Job summary
Do you have a spare 4 hours a week?
We are looking for volunteers to support the hard working staff at Northampton General Hospital.
Are you are looking to gain new skills and experiences? Do you want to work in part of a team whilst helping others? Do you want to try something different? If so, then volunteering is for you!
Why Volunteer?
If you've started looking for work or want to get back into it after a break, volunteering can really help. We'll support you as you develop your skills and confidence - and your CV will really impress potential employers.
If you've retired but you're not quite ready to put your feet up, we'd really value your experience and time.
Meet people from all walks of life. Whether it's our staff or our patients, there's never a dull moment when you're surrounded by people of all ages from all sorts of backgrounds. Volunteering in a hospital gives you an insight into other people's lives and so many of our volunteers say it's a real privilege
Give something back. What better place to give something back than your local hospital, the one place that touches everyone's lives in some way?
Please Note: All applicants over the age of 18 must have had their first COVID-19 vaccination by Thursday 3rd February in order to volunteer within Northampton General Hospital
Main duties of the job
Our volunteers are invaluable part of the hospital team. Working with us in a volunteering role means you're playing a part in delivering the best possible care to our patients and their families, whether you're providing admin support in an office, working alongside our ward teams or supporting other areas within the Hospital
We have a variety of different volunteering roles in the hospital including;
- Supporting the wards
- Supporting the HCA's & Nurses with support on the ward ie replenishing drinks, sitting with patients, helping the ward clerk
- Dementia support (full training given)
- Animation support (playing games with patients)
- Assisting at meal times (basic)
- Support around the hospital
- Supporting the Pharmacy team delivering supplies
- Supporting the Discharge Team
- Providing guidance on the information desks
- Supporting the response service deliver notes and supplies
- Supporting the gardening team
- Transporting patients throughout the hospital (over 18 years old only)
- Supporting the clinics with managing clinics with temperature checking
- Admin support to both clinical and non-clinical areas
About us
Northampton General Hospital is one of the largest employers in the area and we are on an exciting journey. All of our divisions are committed to doing things better, with more efficiency as we update, modernise, and advance. We have also entered into a Group Model with neighbouring Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and become University Hospitals of Northamptonshire.
Our Excellence Values
Compassion
Respect
Integrity
Courageous
Accountable
Many of our volunteers have said that the benefits of volunteering at NGH include
- They felt proud to give something back to the NHS
- Increased their self-confidence/self esteem
- Helped with depression and mental health
- Made new friends which has helped combat loneliness
- Inspired them to try a career in healthcare
Thank you for your interest in applying for a position at NGH. It is important that you are aware that it is now a requirement to be full vaccinated by the 31st March 2022 for all patient facing roles and any role that is situated in a patient facing area. This means that you will need to have had your first dose of vaccine by the 3rd February 2022 and your second dose of vaccine by the 1st April 2022. If you have any further queries or require any further information please e mail NGH Recruitment at ngh-tr.hr.servicecentre@nhs.net
Job description
Job responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities listed below are not intended to be exhaustive, but are set out to indicate the duties undertaken by a volunteer subject to which role you undertake. The range of activities will also be dependent upon the placement. Volunteers are required to adopt a flexible approach to meet the needs of service requirements.
- Helping to serve for patients as appropriate under the guidance and supervision of clinical staff.
- Making drinks for visitors, including the day area, and staff and wash/tidy away any used crockery/cutlery used.
- Supporting clinics with temperature checking and providing directions to appointments.
- To sit alongside/alone with patients at mealtimes by chatting and encouraging them to eat and drink, ensuring food and drink is within easy reach and accessible to the patient.
- Undertake patient surveys in a ward environment to understand the experiences of a patient.
- Actively looking for anyone who may be lost across the hospital and may need help.
- Visiting/chatting/reading to patients who may not have visitors.
- Helping the hostess to serve meals and deliver snacks to patients.
- Keeping patient bed areas tidy.
- Collecting medications from pharmacy.
- Ensuring the continued well-being and comfort of patients whilst they are awaiting transport and giving assistance to and from transport where necessary.
- Collecting/delivering messages or small items to and from departments always following a request from a member of staff, ensuring items are placed in a sealed carrier.
- Providing a courtesy service meet and greet around external premises.
- Ensuring that information racks and notice boards are tidy.
- Acting as a buddy for new volunteers.
- Collecting and delivering Notes/Swabs/Equipment from Wards and/or departments.
- Support with the discharge of patients (Volunteer Discharge Car Drivers)
- Provide Admin support (Admin volunteers)
Job description
Job responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities listed below are not intended to be exhaustive, but are set out to indicate the duties undertaken by a volunteer subject to which role you undertake. The range of activities will also be dependent upon the placement. Volunteers are required to adopt a flexible approach to meet the needs of service requirements.
- Helping to serve for patients as appropriate under the guidance and supervision of clinical staff.
- Making drinks for visitors, including the day area, and staff and wash/tidy away any used crockery/cutlery used.
- Supporting clinics with temperature checking and providing directions to appointments.
- To sit alongside/alone with patients at mealtimes by chatting and encouraging them to eat and drink, ensuring food and drink is within easy reach and accessible to the patient.
- Undertake patient surveys in a ward environment to understand the experiences of a patient.
- Actively looking for anyone who may be lost across the hospital and may need help.
- Visiting/chatting/reading to patients who may not have visitors.
- Helping the hostess to serve meals and deliver snacks to patients.
- Keeping patient bed areas tidy.
- Collecting medications from pharmacy.
- Ensuring the continued well-being and comfort of patients whilst they are awaiting transport and giving assistance to and from transport where necessary.
- Collecting/delivering messages or small items to and from departments always following a request from a member of staff, ensuring items are placed in a sealed carrier.
- Providing a courtesy service meet and greet around external premises.
- Ensuring that information racks and notice boards are tidy.
- Acting as a buddy for new volunteers.
- Collecting and delivering Notes/Swabs/Equipment from Wards and/or departments.
- Support with the discharge of patients (Volunteer Discharge Car Drivers)
- Provide Admin support (Admin volunteers)
Person Specification
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Experience assisting the public
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Good interpersonal skills
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Reliable, honest and punctual
Education, Training & Qualifications
Essential
- Previous admin experience (if volunteering in admin role)
Person Specification
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Experience assisting the public
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Good interpersonal skills
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Reliable, honest and punctual
Education, Training & Qualifications
Essential
- Previous admin experience (if volunteering in admin role)
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
