Purpose:

In many areas of the trust, staff need help with the day to day administrative tasks that are undertaken. This could be photocopying or perhaps helping out with the lamination of signs that are to be placed around the hospital. It could be the fulfilment of a large number of envelopes that are to be sent out to trust members informing them of a meeting. This role varies a lot from department to department.

Most of our administrative volunteers do not have computer access, instead they do practical administration tasks

Location: All sites

Key responsibilities:

• To assist with admin duties as requested
• Helping out with clerical work, filing, photocopying and other administrative tasks
• Answering phone calls and also making outgoing calls
• You may be given permission to utilise a Trust computer to undertake digital administrative tasks.

Details of specific skills needed:

• Confident telephone manner
• Methodical and organised
• Able to work alone on pre-arranged tasks and projects
• Good team working skills
• Good communication skills
• Reliable/dependable/flexible
• Computer literacy if required

Reports to: Manager in charge of department

Length of appointment: Minimum 1 year

Time commitment: At least 3 hours per week

Qualifications: No formal qualifications required

Age requirement: 16+

Dress code: Smart, clean, tidy, of modest appearance. Volunteers must wear their volunteer t-shirts and their ID badge at all times.

Purpose:

Bookshops and book shelves are a valuable income stream for our hospitals’ charitable funds. We receive book donations from members of the public and these are sold for a small fee. The offering of a bookshop is also hugely valuable for patient wellbeing during their hospital stay. Bookshop volunteers take receipt of book donations, sort the stock, and display it in an organised manner in our bookshops (Frimley Park and Wexham Park) and on book shelves (Heatherwood).

Location: Wexham Park, Frimley Park or Heatherwood hospitals

Key responsibilities:

• Keeping the bookshop/shelves stocked with books that have been donated
• Making sure the book shop and the bookstore room are accessible and tidy
• Liaise with the Voluntary Services Manager regarding when monies need to be collected from the receptacle in the bookshop
• Liaise with main reception regarding books that have been donated and need to be moved to the storeroom
• Making sure that the bookshop/shelves is clean and tidy and is welcoming to customers and potential customers
• Talking to customers who come into the bookshop
• Ensuring the books on display are in good condition
• Ensuring the bookshop storeroom is locked when unattended

Details of specific skills needed:

• Good organisational skills
• Admin and filing skills
• Good listening and communication skills are essential.
• Patience and composure
• Understanding of confidentiality
• Have a positive outlook and enthusiastic approach
• Willingness to work without direct supervision
• Reliable/dependable/flexible

Reports to: Voluntary services manager/ lead volunteer

Length of appointment: Minimum 1 year

Time commitment: At least 3 hours per week

Qualifications: No formal qualifications required

Age requirement: 16+

Dress code: Smart, clean, tidy, of modest appearance. Volunteers must wear their volunteer t-shirts and their ID badge at all times.

Purpose:

It has been found that breastfeeding peer support is highly valued by breastfeeding mothers in the early days after the birth of their baby, many mums find it really useful to be able to discuss any queries they may have about breastfeeding with a volunteer. Breastfeeding volunteers are mothers who have breastfed their babies and who have had training on breastfeeding and the support of mothers.

Location: Frimley Park or Wexham Park hospitals

Key responsibilities:

• To show new mothers the advantages of breastfeeding
• To answer questions regarding breastfeeding
• To be able to relate one’s own experiences and to encourage perseverance
• To boost confidence in new mothers
• To listen and support new mothers around the whole activity of breastfeeding
• Approach the challenges of breastfeeding in a positive and non-judgemental manner
• Adhere carefully to all infection control protocols, including the wearing of appropriate personal protective equipment as needed

Details of specific skills needed:

• Able to approach new mothers in a confident and caring manner
• Friendly and enthusiastic
• Patient and respectful
• Emotionally mature
• Understanding of, or ability to learn, personal and professional boundaries
• Been a breastfeeding mother in the past
• Good listening and communication skills are essential.
• A caring, sympathetic, sensitive manner and a non-judgmental approach
• Understanding of confidentiality
• Have a positive outlook and enthusiastic approach
• Willingness to work without direct supervision
• Reliable/dependable/flexible

Reports to: Nurse in charge

Length of appointment: Minimum 1 year

Time commitment: At least 3 hours per week

Qualifications: No formal qualifications required. Willing to undertake in-house training on breastfeeding

Age requirement: 21+

Dress code: Smart, clean, tidy, of modest appearance. Volunteers must wear their volunteer t-shirts and their ID badge at all times. You must be bare below the elbows at all times to promote public confidence and allow effective hand hygiene.

Purpose:

Within this role you will assist the Carers Bucks team to support unpaid carers who have loved ones on wards or are patients themselves and raise awareness of the services and support available to them.

Location: Wexham Park Hospital

Key responsibilities:

• Support of unpaid carers: To meet with family and friends on wards as they visit patients and listen to their needs in a sensitive and supportive way. If they are unpaid carers, to make them aware of the free support and information provided by Carers Bucks. The volunteer would also meet with carers who have been admitted to hospital themselves and offer support as needed.
• Raising the profile of Carers Bucks services: The volunteer would have a presence in the wards to raise the profile of Carers Bucks services among staff and others as appropriate.
• Keeping a record of activity: The role will involve some record-keeping or note-taking so the volunteer can inform their Carers Bucks supervisor about the needs of those they have met.

Details of specific skills needed:

• The role will require a sensitive and respectful approach
• Good listening and communication skills, able to interact with a diverse range of people
• Friendly and approachable
• Ability to be calm, patient and caring
• Punctual, reliable and flexible
• An understanding of, and commitment to, confidentiality
• Physically fit; able to stand/walk for 2+ hours
• To be part of a team
• Motivation and willingness to learn and complete training
• All volunteers will be required to have a Disclosure and Baring check
• Would understand and apply CARE values

Reports to: Fernanda Mainwaring

Length of appointment: Minimum 1 year

Time commitment: At least 3 hours per week during working hours

Qualifications: No formal qualifications required

Age requirement: 18+

Dress code: Smart, clean, tidy, of modest appearance. Volunteers must wear their volunteer t-shirts and their ID badge at all times.

Purpose:

Working as part of a volunteer led team to run our small charity shop; engaging with customers, sorting and displaying stock and ensuring cash handling is done safely and diligently. You will also be invited to assist our fundraising team in a variety of events (on-site and off-site) across the year.

Location: Wexham Park Hospital

Key responsibilities:

• Commit to a volunteer shift pattern that enables to consistent opening of the charity shop
• Sorting stock and taking inventory
• Displaying stock and pricing in an appealing manner
• Ensuring cash is carefully counted and safely stored
• Helping out at occasional fundraising events
• Reporting to security any behaviour of concern or theft

Details of specific skills needed:

• Outstanding customer service skills
• Good team working skills
• Good listening and communication skills are essential.
• Have a positive outlook and enthusiastic approach
• Reliable/dependable/flexible

Reports to: Head of fundraising

Length of appointment: Minimum 1 year

Time commitment: At least 3 hours per week

Qualifications: No formal qualifications required

Age requirement: 16+

Dress code: Smart, clean, tidy, of modest appearance. Volunteers must wear their volunteer t-shirts and their ID badge at all times.

Purpose:

In line with your professional qualifications (e.g. reiki, yoga, massage, meditation etc) you will work with our Complementary Therapies team to offer wellbeing services to patients, and where appropriate their carers. This role involves close liaison with healthcare professionals to ensure that you tailor your practice to maintain the safety of patients who may sometimes have complex health conditions which must be accounted for.

Location: All sites

Key responsibilities:

• Close liaison with staff to identify suitable patients to offer your professional skills to
• Delivery of your specialist complementary therapy to patients who wish to participate
• Maintenance of professional boundaries and confidentiality
• You must adhere carefully to all infection control protocols, including the wearing of appropriate personal protective equipment as needed
• Maintenance of any required professional qualifications to support your practice. Please note that the hospital cannot pay for such qualifications, but may offer some in house training from our own team.

Details of specific skills needed:

• Prior qualifications in an approved complementary therapy. Please note that not all forms of practice are appropriate for the hospital environment and so your practice approach must be agreed with our complementary therapies team in advance
• Outstanding listening and communication skills are essential.
• Respectful of patient boundaries
• Adherence to hospital restrictions on your professional practice, e.g. use of certain tools or approaches may not be suitable.
• Patience and composure
• Understanding of confidentiality
• Reliable/dependable/flexible
• It is important to feel comfortable working with those who may have altered communication skills or behaviour

Reports to: Complementary therapies team

Length of appointment: Minimum of 1 year

Time commitment: 3 hours per week

Qualifications: Qualifications relevant to your professional practice

Age requirement: 18 or over

Dress code: Smart, clean, tidy, of modest appearance. Volunteers must wear their volunteer t-shirts and their ID badge at all times. You must be bare below the elbows at all times to promote public confidence and allow effective hand hygiene.

Purpose:

To work alongside staff and volunteers within the dementia team to engage patients in using our interactive sensory ‘Magic Table’ and to undertake simple arts and crafts and music activities alongside patients. This role is vital in providing stimulation and enjoyable recreational activities for patients at various stages of dementia; exercising decision making and creative skills and offering opportunities for social interaction and enjoyment during their stay in the hospital.

Location: Frimley Park or Wexham Park hospitals

Key responsibilities:

• In this role you will set up activities in the ward each week ready for patient use.
• Alongside healthcare staff and other volunteers you will accompany patients from their beds to the activities.
• You will then provide guidance on the creative activities and operation of the magic table to engage the patients in these enjoyable activities.
• You will create an engaging and enjoyable atmosphere, whilst maintaining a strong commitment to patients’ safety, dignity and autonomy.
• You must adhere carefully to all infection control protocols, including the wearing of appropriate personal protective equipment as needed

Details of specific skills needed:

• Outstanding listening and communication skills are essential.
• Patience and composure
• Understanding of confidentiality
• Compassion and kindness
• Basic creative skills – simple craft, drawing etc
• Basic music skills – percussion instruments, singing etc.
• Reliable/dependable/flexible
• It is important to feel comfortable working with those who may have altered communication skills or behaviour and so this role would be well suited to those who have experience (professional, personal or voluntary) working with individuals with cognitive impairments. Dementia specific experience is not necessary.

Reports to: Dementia or elderly care team

Length of appointment: Minimum of 1 year

Time commitment: 3 hours per week on a Tuesday or a Thursday morning or afternoon.

Qualifications: no formal qualifications required. Volunteers must be creative, engaging and patient.

Age requirement: 18 or over

Dress code: Smart, clean, tidy, of modest appearance. Volunteers must wear their volunteer t-shirts and their ID badge at all times. You must be bare below the elbows at all times to promote public confidence and allow effective hand hygiene.

Purpose:

The prime role of the ED volunteer is to be part of a dedicated team of volunteers offering support to staff and non-medical assistance to patients accessing our emergency services.

Location: Wexham Park or Frimley Park hospitals 

Key responsibilities:

• Keeping patients up to date with developments concerning their wait
• Helping patients to understand how the department works
• Helping patients contact relatives/friends/carers and explaining how to get to ED
• Helping visitors to find their family member or friend if they have been admitted
• Serving refreshments via hydration trolley
• Escorting patients to other departments/wards
• Arranging Taxis for patients
• Running errands to other wards or departments
• Spending time with patients who are on their own
• Keep all information given or discussed within the hospital confidential
• Attend relevant training sessions provided by your department
• Demonstrate the Frimley Health trust values in your actions and behaviours

Details of specific skills needed:

• Good listening and communication skills are essential.
• Patience and composure
• A caring, sympathetic, sensitive manner and a non-judgmental approach
• Understanding of confidentiality
• Have a positive outlook and enthusiastic approach
• Willingness to work without direct supervision
• Reliable/dependable/flexible

Reports to: Nurse in charge / named volunteer buddy

Length of appointment: Minimum 1 year

Time commitment: At least 3 hours per week

Qualifications: No formal qualifications required

Age requirement: 18+

Dress code: Smart, clean, tidy, of modest appearance. Volunteers must wear their volunteer t-shirts and their ID badge at all times. You must be bare below the elbow to promote public confidence and allow effective hand hygiene.

Purpose: The End of Life Companions (EOLCs) are volunteers who spend time supporting patients nearing, and who are at the very end of their lives. These volunteers allow families to leave their loved ones for a short time in the knowledge that someone will be with them whilst they go and perhaps get some rest or something to eat. The role really does ensure patients have companionship when they need it most in the hope that nobody dies alone.

Those coming to the end of life whilst in hospital often find it helpful to talk through their fears and wishes, and friends and relatives often require support to come to terms with their loss. EOLCs are available to provide this support as well as companionship for patients themselves. EOLCs are not bereavement counsellors, nor do they act from the perspective of a particular faith. Instead, they are simply there to listen and be a companion during a very difficult time for families and patients.

Please note: We only recruit from our existing volunteers and staff team for this role. You must have been working or volunteering for the hospital for at least 6 months.

Location: Frimley Park and Wexham Park hospitals

Key responsibilities:

• Committing to a rota shift pattern to ensure a seamless service
• Sitting with patients as they approach the end of their life – sometimes this will be to allow families time to go get a drink or rest, sometimes it may be that a patient has not family present
• Talking to patients offering kindness and a listening ear.
• Adhere carefully to all infection control protocols, including the wearing of appropriate personal protective equipment as needed

Details of specific skills needed:

• Outstanding listening and communication skills are essential.
• Patience and composure
• Understanding of confidentiality
• Compassion and kindness
• Reliable/dependable/flexible

Reports to: Lead chaplain

Length of appointment: Minimum of 6 months

Training: Volunteers must be able to attend an enhanced training session to ensure you are well prepared for the range of situations you may face. It does not matter which hospital you attend at, as the training is consistent across the Trust.

Selection: This role requires you to have undergone the Frimley Health Trust recruitment process as a staff member or volunteer (including a DBS check and occupational health screening). It will also involve an interview and an element of screening during the training day. This is to ensure we are able to support your welfare as well as that of our patients and their families.

Time commitment: Two on-call shifts of four hours per month on a roster system.

Age requirement: 21 or over

Dress code: Volunteers must wear their companion t-shirts and their ID badge at all times. You must be bare below the elbows at all times to promote public confidence and allow effective hand hygiene.

Purpose:

With over 50 gardens and courtyards throughout the trust, volunteers are needed to help with the general maintenance and upkeep of these areas.

Location: All sites

Key responsibilities:

• To work with the trust gardeners in ensuring that the courtyards and gardens are kept tidy and to an acceptable standard
• To undertake light gardening duties such as digging, weeding and pruning, the planting of shrubs and bushes as well as maintenance duties such as sweeping and litter picking
• Speaking to patients about gardening and encouraging patient participation in very light gardening work, subject to Health and Safety guidelines

Details of specific skills needed:

• A keen interest in gardening
• Must be physically fit
• Good listening and communication skills are essential.
• Patience and composure
• A caring, sympathetic, sensitive manner and a non-judgmental approach
• Understanding of confidentiality
• Have a positive outlook and enthusiastic approach
• Willingness to work without direct supervision
• Reliable/dependable/flexible

Reports to: The volunteers manager/ deputy manager / volunteer service administrator

Length of appointment: Minimum 1 year

Time commitment: Variable based on the time of year

Qualifications: No formal qualifications required

Age requirement: 16+

Dress code: Attire that is suitable for working outside in all conditions! Volunteers must wear their ID badge at all times.

Purpose:

As a Trust we are keen to reduce the number of patients who develop kidney failure and chest infections during their hospital stay. These infections develop due to several factors, some that we are unable to change. However, one method of prevention is to ensure that patients drink enough fluid and receive sufficient nutrition during their stay with us. Hydration Volunteers visit specific wards within the hospital, offering drinks to patients (after consulting with the nurse in charge)

Location: Wexham Park or Frimley Park hospitals

Key responsibilities:

• Collect, clean and restock the hydration trolley with relevant cordials, cups and water jugs
• Undertake a ward round, visiting priority wards offering cold drinks to patients. At each ward the volunteer would speak to the nurse in charge and make sure only appropriate patients are offered drinks
• Making sure the hydration trolley is kept clean and stocked reporting levels of stock to the volunteer administrator.
• Ensuring the storeroom is locked when unattended
• Adhere carefully to all infection control protocols, including the wearing of appropriate personal protective equipment as needed

Details of specific skills needed:

• Good listening and communication skills are essential.
• Patience and composure
• Understanding of confidentiality
• Willingness to work without direct supervision
• Good organisational skills
• Have a positive outlook and enthusiastic approach
• Willingness to work without direct supervision
• Reliable/dependable/flexible
• The service will be delivered by means of a trolley that will need to be pushed between wards, and so volunteers must feel comfortable pushing the trolley and walking around the hospital.

Reports to: Voluntary services administrator

Length of appointment: Minimum 1 year

Time commitment: At least 3 hours per week

Qualifications: No formal qualifications required

Age requirement: 16+

Dress code: Smart, clean, tidy, of modest appearance. Volunteers must wear their volunteer t-shirts and their ID badge at all times. You must be bare below the elbows at all times to promote public confidence and allow effective hand hygiene.

Please note, an informal chat with a member of the Macmillan team should be undertaken before applying for this role

Purpose:

Volunteers in this role assist the Macmillan Cancer Centre staff team in a range of tasks; from distributing literature to information stands around the hospital to preparing information packs for patients and families. You may be asked to make or receive calls to patients or families related to Macmillan Services (not to clinical work). You may undertake administrative tasks in the Cancer centre to ensure the smooth running of its services.

Location: The Macmillan Cancer Information Centre – Wexham Park or Frimley Park

Key responsibilities:

• Welcome visitors and put them at their ease
• Help visitors to find what they are looking for
• Provide the opportunity for visitors to talk about their feelings, listen to their concerns and refer appropriately                                               
• This role will not involve the provision of any clinical advice or counselling services
• Answer the telephone
• Help with administrative duties – eg photocopying
• Help with maintaining stock levels
• Help to promote the Information Centre
• Helping maintain records of user data

Details of specific skills needed:

• Good listening and communication skills are essential.
• Patience and composure
• A caring, sympathetic, sensitive manner and a non-judgmental approach
• Understanding of confidentiality
• Have a positive outlook and enthusiastic approach
• Willingness to work without direct supervision
• Reliable / dependable / flexible

Reports to: Macmillan Cancer Information Centre team

Length of appointment: Minimum 1 year

Time commitment: At least 3 hours per week

Qualifications: No formal qualifications required

Age requirement: 18+

Dress code: Smart, clean, tidy, of modest appearance. Volunteers must wear their volunteer t-shirts and their ID badge at all times.

Purpose:

To collect patients food trays and assist patients at mealtimes who are unable or find it difficult to feed themselves.

Location: All sites

Key responsibilities:

• All volunteers will be trained in Frimley Health Trust’s mealtime competencies. This will allow you to feed patients safely and with an awareness of our coding systems which indicate patient needs and risk factors.
• Assist with the feeding of patients on wards; directly feeding patients, assisting them with positioning of their tray and cutlery, or opening packets and cutting up food.
• Follow your training to ensure that patients being fed are given the appropriate meals and that they receive any prescribed supplementary food items
• Adhere carefully to all infection control protocols, including the wearing of appropriate personal protective equipment as needed
• Ensure that the appropriate utensil and feeding aids are used at all times
• Converse with patients, and offer them companionship during mealtimes
• Feed back to nursing staff regarding patients' food intake, before leaving the ward area
• Ensure that all patients fed are offered and given choice of fluid refreshments as appropriate to their requirements
• Respect patients' wishes and report to ward nurses any adverse occurrences
• Ensure that patients they feed are left clean and tidy and uneaten food items removed
• All volunteers will be polite and at all times maintain patient's privacy and dignity

Details of specific skills needed:

• You must complete Frimley Health NHS Trust’s Mealtime Competency Training
• Friendly and enthusiastic
• Good listening and communication skills are essential.
• Patience and composure
• A caring, sympathetic, sensitive manner and a non-judgmental approach
• Understanding of confidentiality
• Have a positive outlook and enthusiastic approach
• Willingness to work without direct supervision
• Reliable / dependable / flexible

Reports to: Nurse in charge

Length of appointment: Minimum 1 year

Time commitment: At least 3 hours per week

Qualifications: No formal qualifications required

Age requirement: 16+

Dress code: Smart, clean, tidy, of modest appearance. Volunteers must wear their volunteer t-shirts and their ID badge at all times.  You must be bare below the elbows at all times to promote public confidence and allow effective hand hygiene.

Purpose:

At both Wexham Park and Frimley Park hospitals we offer patients and visitors transportation around the hospital site on our Patient Buggies. In this role we will train you to drive the buggy around the hospital carrying patients and visitors to their destination within the hospital. Volunteer buggy drivers need to have a full driving licence and complete a training session and an assessment to become a registered electric vehicle driver within the trust.

Location: Wexham Park or Frimley Park hospital

Key responsibilities:

• Welcome patients and visitors, giving them a warm welcome and reassuring them of the support available to them
• To transport patients around the hospital on our electric buggy
• Drive in a cautious and conscientious manner at all times
• To ensure patients and visitors reach the destination they need to attend
• To secure the buggy at the end of each session, ensuring that it is on charge and securing the keys and the buggy phone in their storage location
• To ensure the buggy is kept clean at all times
• At times when the buggy is in use/ not operational you may be asked to wheel patients to their destination in a wheelchair. Full training will also be provided for this
• Adhere carefully to all infection control protocols, including the wearing of appropriate personal protective equipment as needed

Details of specific skills needed:

• Excellent driving skills with a full driving licence
• Good listening and communication skills are essential.
• Patience and composure
• To be respectful and understanding of differing patient circumstances
• Empathy and compassion
• Good level of spoken English
• The ability to work without supervision
• Understanding of confidentiality
• Have a positive outlook and enthusiastic approach
• Reliable/dependable/flexible

Reports to:  Lead volunteer / voluntary services manager

Length of appointment: Minimum 1 year

Time commitment: At least 3 hours per week

Qualifications: Full driving licence required. Training and an assessment must be undertaken before a volunteer can undertake this role

Age requirement: 17+

Dress code: Smart, clean, tidy, of modest appearance. Volunteers must wear their volunteer t-shirts and their ID badge at all times.

Purpose:

Patient Companions play an important role in working with nurses to create a calm, caring and comfortable ward environment, offering companionship and comfort to patients.

Engaging patients in conversation about things that spark their interest, or listening to them talk about any fears or concerns is hugely valuable in reducing patient anxiety and loneliness which can hinder effective treatment. Instead, positive companionship and conversation encourages positive emotions which can speed up the healing process and significantly improve the patient’s experience during their hospital stay

Location: All sites

Key responsibilities:

• To sit with and talk to patients; engaging them in topics that spark their interest
• Actively listening to what the patient has to say, helping to resolve small scale issues (e.g. the need for a blanket or a drink for instance)
• For patients who do not want to converse, you can read to them or engage them with puzzles etc.
• Be led by the patient’s needs not your own.
• Escalating any conversations that give you cause for concern in line with our confidentiality training.
• Adhere carefully to all infection control protocols, including the wearing of appropriate personal protective equipment as needed

Details of specific skills needed:

• Outstanding active listening and conversational skills
• Confidence in approaching patients and engaging them respectfully in conversation
• Empathy and understanding
• The ability to know when they need to take time to manage their own wellbeing, as patients may share emotive information
• Companions must emphasize that they are neither mental health professionals nor medical doctors. They cannot provide advice nor any service that can be misconstrued as therapy.
• They may not engage in any clinical treatment. Should the patient require such services, patient companions can contact the nearest nurse’s station.
• Friendly and enthusiastic
• A caring, sympathetic, sensitive manner and a non-judgmental approach
• Understanding of confidentiality
• Willingness to work without direct supervision
• Reliable / dependable / flexible

Reports to: Nurse in charge

Length of appointment: Minimum 1 year

Time commitment: At least 3 hours per week

Qualifications: No formal qualifications required

Age requirement: 16+

Dress code: Smart, clean, tidy, of modest appearance. Volunteers must wear their volunteer t-shirts and their ID badge at all times. You must be bare below the elbows at all times to promote public confidence and allow effective hand hygiene.

Purpose:

To guide patients through sharing their experience of Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust

Location: Wexham Park, Frimley Park or Heatherwood hospitals

Key responsibilities:

• Visit designated areas of the hospital to complete the trust’s patient experience survey with patients, either digitally via a tablet device or in paper format.
• Liaise with the lead volunteer and the Patient Experience Manager to coordinate survey locations, and to ensure your approach to engaging patients is in line with best practice guidance
• Announce your arrival to the nurse in charge when visiting wards, and explain the purpose of your visit
• Introduce yourself to patients, relatives and visitors onwards, providing a friendly and positive impression of the hospital
• Guide patients and their families through the survey tool being used
• Alert supervisory staff to areas of concern and place patient safety at the forefront of your approach to this role
• Return the completed questionnaires to the Volunteers Office or enter details onto the online analytics system
• Keep all information given or discussed within the hospital confidential
• Attend relevant training sessions provided by your department
• Demonstrate the Frimley Health trust values in actions and behaviours

Details of specific skills needed:

• Good listening and communication skills are essential.
• Patience and composure
• A caring, sympathetic, sensitive manner and a non-judgmental approach
• Understanding of confidentiality
• Have a positive outlook and enthusiastic approach
• Willingness to work without direct supervision
• Understanding of, or ability to learn, personal and professional boundaries
• Reliable/dependable/flexible

Reports to: Patient experience manager / Voluntary services administrator

Length of appointment: Minimum 1 year

Time commitment: At least 3 hours per week

Qualifications: No formal qualifications required

Age requirement: 16+ (18 on children’s wards and maternity units and ED)

Dress code: Smart, clean, tidy, of modest appearance. Volunteers must wear their volunteer t-shirts and their ID badge at all times. You must be bare below the elbow to promote public confidence and allow effective hand hygiene.

Purpose:

You will work as part of a small team to manage our patient library and distribute books to patients on wards. You will return to the wards the following shift to collect returns.

Location: Frimley Park Hospital

Key responsibilities:

• Keeping the library neat and tidy, organising resources in line with our systems
• Working collaboratively in a small, highly motivated team
• Wheeling the book trolley to wards
• Engaging patients in the book selection and aiding them to select something that meets their interests
• Logging loans so that they can be collected once the patient is finished/ discharged
• Adhere carefully to all infection control protocols, including the wearing of appropriate personal protective equipment as needed

Details of specific skills needed:

• Customer service skills
• Organisational skills
• A passion for literature of all kinds
• Good listening and communication skills are essential.
• Patience and composure
• Understanding of confidentiality
• Have a positive outlook and enthusiastic approach
• Willingness to work without direct supervision
• Reliable/dependable/flexible

Reports to: Lead library volunteer

Length of appointment: Minimum 1 year

Time commitment: At least 3 hours per week

Qualifications: No formal qualifications required

Age requirement: 16+

Dress code: Smart, clean, tidy, of modest appearance. Volunteers must wear their volunteer t-shirts and their ID badge at all times. You must be bare below the elbows at all times to promote public confidence and allow effective hand hygiene.

Purpose:

Assisting the pharmacy team with a variety of tasks within the department as well as safely and securely taking prescriptions to designated locations around the hospital in order to reduce hospital waiting times and speed up patient discharge.

Location: Frimley Park or Wexham Park hospitals

Key responsibilities:

• Welcoming patients visiting the pharmacy and answering basic, non-clinical questions
• To take prescriptions to wards and units within the trust, ensuring that they are given to the appropriate member of the ward team and that the appropriate paperwork is completed
• Basic administrative and tidying tasks to aid the smooth running of the pharmacy
• Adhere carefully to all infection control protocols, including the wearing of appropriate personal protective equipment as needed

Details of specific skills needed:

• Must be physically fit
• Good listening and communication skills are essential.
• Patience and composure
• A caring, sympathetic, sensitive manner and a non-judgmental approach
• Understanding of confidentiality
• Have a positive outlook and enthusiastic approach
• Willingness to work without direct supervision
• Reliable/dependable/flexible

Reports to: Pharmacy duty manager

Length of appointment: Minimum 1 year

Time commitment: At least 3 hours per week

Qualifications: No formal qualifications required

Age requirement: 18+

Dress code: Smart, clean, tidy, of modest appearance. Volunteers must wear their volunteer t-shirts and their ID badge at all times. You must be bare below the elbows at all times to promote public confidence and allow effective hand hygiene.

Purpose:

Responding to calls for support in areas of the hospital experiencing high demand on services, as a response volunteer, you will be trained in a wide range of tasks and have the ability to spot areas in which you can lend a hand, improve patient experience and reduce pressure on staff, particularly during times of winter pressure.

Location: Frimley Park Hospital or Wexham Park Hospital

Key responsibilities: Signing onto a 4-hour shift (which can overlap with your current role, or be in addition to it), you will sign out one of the response phones, and be available to take calls for requests for support from staff around the hospital. You will head to the unit in need of support, then reporting to the nurse in charge, you will provide support as needed.

At the end of your shift, you will record the number of calls you received and the tasks you undertook so that we can evaluate the impact of this role on patients and wards.

Activities may include:

• Meeting and greeting patients
• Finding wheelchairs and transporting patients to other areas of the hospital
• Accompanying patients as they move around the hospital
• Collecting prescriptions from the pharmacy
• Feeding patients
• Helping patients to pack up ready to go home
• Patient companionship
• Carer support (listening, directing etc)
• Making and distributing drinks

Details of specific skills needed:

• Comfortable working in a fast-paced role
• Flexible and adaptable
• Patience and composure
• Understanding of confidentiality
• Reliable/dependable
• Comfortable moving around the hospital

Length of appointment: Minimum of 3 months.

Time commitment: 4 hours per week

Qualifications: no formal qualifications required. Volunteers must have been actively volunteering with the trust for 3 months prior to taking up this role.

Age requirement: 18 or over

Dress code: Volunteers must wear their volunteer t-shirts and their ID badge at all times. You must be bare below the elbows at all times to promote public confidence and allow effective hand hygiene.

Purpose:

Volunteers will ensure that people visiting the hospital have the information that they need to access the relevant departments. Hospitals can be very daunting places and it is easy to get confused trying to find the service you are looking for. Volunteer Wayfinders provide a warm greeting and then either show or physically take someone to where they need to go. These volunteers are instrumental in providing a welcoming and reassuring service to people who are sometimes anxious and afraid. Volunteers will, therefore, be required to learn about their chosen hospital site in terms of giving directions and wayfinding people to where they need to be. Volunteers will support reception areas and cover key crossroads in the hospitals in order to provide people with this valuable assistance.

Location: All sites

Key responsibilities:

• Offer patients and visitors a warm welcome, asking them if they know where to go
• To give directions or to take patients to the area of the hospital that they wish to find
• To provide patients with the information they require about the hospital site
• To contact the hospital buggy service or portering for assisted transport around the site
• Adhere carefully to all infection control protocols, including the wearing of appropriate personal protective equipment as needed

Details of specific skills needed:

• Good listening and communication skills are essential.
• Patience and composure
• Empathy and compassion
• Good level of spoken English
• The ability to work without supervision
• Understanding of confidentiality
• Have a positive outlook and enthusiastic approach
• Reliable/dependable/flexible

Reports to: Voluntary services administrator / manager in charge of area

Length of appointment: Minimum 1 year

Time commitment: At least 3 hours per week

Qualifications: No formal qualifications required

Age requirement: 16+

Dress code: Smart, clean, tidy, of modest appearance. Volunteers must wear their volunteer t-shirts and their ID badge at all times.

Purpose:

The prime role of the Ward Volunteer is to be part of a dedicated team of volunteers offering support to staff and non-medical assistance to patients.

Location: All sites

Key responsibilities:

• Meet and greet patients, relatives and visitors to the ward, providing a friendly welcome
• Be familiar with the ward layout and be a source of information and a ‘friendly face’ to all patients and visitors
• Help patients to complete any forms or questionnaires (where necessary)
• Chat to patients, relatives and visitors and make them feel at ease
• Keep the ward areas tidy and notice boards updated
• Maintain stocks of leaflets and patient information and distribute as necessary
• Actively seek to talk with patients, relatives and visitors
• Read to patients or engage them with quizzes, puzzles or games as appropriate
• Encourage relatives and visitors to use hand gel provided on entering and leaving the ward
• Adhere carefully to all infection control protocols, including the wearing of appropriate personal protective equipment as needed
• Promote a positive image of the hospital, staff and voluntary services
• Be polite, courteous and respectful to others

Details of specific skills needed:

• Good listening and communication skills are essential.
• Patience and composure
• A caring, sympathetic, sensitive manner and a non-judgmental approach
• Understanding of confidentiality
• Have a positive outlook and enthusiastic approach
• Willingness to work without direct supervision
• Reliable/dependable/flexible

Reports to: Nurse in charge

Length of appointment: Minimum 1 year

Time commitment: At least 3 hours per week

Qualifications: No formal qualifications required

Age requirement: 16+ (18 on children’s wards, maternity unit and ED)

Dress code: Smart, clean, tidy, of modest appearance. Volunteers must wear their volunteer t-shirts and their ID badge at all times. You must be bare below the elbows at all times to promote public confidence and allow effective hand hygiene.

Purpose:

The role of the wheelchair buddies is to assist portering colleagues in locating wheelchairs and returning them to the main entrance and other areas of the hospital where patients commonly need them. They will also help to keep the wheelchairs in excellent condition regularly checking for faults and making sure that the equipment is clean at all times. Following appropriate training you may be asked to wheel patients or visitors to appointments or to visit relatives.

Location: Wexham Park or Frimley Park hospitals

Key responsibilities:

• Making sure that wheelchairs are within the hospital where needed
• Follow your training and not operate outside its parameters
• Taking patients to various locations around the hospital in wheelchairs
• Engaging patients in conversation and professionally representing Frimley Health Trust
• Ensuring that wheelchairs are in a good state of repair and clean at all times.
• Adhere carefully to all infection control protocols, including the wearing of appropriate personal protective equipment as needed

Details of specific skills needed:

• Good listening and communication skills are essential.
• Patience and composure
• A caring, sympathetic, sensitive manner and a non-judgmental approach
• Physically fit
• Have a positive outlook and enthusiastic approach
• Willingness to work without direct supervision
• Reliable/dependable/flexible

Reports to: Portering (FPH), voluntary services manager (WPH) or to a lead volunteer

Length of appointment: Minimum 1 year

Time commitment: At least 3 hours per week

Qualifications: Volunteers must undertake manual handling in- house training for this role

Age requirement: 16+

Dress code: Smart, clean, tidy, of modest appearance. Volunteers must wear their volunteer t-shirts and their ID badge at all times. You must be bare below the elbows at all times to promote public confidence and allow effective hand hygiene.