Our Policies
THIS APPLICATION IS FOR PATIENT CARE VOLUNTEERS
For Administrative Volunteers, please click here to fill out a different application.
Before moving forward, please ensure you thoroughly understand and agree with the following requirements. VNA Health follows Medicare's guidelines of considering volunteers to be "like employees." In addition, please note that our volunteer opportunities are not meant to be short-term for a few days or weeks.
Join Our Hospice Volunteer Team!
Hospice volunteers are a vital part of our care team, bringing comfort, companionship, and emotional support to patients and their families during a profound time in their lives. Your presence can make a meaningful difference—whether through conversation, sharing a hobby, reading aloud, or simply sitting quietly with someone who needs companionship.
While volunteers do not provide medical or personal care—such as dressing, lifting, or assisting with mobility—they play a unique and valued role. Volunteers also do not take on social work or chaplain responsibilities, such as counseling, assisting with advance directives, scheduling medical appointments, or finding housing.
Your role is to be present, offer companionship, and provide emotional support, always respecting the responsibilities of other care team members. If a patient or family has medical or social concerns, you will help by referring them to the appropriate team member, such as a nurse, medical social worker, chaplain, or physician.
If you are compassionate, a good listener, and looking for a meaningful way to give back, we’d love to have you join our team!
On-Boarding Requirements
The following steps may be completed at your own pace. There is no deadline for any of these tasks and nothing is due before the on-site training (except for the application & interview).
- On-line Application
- 2 Reference Letters
- Interview
- Sign policy forms
- Background Check
- Pre-employment physical
- Drug Test. Does not include cannabis (no longer required in California as of 2023).
- TB Test (requires 2 visits to the VNA Health office)
- Flu Vaccine Proof (or sign a declination waiver)
- 3 hours of on-line training
- One on-site training (3 hours)
Annual Requirements
- TB Test (requires 2 visits to the VNA Health office)
- Flu Vaccine (or sign a declination waiver)
- Sign the Annual Commitment Form
- Performance Evaluation by Volunteer Program Manager
- When applicable (depending on volunteer activity), provide up-to-date copies of auto insurance, driver's license, or professional license (Hairdressers, Pet Therapist, etc).
- Triennial Competency Test
Weekly Requirements
THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS ARE OF VERY HIGH IMPORTANCE.
- Maintain good communication with the volunteer office when you have to miss a patient visit or taking time off.
- Submit your volunteer time entries (and visit notes) within 48 hours of completing an activity.
To start the application, check the "agree" box below and create a new account.
Questions? Contact lucia.herrera@vna.health or 805-690-6245
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