Emergency Department Volunteer

Kingston Hospital NHS Trust; Kingston upon Thames; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in Kingston upon Thames is seeking an Emergency Department Volunteer. This role involves providing practical and emotional support to patients in a fast-paced environment. Volunteers are requested to commit to one shift per week for at least 6 months. The ideal candidate will demonstrate compassion and effective communication skills while supporting patients, particularly during busy periods.

Qualifications

• Compassionate, empathetic demeanor to support patients.
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients and staff.
• Reliable and committed to attending shifts regularly.

Responsibilities

• Provide comfort and reassurance to patients in the Emergency Department.
• Assist with practical tasks like serving refreshments and providing information.
• Support patients with dementia to ensure a positive experience.

Job description

Overview

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Home, community, hospital

Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust offers a range of opportunities to grow your career across hospital and community settings in south London. We provide the right environment to support professional development, with colleagues working in people’s homes, in community clinics, and in two hospitals.

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 have won numerous HSJ and Nursing Times awards for supporting colleagues across all services. We are proud to be recognised for 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 CQC, with parents travelling to Kingston to benefit from our expertise.

Our Trust values

We expect all colleagues to bring our values to life in their work.

• 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 with our partners to deliver the best outcomes.
• Inspiring: We are committed to continuous improvement and excellence in patient care, staff development, and innovation.

Role and responsibilities

The Emergency Department (ED) Volunteer provides practical and emotional support to patients while they are assessed in our busy ED department. As a front-of-house role, you will play an integral part in providing comfort and reassurance to patients, especially during busy periods in the evenings and on weekends.

This includes practical tasks such as seeking and providing information about waiting times, serving refreshments, offering respite for family members and carers, sourcing clothing and other last-minute items, and providing targeted support for patients with dementia to help ensure a positive patient experience in a fast-paced service.

Volunteers are needed 7 days a week, with shifts available between 8am and 11pm. Volunteers are requested to commit to one shift of 3 hours per week for a minimum of 6 months.

Essential information

If you are interested in more than one role, please submit your application for your initial preference (other roles can be discussed at assessment).

Please note you will be given a 20-minute assessment on the week commencing either the 13th October or 20th October at Kingston Hospital.

The mandatory training for this role will be on Tuesday 25th November 2025.

Please only apply if you are able to attend the above dates.

Please provide details for 2 references (one of which you have known for over 3 years). It is essential you provide an email address for each reference when submitting your application. You may provide a family friend but not a relative.

Please bring the below I.D documents to your assessment; otherwise we will not be able to proceed on the day.

A minimum of THREE individual forms of valid, current, and original identification are required. Please 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 unable to provide two documents from Group Two, either of the following ID options can be used:

• Full UK birth certificate (A4 size original, not photocopy, containing mother and father’s details)

• Letter from head teacher or college principal, confirming you are a student and containing your name, current address and date of birth, PLUS either an official exam certificate in your name or a National Insurance number letter.

If you are unable to provide or have difficulty providing the above evidence, please call 0208 934 3620 / 2549

Please ensure that you have read the Role Profile attached below.

You will be contacted by the Volunteering Services Team via email. Please check your email account regularly.

Values and safeguarding

Kingston Hospital NHS Trust has four key values and we want our volunteers to share and demonstrate behaviours that support them:

• Caring - Displaying empathy, compassion, dignity and respect to patients, staff and volunteers.
• Safe - Safety of patients, staff and volunteers comes first.
• Responsible - Take responsibility for the hospital, its services and reputation.
• Value Each Other - Value each other’s contributions.

Kingston Hospital NHS Trust is committed to safeguarding children and adults at risk of abuse. If the appointee will have access to children or vulnerable adults, an Enhanced Disclosure Barring Service check may be required. All employees share responsibility for safeguarding and for knowing the duties related to their role.

Documents to download

• Emergency Department volunteer (PDF, 633.4KB)
• Functional Form (PDF, 196.8KB)