Volunteer Ward Support Larch C Cumberland Infirmary

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust; Carlisle; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Part time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider is seeking volunteers for the Ward Support role at Cumberland Infirmary. The position involves assisting nursing staff and enhancing patient experience by providing companionship and support during meal times. Applicants must be 18 or over, have customer service experience, and reside within Cumberland Council. This role offers valuable training and potential career progression in healthcare services.

Benefits

Access to NHS discounts

27 days holiday rising to 33 after 10 years

Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• 18 years or older and interested in Health and Social Care.
• Customer service experience preferred.
• Good communication and listening skills.
• Understanding of confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Nutrition Coordinator to deliver meals to each patient.
• Help improve patient experience by providing companionship.
• Support the HCA's and Nurses with various tasks in the ward.
• Run errands for patients as needed.

Job description

Volunteer Ward Support, Larch C, Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle

Closing date: 20 January 2026.

The Volunteer to Career (VtC) programme is a partnership between North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust and Cumberland Council designed to address staffing shortages by encouraging volunteers to pursue careers in healthcare. Participants complete mandatory training, 60 hours on the ward, and may obtain the Care Certificate. Upon successful completion, volunteers are interviewed to join the Bank Register as a Casual Healthcare Assistant.

Who is eligible to apply? Applicants must be 18 or over and interested in a career in Health and Social Care. Only residents within the Cumberland Council boundary are eligible.

Main duties of the role

• Assisting the Nutrition Coordinator to deliver the right meal to each patient. Making sure patients have everything they need once their meal is served. Offering companionship to patients who request this during their mealtime
• Helping patients with physical feeding and drinking when appropriate
• Help improve patient experience by providing a friendly welcome, emotional support and reassurance to patients and their families.
• Support the HCA's and Nurses with support on the ward i.e. replenishing drinks, sitting with patients
• Running errands for patients to purchase newspapers/magazines/snacks as required
• Assist with preparing patients for meals, and assisting with feeding patients
• Assist with serving meals
• Cutting up food, and opening packaging
• Collecting and tidying up following meal service
• Talking to patients, reading with or to patients, doing crosswords, playing dominoes etc

Location: Larch C, Cumberland Infirmary.

About us

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust delivers outstanding healthcare services to North Cumbria. The Trust is committed to creating excellence in rural and remote healthcare and offers a range of community and acute services.

• Being a clinically led organisation
• Quality and safety at the heart of our Trust
• A positive patient experience every time
• A great place to work
• Managing our money well

Job responsibilities

Further details regarding role and essential criteria are outlined in the attached job description and person specification.

Due to changes implemented by the Government to the UK immigration policy, individuals who require a Health and Care Visa or a Skilled Worker Visa may no longer be eligible for sponsorship where the UKVI salary threshold is not met or if the occupation is not included in the updated Immigration Salary List (ISL). Applicants must check their eligibility to be employed in any role they are interested in applying for, prior to completing an application for employment. Any applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be progressed.

If you are applying under the Disability Confident Scheme or Armed Forces Covenant and you meet all the essential criteria for a post, you will be guaranteed an interview.

Relocation assistance may be available for successful applicants moving to the region for certain posts. Please see our Policy for eligible vacancies.

The Trust will provide a preceptorship period for all newly registered healthcare professionals.

Healthcare Professionals returning to practice, moving into new roles or changing clinical environments, may access an agreed preceptorship period.

• Please ensure that you document evidence of meeting all the essential criteria in the supporting information.
• If sufficient response is received this post could be closed earlier than the specified closing date, please apply as soon as possible to ensure that your application is considered.

Candidates who have been successfully shortlisted for interview will be asked via an email notification to log on to their Trac account to select an interview time. This will usually be within 2 weeks of the closing date.

For candidates applying using a Hotmail account or have strict firewall settings please ensure the following:

• Junk Mail is checked regularly

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

Applicants must submit a Disclosure and Barring Service check. The post requires a DBS check. Standard Check costs £18 plus administration £3.85; Enhanced Check costs £38 plus administration £3.90.

Benefits

• Lease car may be available for this position; further details will be provided upon appointment if applicable.
• 27 day holiday scheme rising to 33 after 10 years
• Access to NHS discounts with retailers and leisure companies
• EAP (Employee Assistance Programme) – a free, confidential counselling and information service to assist with personal or work-related problems

Person Specification

Knowledge and Experience

• Customer Service Experience
• Good communication and listening skills
• Understanding of the need for confidentiality
• Patience and understanding
• Good team working skillsGood organisational skills
• Health and safety awareness

Skills and Attributes

• Able to work under pressure
• Aware of own limitations
• Flexible and adaptable

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust