Volunteer Dementia Support Worker

St Michael’s Hospice; Hereford; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Part time

Job summary

A caring health organization in Herefordshire seeks a Volunteer Dementia Support Worker. In this role, you'll assist patients living with dementia, providing personalized care and companionship. Full training and mentorship is offered, along with a supportive work environment. Ideal for those looking to gain care experience and make a difference in people’s lives.

Benefits

Full training provided

Supportive work environment

Employee counselling service

Discounts with local suppliers

Qualifications

• Desire to gain care experience.
• Previous care experience is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Assist care staff in providing personal care.
• Engage patients with activities and ensure their comfort.
• Support appropriate activities based on individual needs.

Job description

Overview

No experience? No problem. If youre on our Volunteer to Career (VtC) programme, well provide full training, mentorship, and a development pathway to help you grow your skills and confidence in a supportive environment.

Main duties of the job

Are you compassionate, reliable, and looking to make a real difference in peoples lives? Join our dedicated team at St Michaels Hospice as a Volunteer Dementia Support Worker. In this rewarding role, youll support patients living with dementia, helping provide personalised care, companionship, and meaningful activities under the guidance of experienced care staff.

About us

St Michael\'s Hospice is nestled in the stunning Herefordshire countryside, in a state-of-the-art facility. We offer a competitive benefits package. We offer a superb working environment and facility, discounts with local suppliers, individualised training needs analysis, advanced communication skills training, employee counselling service, free tea & coffee, a friendly & welcoming work environment. We are one of the top 100 best not for profit organisations to work for and have been caring to make a difference, to patients living with a terminal illness and their families, across Herefordshire and beyond for 40 years.

Job responsibilities

Location: St Michaels Hospice, Bartestree, Herefordshire. HR1 4HA
Reports to: Sister / Charge Nurse / Senior Staff Nurse
Role Purpose: To assist the Care staff in providing high quality, individualised, palliative dementia care. To support the work delivered by the multidisciplinary team, which strives to enable people to live fully until they die.

Responsibility Areas:

• Support Care Provision: assist care staff in the provision of personal care and contribute towards a safe & comfortable environment for the patient
• Housekeeping: undertake associated housekeeping chores (bed-making, surface cleaning)
• Patient engagement: provide support to patient with activities/interests/hobbies (music, reading, discussions) and help ensure patients feel engaged and stimulated
• Facilitate activities: support appropriate activities for individual needs (eg outdoor activities or arts and crafts with risk assessment)
• Meal support: assist patient at meal times with delegation and risk assessment as needed

Communication: Establish & maintain effective communication with the Care Team; help patients/relatives/carers express what matters to them and share information with the care team; recognise personal limits and refer on to the care team as needed; report concerns to the senior staff on duty.

Health & safety: Act to promote safety and wellbeing; keep environment free from hazards; report concerns to senior nurse on duty.

Education: Attend mandatory training; if enrolled in the VtC programme, you will receive 60 hours of additional training, full induction, an individualised Training Portfolio, and career development support. Potential to attend additional courses and discuss progression with Ward Sister / volunteer Co-ordinator / lead Teacher Practitioner.

Person Specification

Experience

• Desire to gain care experience
• Care Experience

Qualifications

• Desire to gain care experience
• Care Experience

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.