Please note we are currently reviewing our volunteer policy and processes. This means we are not recruiting any new volunteers until August 2013.
Why Volunteer?
We recognise and value the contribution that volunteers make to our services. Volunteers have an important role in complementing and enhancing the work of staff.
As an organisation we value the distinct contribution made by individuals who give their time freely to provide services that complement our work and that contribute to the overall organisational aims and values. We also acknowledge that volunteers are a legitimate resource and recognises our social responsibility to develop opportunities which provide beneficial experience to volunteers and those they work with
Therefore we aim to support and encourage the contribution of volunteers by providing a robust structure to manage and train volunteers, ensuring that the quality of patient care provided to people within our hospitals is to the highest standard.
Frequently asked questions
People volunteer for different reasons, for some it is an opportunity to give something back to the community, while for others it gives them the opportunity to develop their confidence and skills.
'Doing good' can give you a sense of wellbeing. It also enables you to try out a planned career to see if it is right for you before making any commitments and helps you develop more self-confidence.
Some people volunteer as they may be interested in pursuing a career in healthcare. We offer a future employer reference service for people who have carried out over 50 hours or 6 months service.
We welcome volunteers from all sections of the community. Our volunteers come from a variety of different cultural groups and backgrounds. The volunteer team is currently made up of former patients, retired staff and members of the local community. For health and safety reasons we are unable to accept volunteers under the age of 18, however, there is no upper age limit.
The great thing about volunteering is that anyone can take part, you don’t need qualifications. Our volunteers programme provides support and training, therefore you will receive guidance and assistance from hospital staff.
We ask that you commit to doing a minimum of 2 hours a week. The days and times are flexible and will be discussed during your informal interview.
They can do almost anything you can think of! However its important to reiterate that volunteers are not there to do the work of a paid member of staff but to enhance the services already provided.
We have a variety of placements. Each placement has developed a role profile to outline what is expected of you. Here are just a few areas where volunteers are placed:
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ward areas
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chaplaincy
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meet and greet /welcoming
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administrative and clerical support
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PALS / patient experience support
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activities
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mealtime companions
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outpatient/clinics settings
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patient surveys
link to examples of volunteer profiles (under development)
link to areas where we have volunteer vacancies (under development)
If you would like to volunteer, just complete the online application form. Alternatively, if you require any further information, please contact volunteer co-ordinator Anne Pemberton on 0121 466 6502
We check that you have filled in all sections of form
We book you a date to meet with the Volunteer co-ordinator. This is usually two weeks after we have received your form. We will send you a letter to let you know when and where the informal interview will take place and what you need to bring
At the informal interview we will fill out a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) form, health questionnaire and sign a confidentiality statement.
Following your interview we will process your CRB and health checks and take up your references. This process can take up to 6 weeks, but without clearance of these checks you will be unable to start your volunteer placement.
As soon as all the checks have been completed we will contact you to meet with the Patient Experience Lead and Placement Supervisor and arrange for a start date.
You will need to attend a half day Volunteer Induction which runs on a monthly basis, before you commence your volunteer placement.
Once you have started your placement we will give you a call then meet with you after 6 weeks to see how things are going.
If you have any concerns about your placement, then you can talk to the Placement Supervisor or Volunteer co-ordinator
On a yearly basis we hold a celebration event during National Volunteers week to thank you for your contributions.
When you make the decision to leave your volunteer placement we will meet with you for an exit interview to get your feedback and views on how we can improve our Volunteer experience.
Link to Volunteer Policy (coming soon)
Link to Volunteer stories
Link to Volunteer newsletter(coming soon)
