Outpatients Volunteer

Integrated Care System; Dartford; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in Dartford is seeking volunteers to assist clinical staff and support patients. Tasks include greeting patients, helping with check-in procedures, and participating in social activities. The role requires a commitment of at least 3 hours per week. No specific qualifications are necessary but good communication skills are essential. This is a volunteer position, and the candidate will undergo necessary training and checks.

Qualifications

• No specific qualifications are required.
• Willingness to undertake Mandatory Training.
• Good understanding of English both written and verbal.

Responsibilities

• Assist patients with check-in at the reception.
• Liaise with the Nurse in charge regarding patient access.
• Direct patients to their designated clinic rooms.

Skills

Good communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Job description

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

The tasks are ward based, and as such, involve a great deal of interaction with patients, their family/friends as well as staff. Volunteers do not carry out any duties or procedures which could or should be given by paid or clinical/professional members of staff.

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 Volunteer 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.

Job responsibilities

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

To Liaise with the Nurse in charge/ /co-ordinator of the day, regarding appropriate access to patients prior to any activity/visit.

Introduce yourself to the patient and say who you are and explain what you are going to do/how you can help them.

Greet patients to the department confirm if they checked in at the main reception if not help them to check in with the self-check-in machine in the department.

Help and direct patient to their designated clinic rooms/zones according to the allocation list

Assist patients completing the FFT survey when they go home after their consultation.

Help patients to take part in social and recreational activities.

Listen and chat with patients.

Please remember you MUST NOT feed any patient. Ensure staff are aware if the patient requires assistance that the carers/volunteers cannot provide.

Refresh patient water jugs as required

Any other similar type tasks that may be appropriate, after discussion with the ward manager/matron/or relevant manager.

Assist our Valley Park Radio volunteer colleagues by making patients aware of VPR. Ask them for music request and pass them on to the VPR team. More information will be given on induction.

Person Specification

Education and Training

• No specific qualifications are required
• Willingness to undertake Mandatory Training

Knowledge and Skills

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

Experience

• No specific experience is required
• Previous volunteering or experience of work in a health and social care setting
• Experience of working with the public
• To share own related experience to support patients

Personal Attributes

• 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.

Depending on experienceThis is a Voluntary Role and not a paid position