Volunteering at Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust

Role: Ward helper – Ron Johnson Ward

Purpose:

This is a very popular role as it provides patient contact and a good insight and experience of working in a hospital. The role provides the ward with an extra pair of hands, assisting with non-clinical tasks such as chatting to patients, distributing meals, making drinks and running errands for staff and patients. Ron Johnson Ward has a special focus on HIV and oncology (cancer treatment) and therefore has many patients from all age groups. This includes patients who are dying, some of whom are very young.

Duties (what you will be doing):

• Providing patients and families and friends of patients with tea, coffee and other refreshments;
• Befriending: spending time with patients who do not have many visitors. This could include playing games, reading or any other activity. Many patients are elderly and like to reminisce
• Ensuring patient water jugs are full;
• Taking samples to the laboratory;
• Escorting patients to different departments within the hospital for bloods tests, scans and x-rays as instructed by medical staff;
• Help with preparing patients for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks
• Chatting to patients and visitors – supporting a welcoming environment
• Support the nurse with pharmacy collections
• Taking patients’ clothes to a local laundrette to get them cleaned
• Tidying up any day room – but not cleaning
• Helping with H.O.M.E.

Hydration and nutrition: work with patients who need encouragement to eat and drink, helping them with food choice, sitting and engaging them at meal times

Out of pyjamas: identify patients who are not dressed in their own clothes, discuss and encourage them to change and where this is agreed arrange time with the clinical staff for this to happen.

Movement: encouraging patients stay mobile and active by e.g. encouraging them to get out of bed and into a chair, walk with them  (or push them in a wheelchair) to the Day Room etc. as advised by the clinical staff (although you will not be required to lift or move patients in chairs or other equipment without the appropriate training first)

Engagement: Engaging with patients in a variety of ways including by e.g. reading, playing board games, puzzles, taking them to the Medicinema or to performances in the atrium

Boundaries (what you won’t be doing):

• No clinical care of patients
• No patient feeding
• No personal care (e.g. toileting or getting patients changed)
• No cleaning
• No lifting of heavy equipment

Time commitment:

• Volunteering shifts are available from 8.30 am to 2 pm, Monday to Friday
• You are expected to commit to one shift per week for a period of at least six months

Location:

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, 369 Fulham Rd, London SW10 9NH

Requirements of the role:

Age: You must be 16 years or older to volunteer in this role

Vaccinations: All volunteers MUST have a BCG vaccination to volunteer on Ron Johnson Ward

Accessibility: This role is accessible to people with wheelchairs or who have other mobility issues

As a volunteer you will embody the Trust’s values:

• Putting patients first
• Responsive to, and supportive of, patients and staff
• Open, welcoming and honest
• Unfailingly kind, treating everyone with respect, compassion and dignity
• Determined to develop our skills and continuously improve the quality of care

Skills and other requirements:

• You must be self-motivated; with an ability to think on your feet and work independently
• You must be punctual and dependable
• You must have a professional and friendly demeanour
• You must be flexible and eager to learn
• You need a thick skin. Some patients might be distressed, and seeing patients with delirium or dementia can be distressing for some

Pre-placement checks and training:

• You must have an enhanced criminal record check (DBS) for this role. If you do not have one already then we can organise and pay for one.
• This role requires that you have certain immunisations and you will need to complete a health declaration form – we will discuss this with you when you apply.
• You will receive a core volunteering induction.
• You will also receive a local induction and orientation. This will include any training that is relevant to perform your tasks on the specific ward.