Job summary
Overview
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
The role of Chaplaincy Volunteers is to work with the Chaplains and other chaplaincy volunteers in facilitating the provision of pastoral, spiritual, and religious care to people of all faiths and beliefs, those who consider themselves spiritual but not religious and those who have no particular faith or belief. Potential chaplaincy volunteers are interviewed prior to receiving training in core chaplaincy practises. Following training there is a 1-to-1 review to establish whether the role is suitable for them.
Successful volunteers are invited to join the existing Chaplaincy Team as a valued committed core of people who would feel able to share with the Chaplains in this very important aspect of Chaplaincy outreach support.
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 work 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. 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 description
Job responsibilities
Please note this is a volunteer position and you will not be paid for carrying out this role.
To visit patients in a sensitive, caring, non-intrusive manner
Provide company and support patients who may be anxious.
Spending time listening to patients, carers, visitors, family and staff
Spend time with patients who do not have many visitors.
Signposting to Chaplaincy Services
To offer patients, when appropriate, the opportunity of a visit from the Chaplains
To offer patients the opportunity, when appropriate, to receive spiritual and religious support in accordance with their faith or belief. (Receiving the sacraments, if Christian, for example. Or providing, where possible, spiritual or religious resources in accordance with the patients faith or belief)
To report to duty with the Ward Manager or nurse in charge prior to going onto the ward
To report to the Chaplain on a regular basis
Please remember you MUST NOT feed any patient. Ensure staff are aware if the patient requires assistance that the carers/volunteers cannot provide.
The Volunteer will not undertake any duties that have not been previously agreed
Please see attached Job description for further details.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please note this is a volunteer position and you will not be paid for carrying out this role.
To visit patients in a sensitive, caring, non-intrusive manner
Provide company and support patients who may be anxious.
Spending time listening to patients, carers, visitors, family and staff
Spend time with patients who do not have many visitors.
Signposting to Chaplaincy Services
To offer patients, when appropriate, the opportunity of a visit from the Chaplains
To offer patients the opportunity, when appropriate, to receive spiritual and religious support in accordance with their faith or belief. (Receiving the sacraments, if Christian, for example. Or providing, where possible, spiritual or religious resources in accordance with the patients faith or belief)
To report to duty with the Ward Manager or nurse in charge prior to going onto the ward
To report to the Chaplain on a regular basis
Please remember you MUST NOT feed any patient. Ensure staff are aware if the patient requires assistance that the carers/volunteers cannot provide.
The Volunteer will not undertake any duties that have not been previously agreed
Please see attached Job description for further details.
Person Specification
Education and Training
Essential
- No specific qualifications are required
- Willingness to undertake Mandatory Training
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Good understanding of English both written and verbal, with clear communication skills
Experience
Essential
- No specific experience is required
Desirable
- Previous volunteering or experience of work in a health and social care setting
- Experience of working with the public
- To share own related experience to support patients
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Chaplaincy volunteers must be in good standing with their religious community
- To recognise when to refer issues and questions to staff
- Good interpersonal skills
- Presenting as smart and clean
- The ability to be friendly, polite and caring with patients, visitors and Trust staff
- Understanding the importance of confidentiality
- Ability to work on own initiative, and unsupervised at times
- Ability to work as part of a team
- Reliable and punctual
- Available to volunteer for at least 3 hours per week
- To embody the Trust's Values of care with compassion, respect and dignity, striving to excel, professional standards and working together.
- To exercise confidentiality and discretion
Person Specification
Education and Training
Essential
- No specific qualifications are required
- Willingness to undertake Mandatory Training
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Good understanding of English both written and verbal, with clear communication skills
Experience
Essential
- No specific experience is required
Desirable
- Previous volunteering or experience of work in a health and social care setting
- Experience of working with the public
- To share own related experience to support patients
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Chaplaincy volunteers must be in good standing with their religious community
- To recognise when to refer issues and questions to staff
- Good interpersonal skills
- Presenting as smart and clean
- The ability to be friendly, polite and caring with patients, visitors and Trust staff
- Understanding the importance of confidentiality
- Ability to work on own initiative, and unsupervised at times
- Ability to work as part of a team
- Reliable and punctual
- Available to volunteer for at least 3 hours per week
- To embody the Trust's Values of care with compassion, respect and dignity, striving to excel, professional standards and working together.
- To 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.
