
The purpose of the role is to support staff in ensuring that patients receive nutrition in a timely and comfortable way. Volunteers will assist with opening packages, and will engage in conversations and will provide encouragement to eat.
Working for our organisation
Our Voluntary Workforce
The Newcastle Hospitals Trust values the involvement of local people as volunteers in activities that enhance the patient, visitor and carer experience, and also support staff in delivering high quality health care.
Your offer of voluntary help is very much appreciated, and you will receive a warm welcome no matter which area of volunteering you choose.
Without our volunteers, we wouldn't be able to deliver the 'outstanding' care and service that we do today.
Important note on completion of the application form
REFERENCES: Candidates are required to provide the address, telephone number and work email address of TWO referees, who should be either a current or former employer, senior work colleague, teacher, tutor or person of good standing in the community, and certify that they have known you for a minimum of 3 years prior to the date of application. PLEASE NOTE: That we cannot accept references from Friends or Family members.
DBS: The majority of our Volunteer roles require a Disclosure and Barring Scheme (DBS) Check. The volunteer services team will apply for this on your behalf, as part of your pre-engagement checks. If you already hold an enhanced DBS and it is registered on the DBS Update Service, then you will need to provide evidence and present your original DBS certificate to the Volunteer Services Team during your ID check appointment.
EMAIL: All correspondence to you will be made via email, therefore please ensure that you check your SPAM folders as well as your inbox.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- To take direction from staff as to which patients require assistance
- Help patients to choose meals and fill out order cards
- Offer support to serve meals, refreshments and snacks
- Offer support or prompt patients to eat, helping to ensure food is cut up, packets opened and easily reached.
- Keep patient water jugs filled and provide tea and coffee
- Make staff aware immediately if a patient has any clinical concerns
All duties will be overseen by nursing staff and will never include feeding patients or clinical tasks, such as personal care.
Person specification
Essential
Essential criteria
- Good listening skills and communication skills are essential.
- Able to chat confidently with patients and when necessary put them at their ease.
- Patience and composure.
- A caring, sympathetic, sensitive manner and a non-judgmental approach.
- Reliable/dependable/flexible.
- Understanding of confidentiality.
- Having a positive outlook and enthusiastic approach.
- Willingness to work without direct supervision.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Ami Purcell
- Job title
- Senior Volunteer Services Administrator
- Email address
- [email protected]
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