JOIN OUR TEAM
Hospice ward volunteer
Cornwall Hospice Care is a 24/7 Cornish healthcare charity that provides specialist support for people with terminal illnesses. Our clinical teams support in and out patients and their families at Mount Edgcumbe Hospice in St Austell, St Julia’s Hospice in Hayle and in Cornwall’s hospitals, care homes and in the community.
Most patients come into our units because they are having a difficult time with particular symptoms or because of the overall impact of their illness. Our Hospice Ward Volunteers are integral to the care offered at the hospice. They bring a breadth of experience, skill and ability to all areas of hospice care.
What does a Hospice Ward Volunteer do?
The role of the Hospice Ward Volunteer is to support the structure and organisation of the In-Patient Unit to ensure that every patient and their family members have a positive experience. Volunteers play a vital role in helping patients feel cared about, comfortable and relaxed. There are number of specific responsibilities within the volunteer remit. These may vary in relation to the needs of each patient and the shift time.
Hospice Ward Volunteer Key responsibilities:
- Ensuring our handover sheet is updated with ward staff.
- Refreshing patients drinking water and providing clean glasses.
- Making tea and coffee for the patients and their visitors.
- Serving patient meals.
- Collecting trays and dishes when meals are finished.
- Replenishing stock, ensuring patients’ crockery and cutlery are available in our ward kitchen.
- Checking and preparing trays for serving drinks.
- Tending flowers around the Hospice including those in patients’ rooms.
- Chatting with patients and their relatives.
- Tidying the concourse area and relatives’ room ensuring there are supplies of fresh milk, tea, coffee and sugar.
Volunteer Commitment:
Preferably weekly or fortnightly
Morning shift 9.00 – 1.00
Afternoon shift 1.00 (or 2.00) – 5.00
Evening shift 5.00 – 7.00
Volunteers will also be asked to attend meetings or training where appropriate.
Essential skills and qualities
- Be able to listen and empathise.
- Sensitive to the needs of those affected by terminal illnesses.
- Ability to deal with complex, sensitive and emotionally challenging situations.
- Good telephone manner.
- Courteous, friendly and approachable.
- Possess good interpersonal and communication skills.
- Be presentable regarding dress code (casual smart).
- Be able to cope in a sometimes busy environment.
- Enjoy meeting and dealing with a variety of people.
- Be able to work effectively in a team.
- Have a good understanding of confidentiality.
- Have a good understanding of personal and professional boundaries.
- Sense of humour.
- Commitment to the ethos of Cornwall Hospice Care.
Induction and Training
All new volunteers are asked to attend an induction session which includes the code of conduct, health and safety processes, confidentiality policies, fire evacuation procedures, Infection prevention and control measures as well as other important and relevant Hospice information and core training.
Volunteers will also be expected to complete mandatory training sessions and relevant courses to keep up to date with organisational and legal regulation changes.
There is a requirement that the volunteer maintains regular contact with the Volunteer Services team, and takes responsibility for communication regarding their role and responsibilities and links into all relevant volunteer programs (induction, meetings, training sessions etc.)
What you can expect from Cornwall Hospice Care
- To be valued and respected
- To receive appropriate induction and training
- To have adequate support and supervision
- To have a safe working environment
- To be reimbursed for reasonable out of pocket expenses
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and references
As you’ll be volunteering in our hospices, this position is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check at Standard Level. Volunteers will also be required to provide 2 references and attend an interview.
