Volunteer to Career Ward Support Ward 3 West Cumberland Hospital
The closing date is 15 September 2025
Job summary
Volunteer to Career Ward 3 West Cumberland Hospital
There is an opportunity to apply for our Volunteer to Career Programme on Ward 3 at West Cumberland Hospital. Ward 3 is a 30 bedded ward with 15 stroke rehab beds and 15 general medicine beds caring for patients with a range of different acute and chronic conditions.
The Volunteer to Career Programme enables you to complete essential mandatory training, complete 60 hours on the ward and an opportunity to complete your Care Certificate. On successful completion of this programme you will be interviewed to your our Bank register as a Casual Healthcare Assistant.
What is the Volunteer to Career (VtC) programme?
North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust have partnered up with Cumberland Council to address staffing shortages in the NHS by actively encouraging volunteers to pursue a career in Healthcare.
The programme is funded from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and this therefore only open to applicants who reside in the Cumberland Council boundary.
Who is eligible to apply for the VtC programme?The VtC programme is open to anyone who is 18 or over and interested in a career within Health and Social Care.
What is the purpose of the role?Ward volunteers provide companionship and support to patients some of whom maybe in hospital for a long period of time. As a ward volunteer you will help to provide a variety of activities for patients such as playing board games, reading or general conversation.
Main duties of the job
What tasks can this role include?
- Assisting the Nutrition Coordinator to deliver the right meal to each patient. Making sure patients have everything they need once their meal is served. Offering companionship to patients who request this during their mealtime
- Helping patients with physical feeding and drinking when appropriate
- Help improve patient experience by providing a friendly welcome, emotional support and reassurance to patients and their families.
- Support the HCA's and Nurses with support on the ward i.e. replenishing drinks, sitting with patients
- Running errands for patients to purchase newspapers/magazines/snacks as required
- Assist with preparing patients for meals, and assisting with feeding patients
- Assist with serving meals
- Cutting up food, and opening packaging
- Collecting and tidying up following meal service
- Talking to patients, reading with or to patients, doing crosswords, playing dominoes etc
Location: Ward 3, West Cumberland Hopsital
About us
At NCIC, we have an ambition to deliver outstanding healthcare services to the population of North Cumbria. The Trust is committed to creating a centre of excellence in providing rural and remote healthcare and provides a wide range of community and acute services throughout our county.
Our 5 key principles demonstrate our belief in the delivery of 'safe, high quality care every time':
- Being a clinically led organisation
- Quality and safety at the heart of our Trust
- A positive patient experience every time
- A great place to work
- Managing our money well
As an organisation we are serious about supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our local community and are very much focused on being an inclusive and compassionate place to work.
Across the North East and North Cumbria we are working together to deliver our ambition to be the greenest region in England by 2030. All staff are expected to support sustainability.
Details
Date posted
01 September 2025
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 2
Salary
Depending on experience Voluntary
Contract
Voluntary
Working pattern
Flexible working
Reference number
262-A-24-6613332-B
Job locations
Ward 3 West Cumberland Hospital
Holmewood Road
Whitehaven
CA28 8JG
Employer details
Employer name
North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Ward 3 West Cumberland Hospital
Holmewood Road
Whitehaven
CA28 8JG
Employer's website
Employer contact details
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Supporting documents
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