JEWISH CARE

Pastoral Care Volunteer Role

Anita Dorfman House,

Sandringham, Stanmore

Pastoral Care Volunteer: Jewish Care are looking to develop the pastoral care model to include localised trained volunteers, pastoral leads, or suitably trained individuals in our care homes, to assist staff to support residents and relatives with mental and spiritual wellbeing.

Role Summary: 

Support new residents and their relatives with their transition into the care home by:

• Giving time to listen and be with residents
• Giving time to support the resident and/or relative to process their feelings
• Having sensitive conversations around loss, transition, and the grief process
• Understanding progressive illness, anticipated deterioration and feelings associated with death and dying
• Taking referrals from staff/management

The transition into life in a care home may be very challenging for some. The pastoral care volunteer, through her/his time with the resident can be the sounding board to help express and process thoughts and feelings.  No two people will have the same struggles or challenges but here are some that are not uncommon:

• Loss of independence and grief for one’s home and belongings
• Fear of change and facing up to the last chapter in life and anticipating grief
• Thinking about own mortality and end of life concerns
• Cognitive decline, physical pain and deteriorating health
• Spiritual and religious questions (why me, what meaning is in this, what’s next)
• Wondering how to fit in – Will I like staff and will they like me.
• Struggling with being in a community setting and loss of privacy
• Not being familiar with the routine and environment
• Guilt about being cared for (receiving personal care support)
• Worries about cost
• Anger with family members for putting one in care
• Unresolved family dynamics

By spending time with the new resident and listening to their unique journey of settling in, the pastoral volunteer will accompany them as they ponder and process their experiences. These conversations will strengthen the resident’s ability to enter the life of the home and to accept the potential it has to offer to live and die well. 

Skills & experience required:

• A therapeutic background would be beneficial but not essential.
• An ability to have sensitive conversations, including topics such as loss in general, lack of control and unresolved past issues which may affect wellbeing.
• Empathetic, caring and committed to help improve residents’/relative’s quality of lives.
• A genuine interest in other people, willing to listen to residents ‘stories’ with compassion and sensitivity.
• Great listening skills, empathetic and non-judgemental
• Organised and good eye for detail to ensure accurate record keeping and ability to follow processes.
• Reliable and flexible
• To abide by Jewish Care/s policies- with reference to confidentiality and data protection.
• After each session, you will be asked to complete a summary and list of action points which should be sent to our Emotional and Wellbeing Lead.
• Willingness to attend regular support sessions with Emotional and Wellbeing Lead and volunteer Co-ordinator.
• The ability to work independently but also stay within the role’s boundaries – recognising what should and shouldn’t be done and when to seek advice or report concerns
• Good conversational and listening skills with a clear speaking voice
• Confidently engage with a diverse range of people and enjoy helping others.
• A strong understanding of issues that affect people in later life.

Time Commitment:  11am-12pm or 2pm-4pm on selected days of the week, as arranged with role supervisor

Estimated hours: Approximately a morning or afternoon session every week with ongoing commitment.

Resource:  Jewish Care, Anita Dorfman Home, Sandringham Campus, Stanmore, HA7 3FT

Induction, Learning & Development:
Training will be delivered so volunteers can carry out their roles to the highest professional standards, develop new skills, build confidence, make new friends and take on new and increasingly responsible tasks. 

Jewish Care will provide the following training, essential for this role:

• Provide you with access to a Volunteer Handbook and all Policies and Procedures.
• Provide Induction Training:  Getting to know Jewish Care, Communication & Disability Awareness, Boundaries & Confidentiality, Safeguarding, Health & Safety, GDPR and introduction to dementia and awareness of mental capacity.
• Specific training on sensitive conversations around family dynamics, transitioning in to care, end of life and all aspects of advanced care planning
• Understanding the difference between end of life and palliative care.
• Provide on the job induction.
• Attend any additional training deemed relevant to the role.

Benefits to the volunteer:

• Learning new skills in the training provided
• Making a real difference to people’s lives
• Being a part of a supporting multi-disciplinary team
• Regular supervisions

Why get involved with Jewish Care?
The work of Jewish Care and the services we provide to our community are vital.  We touch the lives of 10,000 people each week, with everything we do being underpinned by our Jewish values and ethics.  We provide services to:

• Older people
• People with Mental Health needs
• Holocaust Survivors
• People who are living with Dementia
• People with physical and sensory disabilities
• People who care for others
• People who are experiencing life limiting illnesses
• Living with frailty and co-morbidity

We can only do this thanks to our amazing professional staff of 1,400 and the 3,000 dedicated volunteers who help make our work possible.

Next Steps to becoming a volunteer at Jewish Care:

Step 1:
Please complete an expression of interest form for this role, which will automatically create a profile on our volunteer management system.  After you have applied, we will be in touch to discuss this role in more detail.   If you would prefer to speak with someone from the Volunteers Team to find out more, please do not hesitate to contact us:  020 8922 2405.

Step 2:
Following a successful conversation, with a member of the Volunteers Team or Hiring Manager you will be invited for an interview (and asked to bring identification with you).

Step 3:
Following a successful interview, you will be offered the volunteering role and asked to add further information into your volunteer profile, providing two references and completing a DBS (previously CRB) application form online.  Additional paperwork may need to be completed for some roles e.g., volunteer driver.

Step 4: 
You will be invited to attend mandatory Volunteer Induction Training. Training is to enable volunteers to carry out roles to the highest professional standards, develop skills, build confidence and meet other new volunteers

Step 5:  Mazel-tov/Congratulations!
Once we have received and recorded a suitable DBS, satisfactory references and training has been completed, you are

This is a voluntary position that supports the work of our services and is not replacing the work of a paid member of staff. 

For further information please contact volunteers@jcare.org