Community Companion Volunteer
We are looking for volunteers who can provide companionship, a listening ear and engage in conversations and hobbies to those living in the community with a life-limiting illness
What will I be doing?
As one of our fantastic Community Companion volunteers you will be offering companionship to those living in the community with life-limiting illness. You will offer a listening ear, engage in conversation and help with their wellbeing.
As one of our fantastic Community Companion volunteers you will be offering companionship to those living in the community with life-limiting illness. You will offer a listening ear, engage in conversation and help with their wellbeing.
-Offer social support by engaging in conversation
-Engage with the patient by reading books, listening to music, watching television or doing puzzles/colouring in
-Assist with making drinks if required
-Signpost to information sources
-Enable carers to have a break and go out
-Report your activities back to the hospice and let us know any concerns or significant changes with the patient
What skills and experience will I need?
-Good communication skills
-Show patience, be non-judgemental and emotionally resilient
-Can motivate and encourage others
-Good listening skills
-Willingness to support patients who have a range of needs
-Understand the importance of confidentiality
-Awareness of procedures of safeguarding
-Awareness of procedures around infection control
All training will be provided in order for you to carry out your volunteer role effectively including training for some of the skills listed above.
What Support will I get?
As a Community Companion Volunteer, you will receive an in-depth volunteer and onboarding induction process. You will be required to undertake all the relevant training, so you feel comfortable and equipped before you start. We will match you with a patient that we feel will benefit both of you. You will receive ongoing support
from the volunteer team.
Other benefits of volunteering?
Not only will you be part of a wonderful team of Community Companion volunteers, you will also become a valued member of the wider Hospice volunteers. You will have the opportunity to join in with socials, celebration events, come along to drop-in sessions to ask questions, share feedback about your volunteering experience, gain long service awards and make meaningful connections along the way.
Other things to note:
We are committed to the wellbeing of our volunteers. If you have recently experienced a bereavement, we kindly ask you to wait two years before volunteering with us within this role. Whilst we appreciate that everyone's bereavement journey is individual, we have a duty of care to both our volunteers and our service users, therefore, we are unable to progress any application that falls into this category at this time.
Due to the nature of this role and the hospice environment, please note that we can only accept applications for this role if you are 18 years or older. Thank you for your understanding.
You will be required to have a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
To become a Community Companion volunteer please complete the volunteer application form on the right-hand side under 'I would like to volunteer.'
If you require this information or would like the application form in a different format, then please email volunteer@marystevenshospice.co.uk or call 01384 443 010 and ask for the volunteer team.
If you require this information or would like the application form in a different format, then please email volunteer@marystevenshospice.co.uk or call 01384 443 010 and ask for the volunteer team.
