Job summary
Our volunteers are an invaluable part of the hospital team. When you volunteer with us, you help to improve patient experience through supporting staff with patient care.
Are you friendly, caring and a good listener? Are you able to approach people to offer help?
We are looking for volunteers to support on our Wards Monday to Sunday between 9am and 8pm (last shift starts at 4.00pm)
As a ward volunteer we will provide full training on one of our dedicated wards where you will be supported by staff and other volunteers to be able to carry out your duties and ensure that you get the most from volunteering.
A ward volunteer will undertake duties as outlined below dependent on the voluntary position they apply for.
Main duties of the job
Supporting Wards
- Spending time with patients providing a listening ear and engaging in friendly conversation as appropriate, demonstrate respect and sensitivity to all individuals.
- Chatting / Reading to patients who may not have visitors.
- Ensure confidentiality is maintained at all times of all details appertaining to patients, their relatives and staff.
- To greet patients or visitors on arrival and during their stay, providing a welcoming and relaxing atmosphere.
- To sit alongside patients at mealtimes chatting and encouraging them to eat and drink, ensuring food and drink is within easy reach and accessible to the patient.
- Helping the hostess to serve meals and deliver snacks to patients.
- Make drinks for patients and ensure water jugs remain full.
- Assist with keeping patient bed areas tidy.
- Making drinks for visitors, including the day area. Wash and tidy kitchen area.
- Highlight the infection control stations to all visitors and point out gel dispensers to them. Replenish gel dispensers as required.
- To be aware of steps taken to safeguard the health and safety of patients/visitors and staff, observing all rules and regulations appertaining to their safeguard and have an up to date knowledge of all proceedings for dealing with this, in particular wearing aprons and gloves where appropriate and attention to hand washing/gel.
Volunteers cannot replace the role of a paid employee.
About us
Northampton General Hospital is one of the largest employers in the area and we are on an exciting journey. All of our divisions are committed to doing things better, with more efficiency as we update, modernise, and advance. We have also entered into a Group Model with neighbouring Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and become University Hospitals of Northamptonshire.
Our Excellence Values
Compassion
Accountability
Respect
Integrity
Courage
We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and help to unleash everyone's full potential. As an organisation, we value how we communicate and promote our vacancies to all communities.
We are a Defence positive trust, supporting our reservists, veterans, spouses and partners.
The Hospital Group encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups, especially those from BAME, Disabled and LGBTQ+ backgrounds as these are underrepresented in our hospitals.
We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative.
We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from all backgrounds.This ensures everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging working for Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Supporting Wards
- Spending time with patients providing a listening ear and engaging in friendly conversation as appropriate, demonstrate respect and sensitivity to all individuals.
- Chatting / Reading to patients who may not have visitors.
- Ensure confidentiality is maintained at all times of all details appertaining to patients, their relatives and staff.
- To greet patients or visitors on arrival and during their stay, providing a welcoming and relaxing atmosphere.
- To sit alongside patients at mealtimes chatting and encouraging them to eat and drink, ensuring food and drink is within easy reach and accessible to the patient.
- Helping the hostess to serve meals and deliver snacks to patients.
- Make drinks for patients and ensure water jugs remain full.
- Assist with keeping patient bed areas tidy.
- Making drinks for visitors, including the day area. Wash and tidy kitchen area.
- Highlight the infection control stations to all visitors and point out gel dispensers to them. Replenish gel dispensers as required.
- To be aware of steps taken to safeguard the health and safety of patients/visitors and staff, observing all rules and regulations appertaining to their safeguard and have an up to date knowledge of all proceedings for dealing with this, in particular wearing aprons and gloves where appropriate and attention to hand washing/gel.
- To engage in any other appropriate activity under the supervision and direction of the Clinical staff such as replenishing stocks
- Undertake patient surveys in a ward environment to understand the experiences of a patient.
Volunteers cannot replace the role of a paid employee.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Supporting Wards
- Spending time with patients providing a listening ear and engaging in friendly conversation as appropriate, demonstrate respect and sensitivity to all individuals.
- Chatting / Reading to patients who may not have visitors.
- Ensure confidentiality is maintained at all times of all details appertaining to patients, their relatives and staff.
- To greet patients or visitors on arrival and during their stay, providing a welcoming and relaxing atmosphere.
- To sit alongside patients at mealtimes chatting and encouraging them to eat and drink, ensuring food and drink is within easy reach and accessible to the patient.
- Helping the hostess to serve meals and deliver snacks to patients.
- Make drinks for patients and ensure water jugs remain full.
- Assist with keeping patient bed areas tidy.
- Making drinks for visitors, including the day area. Wash and tidy kitchen area.
- Highlight the infection control stations to all visitors and point out gel dispensers to them. Replenish gel dispensers as required.
- To be aware of steps taken to safeguard the health and safety of patients/visitors and staff, observing all rules and regulations appertaining to their safeguard and have an up to date knowledge of all proceedings for dealing with this, in particular wearing aprons and gloves where appropriate and attention to hand washing/gel.
- To engage in any other appropriate activity under the supervision and direction of the Clinical staff such as replenishing stocks
- Undertake patient surveys in a ward environment to understand the experiences of a patient.
Volunteers cannot replace the role of a paid employee.
Person Specification
Education, Training and Qualifications
Essential
- Education, Training and Qualifications - No specific qualifications are required for this role, although any relevant qualifications should be detailed on the application.
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Show empathy and compassion towards others and treat people with dignity and respect
- Experience assisting the public
Skills
Essential
- Ability to communicate in a calm and professional manner
Desirable
- Good interpersonal skills
Key Competencies/Personal Qualities and Attributes
Essential
- Recognise when appropriate to seek support from others
- Reliable, honest, and punctual
- Ability to exercise confidentiality and discretion
Desirable
- Ability to work on own initiative
Person Specification
Education, Training and Qualifications
Essential
- Education, Training and Qualifications - No specific qualifications are required for this role, although any relevant qualifications should be detailed on the application.
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Show empathy and compassion towards others and treat people with dignity and respect
- Experience assisting the public
Skills
Essential
- Ability to communicate in a calm and professional manner
Desirable
- Good interpersonal skills
Key Competencies/Personal Qualities and Attributes
Essential
- Recognise when appropriate to seek support from others
- Reliable, honest, and punctual
- Ability to exercise confidentiality and discretion
Desirable
- Ability to work on own initiative
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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