Pets As Therapy Volunteer

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

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

Under the guidance of the Volunteer Services and in partnership with our ward teams, the PAT volunteer will provide an opportunity for patients and families to meet a registered PAT dog and to engage in one to one contact in a safe environment.

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 Employee 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.

• Be well presented, clean and wearing the appropriate uniform and ID badge at all times.
• Have a good understanding of English both written and verbal, with clear communication skills
• Be reasonably fit and active
• Maintain a friendly, open and approachable manner
• Be reliable and able to make a long-term commitment to volunteering service.
• Be committed to demonstrating all of the Trust's policies and behaviours in your day-to-day role.
• Complete all Mandatory Training and receive further training as appropriate to the volunteer role
• Be an ambassador for Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust.
• Have a flexible approach to your role and be willing to undertake additional tasks which are mutually agreed between yourself and the Voluntary Services Team.
• Provide an up to date certificate from PAT and carry out any further assessments which PAT require and maintain an annual registration with PAT.
• Pet to be insured and up to date with all required vaccinations
• Pet to wear PAT visibility vest at all times whilst on site

Please see attached job description for further details

Person Specification

Education and Training

• No specific qualifications are required
• Willingness to undertake Mandatory Training
• PAT Dog Charity registered
• Pet to be insured and up to date with all required vaccinations

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
• Willingness to share own related personal 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.