Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust

Meet and Greet Volunteer

The closing date is 20 August 2025

Job summary

Overview

There are a number of volunteering opportunities offered by Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust at both Darent Valley Hospital and Queen Mary's Hospital, at Sidcup.

Volunteers help support the hospital in numerous different ways, assisting clinical staff on ward, meeting and greeting, as well as assisting office based staff with admin tasks.

We require the volunteers to be able to commit to a minimum of 3 hours of volunteering each week.

Subject to satisfactory references, Criminal Records Bureau checks and Occupational Health clearance and an informal interview we will invite you to join our volunteers.

You will complete our training programme and then move onto specific placements at the Trust.

Please note this is a volunteer position and you will not be paid for carrying out this role.

Main duties of the job

To be the welcoming, supportive and friendly first point of contact for the patients and their families and friends, visiting the hospital. To help patients feel reassured and relaxed. To provide information, conversation and directions to our visitors.

Please see attached Job description for further details.

About us

We are committed to being an inclusive and diverse employer. We strive to employ people who reflect the communities we serve, and aim to create an inclusive culture where everyone can reach their full potential. Whatever your race, ethnicity, belief, generation, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, disability or experience, you'll appreciate the opportunities we give you to volunteer in an inclusive atmosphere. We welcome applications from people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences to build on the progress we've achieved to make our Trust diverse and the best place to work and volunteer. We celebrate the diversity of thought, viewpoints and ideas that help us overcome challenges and embrace new possibilities. We have signed the Armed Forces Covenant Pledge and have a commitment to the Armed Forces Community.

We are dedicated to using our Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) approach as our shared organisation model of change to enhance our services and ensure excellence in patient care.

If you are considering applying for a role, please be aware that as an NHS Employee you may have contact with vulnerable service users. We strongly encourage that all our staff are vaccinated against COVID-19 and are vaccinated annually against Flu, in order to protect the health and safety of our staff and patients. Your commitment will help us to put the safety and care of our patients first, as well as helping us to protect you and your colleagues.

Date posted

06 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

Depending on experience This is a voluntary role and is therefore unpaid

Contract

Voluntary

Working pattern

Flexible working

Reference number

252-7239057

Job locations

Darent Vally Hospital

Darenth Wood Road

Dartford

DA2 8DA

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please note this is a volunteer position and you will not be paid for carrying out this role.

To make patients, visitors and the general public feel welcome.

To direct or escort patients & visitors to the ward or department they require.

To reassure anxious service users or visitors.

To help answer appropriate queries.

Locate wheelchairs as required

Liaise with hospital staff to help contribute to a positive experience for all patients.

Other reasonable requests.

Any other non-professional or similar tasks that may be appropriate, after a discussionand agreement between you and the relevant manager/staff member.

Please see attached job description for further details

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please note this is a volunteer position and you will not be paid for carrying out this role.

To make patients, visitors and the general public feel welcome.

To direct or escort patients & visitors to the ward or department they require.

To reassure anxious service users or visitors.

To help answer appropriate queries.

Locate wheelchairs as required

Liaise with hospital staff to help contribute to a positive experience for all patients.

Other reasonable requests.

Any other non-professional or similar tasks that may be appropriate, after a discussionand agreement between you and the relevant manager/staff member.

Please see attached job description for further details

Person Specification

Education and Training

Essential

No specific qualifications are required
Willingness to undertake Mandatory Training

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

Good understanding of English both written and verbal, with clear communication skills

Experience

Essential

No specific experience is required

Desirable

Previous volunteering or experience of work in a health and social care setting
Experience of working with the public
Willingness to share own related personal experience to support patients

Personal Attributes

Essential

oGood interpersonal skills
oPresenting as smart and clean
oThe ability to be friendly, polite and caring with patients, visitors and Trust staff
oUnderstanding the importance of confidentiality
oAbility to work on own initiative, and unsupervised at times
oAbility to work as part of a team
oReliable and punctual
oAvailable to volunteer for at least 3 hours per week
oTo embody the Trust's Values of care with compassion, respect and dignity, striving to excel, professional standards and working together.
oTo exercise confidentiality and discretion

Person Specification

Education and Training

Essential

No specific qualifications are required
Willingness to undertake Mandatory Training

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

Good understanding of English both written and verbal, with clear communication skills

Experience

Essential

No specific experience is required

Desirable

Previous volunteering or experience of work in a health and social care setting
Experience of working with the public
Willingness to share own related personal experience to support patients

Personal Attributes

Essential

oGood interpersonal skills
oPresenting as smart and clean
oThe ability to be friendly, polite and caring with patients, visitors and Trust staff
oUnderstanding the importance of confidentiality
oAbility to work on own initiative, and unsupervised at times
oAbility to work as part of a team
oReliable and punctual
oAvailable to volunteer for at least 3 hours per week
oTo embody the Trust's Values of care with compassion, respect and dignity, striving to excel, professional standards and working together.
oTo exercise confidentiality and discretion

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust

Address

Darent Vally Hospital

Darenth Wood Road

Dartford

DA2 8DA

Employer's website

https://www.dgt.nhs.uk/working-for-us (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust

Address

Darent Vally Hospital

Darenth Wood Road

Dartford

DA2 8DA

Employer's website

https://www.dgt.nhs.uk/working-for-us (Opens in a new tab)