Dining Companion

Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust; Kingston upon Thames; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Part time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in South London is seeking Dining Companions to assist patients during mealtime, particularly the elderly and those with dementia. The position requires a commitment to one mealtime every week for at least six months. Responsibilities include aiding patients with feeding and supporting ward staff. Applicants must be willing to undergo training and provide multiple forms of identification. This role offers a meaningful way to contribute to patient care.

Qualifications

• Ability to assist elderly patients and those with dementia during mealtimes.

Responsibilities

• Aid ward staff in feeding patients who require assistance.

Job description

Nutrition is a key element of recovery for our patients, and many of them are elderly, or have dementia, and need physical assistance with feeding. As a Dining Companion, you will be assisting ward staff and patients during mealtimes, which includes feeding some patients who need extra help.

Essential Information

We aim to have Dining Companions in every medical ward for lunch and dinner, seven days a week. To support this, we ask volunteers to commit to one mealtime every week on a regular basis, for a minimum of six months. If you can give more time, we welcome this.

Commitments & Assessment

• Assessment: 20‑minute assessment will take place during the week commencing either the 26th January 2026 or 2nd February 2026 at Kingston Hospital.
• Mandatory training: Tuesday 10th March 2026.
• Please only apply if you are able to attend the above dates.
• Provide details for two references (one of which you have known for over three years). You must provide an email address for each reference.
• References may be a family friend but not a relative.

Identification Requirements

A minimum of THREE individual forms of valid, current, and original identification are required. You must bring one document from Group One and two documents from Group Two.

• Group One:
  + UK Passport
  + EEA/Swiss Passport
  + Other passport with indefinite leave to remain
  + Other Passport
  + Biometric Residence permit
  + Driving Licence photo card (UK, IOM or CI)
  + Current EU Photo Driving Licence
  + EU national identity card – EU only
• Group Two:
  + Driving Licence photo card (UK, IOM or CI)
  + Current EU Photo Driving Licence
  + Driving licence – old‑style paper licence (must be UK)
  + Bank statement (UK/EEA) – less than 3 months old
  + Utility bill – less than 3 months old (UK)
  + Utility bill – 2nd Supplier – less than 3 months old
  + Council Tax Statement – issued in the last 12 months
  + Mortgage statement (UK or EEA) – must be a recognised lender and issued in the last 12 months.

NB: If you are aged 16‑19 years, in full time education and are unable to provide two documents from Group Two, the following ID options can be used:
+ Full UK birth certificate (A4 size original, not photocopy, containing mother and father’s details)

About Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust

Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust offers a range of fantastic opportunities to grow your career across both hospital and community settings in south London. Whether you’re looking to build new skills or take your experience to the next level, we are uniquely placed to provide the right environment to support your professional development. With colleagues working in people’s homes, in community clinics, and in our two hospitals, we have an outstanding breadth of knowledge and experience to draw from.

Our commitment to exceptional care is reflected in being the first trust of our kind in London to achieve an ‘Outstanding’ rating from the CQC for both overall quality and leadership. We exist to provide the best possible care for our patients and we do that by giving our colleagues what they need to be their best at work. We have won numerous awards from the HSJ and Nursing Times for the way we support our colleagues across all our services.

We are proud to be recognised for our outstanding cancer care, children’s services, pioneering surgical teams, and exceptional rehabilitation services. Our maternity services have been rated the “Best in London” by women surveyed by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), with parents travelling to Kingston to take advantage of our considerable experience and expertise.

Trust Values

• Compassionate: we provide care with kindness, understanding, and empathy for all.
• Inclusive: we embrace diversity and respect the unique contributions of every individual.
• Collaborative: we foster teamwork across all levels, working together and with our partners to deliver the best outcomes.
• Inspiring: we are committed to continuous improvement and excellence in patient care, staff development, and innovation.

Application Details

We are accepting applications for Kingston Hospital & Teddington Memorial Hospital. We are particularly looking for applicants with availability to cover lunchtime shifts from 12‑3pm.