Volunteer Companion
Weston Hospicecare
| Name: | Volunteer Companion |
| Organisation: | Weston Hospicecare |
| Location: | Jackson Barstow House, 28 Thornbury Rd, Weston-Super-Mare, North Somerset, BS23 4YQ |
| Type: |
Part Time
Whatever time you can offer, Monday to Friday, 09.00 – 17.00 hrs
There are two mandatory training dates: Fridays: 11th and 18th November – potential volunteers will need to be available for both these sessions.
|
Description
- Following referral for companion support, provide emotional and listening support to patients, families or carers
- Utilise specific training in regards to developing the Companion role, to improve knowledge and skills
- If appropriate, a Companion will initially visit a newly referred client with the Family Support Team Manager or Community Nurse Specialist
- Maintain agreed boundaries set by Weston Hospicecare
- Submit a brief summary of each encounter with a client within 48 hours of the contact to ensure the client record is kept up to date
- Utilise supervision sessions as a chance to update skills and meet fellow companion volunteers.
- Report any concerns in relation to the client back to the Family Support Team Manager (or to the Nurse in Charge of the In-Patient Unit if out of hours and urgent)
Please Note:
- This is a volunteer role with no contractual obligations.
- This role is subject to an enhanced level DBS check.
- In addition to the specific tasks outlined in this role description, all Weston Hospicecare Volunteers are required to operate within all relevant policies and guidelines, and should be aware of their specific responsibilities towards
the following:
- Weston Hospicecare has a no smoking policy (Inc. Vaping/E-cigarettes) throughout the organisation, including all retail locations and hospice vehicles
- Adhere to all Health & Safety and Fire Regulations and to co-operate with the charity in maintaining good standards of Health & Safety
- Promote and sustain a responsible attitude towards equal opportunities and diversity within the charity
Request Organisation Contact Details
Organisation Description
For more than 30 years Weston Hospicecare has given palliative care to people with life-limiting illnesses in Weston-super-Mare and North Somerset completely free of charge.
We deliver expert care from our base, Jackson-Barstow House where there is a 10 bedroom inpatient unit (IPU), along with a day and wellbeing centre.
To complement our in-house services, we have a team of community nurse specialists who care for patients, and their families, in their homes in Weston-super-Mare, and the surrounding area.
We cover Clevedon and Yatton to the north; Cheddar, Wedmore and Axbridge to the east; and Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge to the south and everywhere contained within these boundaries.
Our multi-disciplined team deliver treatment for not only patients with cancer but those with other conditions such as motor neurone disease, Parkinson’s disease and all other life-limiting illnesses.
To provide the best possible care, we work in tandem with each other and with other clinicians such as GPs, consultants and other medical professionals to ensure the patient is kept comfortable and informed about their condition while their families are supported for as long as they need too.
While our clinical team is outstanding at delivering emotional care, we also have a specially-trained team of experts who form the Family Support Team. The team’s purpose is to provide world-class social, emotional and spiritual support for both patients and their families too.
This care is tailored to each person involved and it can be delivered in the comfort of the patient’s home or on-site at Jackson-Barstow House.
Every person in our care is seen as the special person they are. We always ask ourselves “Would this be good enough for a member of our own families?” We constantly do everything we can to make our patients happy. We’ve hosted weddings, arranged for pets to visit and fulfilled many more last wishes.
When
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thurs | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
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| Morning | |||||||
| Afternoon | |||||||
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Cause / Interests
- Health and Hospital and Hospices
Types of Activity
- Befriending and Buddying
- General and Helping
Skills and Qualifications
Requirements
Experience and / or skills:
- Good listener
- Friendly approach
- Empathy
- Non-judgemental
- Self-aware
- Have a good sense of humour
- Confidentiality
- Have their own transport or be able to access public transport confidently
We ask all our volunteers to:
- Be reliable
- Have a warm, friendly, adaptable, caring approach
- Be open-minded and tolerant of different lifestyles and values
- Be able to work within personal and organisational boundaries
Benefits
Our volunteers tell us they get something slightly different from their volunteering experience, such as:
- Invaluable work experience
- Self confidence
- Getting involved in their community
- Making new friends
- Putting existing skills to good use
- Developing new skills
Additional/Specific Suitabilities
| Minimum Age: | 18 | |
| Maximum Age: | NA | |
| Disabled Access: | No | |
| Wheelchair Access: | No | |
| Expenses: | We will reimburse you with any agreed out of pocket expenses incurred whilst carrying out this volunteer role in line with Weston Hospicecare’s expenses policy. | |
| Restrictions: | N/A | |
| Induction: | Induction and training with the Family Support Team Statutory / Mandatory training as required for role Orientation training session to be attended. | |
| Insurance Cover: | Yes | |
| Special Needs: | n/a | |
| Offer: | Supervision meetings | |
| Training: | In-house training followed by regular supervision meetings | |
| Other: | NA |
Recruitment Method
Application form, DBS Check, Interview, Other, References, Trial Period