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Job summary

Main area
Volunteers
Grade
Voluntary
Contract
Voluntary: 6 months (Applicants are required to commit to a minimum period 6 months)
Hours
1 session per week (Available Shifts: Mondays to Friday 11:00 – 14:00 or 14:00-17:00)
Job ref
317-Vols-Ward-Support
Employer
The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
RVI & Freeman Hospitals
Town
Newcastle upon Tyne
Salary
Voluntary
Closing
01/05/2025 08:00

Employer heading

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust logo

Ward Support Volunteer

Voluntary

Job overview

We offer a range of volunteer opportunities at our two primary hospitals and are eager to hear from friendly, approachable, and enthusiastic individuals who possess strong communication skills and a caring attitude.

When you apply, please share as much information as you can about your motivation for volunteering and the skills and experiences you can contribute to the role.

Main duties of the job

Ward volunteers offer companionship and support to patients, many of whom may be in the hospital for extended stays. As a ward volunteer, you'll engage in various activities with patients, including playing board games, reading, or simply having a chat.

Volunteers also play a role during mealtimes, which involves getting patients ready for their meals, serving the food, and sitting with them to assist with cutting their food, opening containers, and making mealtime a more social experience.

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

  • Assist with preparing patients for meals
  • Assist with serving meals
  • Cutting up food, and opening packaging
  • Collecting and tidying up following meal service
  • Tidying up tables and locker tops
  • Talking to patients, reading with or to patients, doing crosswords, playing dominoes etc.
  • Supporting with ward tasks to support discharge- e.g. collections from pharmacy

Person specification

Specific skills / attributes required by volunteer

Essential criteria
  • A caring, sympathetic, sensitive manner and a non-judgmental approach
  • Organise and lead an activity for patients with confidence, and minimal supervision.
  • Good listening and communication skills are essential.
  • Reliable/dependable/flexible
  • Have a positive outlook and enthusiastic approach
Desirable criteria
  • Previous caring experience

Employer certification / accreditation badges

We are a Living Wage EmployerVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveInvestors in People: GoldArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardRIDI Awards Finalist 2021Mindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerStonewall Gold 2022Better Health at Work Award - Maintaining ExcellenceDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - GoldCycle Friendly Employer

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

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Kathryn Fletcher
Job title
Senior Volunteer Services Administrator
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
0191 282 4075
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