Position Title:                 Patient Lounge, Emergency Department volunteer

Location:                         Emergency Department (primarily in the waiting room)

Reporting To:                 Helen Morrell, Volunteer Manager and Clinical  Shift Coordinator

Hours:                        9.30 – 6.30 (3 hour shifts 9.30 – 12.30. 12.30 – 3.30. 3.30 – 6.30) 7 days a  week

Purpose of the Role:    To provide practical support for staff, patients and their families, in the Emergency Department, in order to ease emotional distress of patients, and thereby pressure on staff.

Specific Duties:

• Meeting and greeting incoming patients/visitors, directing them to the appropriate area in the patient lounge.
• Liaising between staff and patients as to progress re admission
• Providing general information to patients/visitors (navigation, parking info etc.)
• Keeping patients /visitors company as appropriate
• Liaising between visitors in patient lounge and staff in the Emergency Department: escorting visitors into the department as required,
• Mobility assistance/wheelchair as required.
• Accompanying patients into Emergency Department upon request of the patient or staff
• Staying with falls risk patients or patients with cognitive impairment as requested (social engagement)
• Gaining information for sunflower tool (or similar), from next of kin, for patients with cognitive impairment who are going to be admitted, so information can be included in patient notes.
• Administrative assistance as required (e.g. Phone call assistance e.g. to family members for unaccompanied patients: Occasional errands for admin staff)

Personal Attributes Required:

• Extremely well developed communication skills (listening, speaking, nonverbal) and the ability to interact with people from diverse backgrounds
• A non judgemental attitude; empathy and patience
• A willingness to be a part of the Emergency Department team at Hollywood
• An understanding of the importance of confidentiality
• A genuine interest in and liking of people
• Reliability, punctuality and the intent to commit time to volunteer on a regular basis for a minimum of 12 months
• A willingness to undergo orientation and training and to attend Volunteer Services Meetings

Training:

• All volunteers to complete Volunteers Orientation
• Volunteers provided with emergency department orientation
• Volunteers will be trained by staff on the job

Benefits to the Volunteer:

You will

• Be helping to create a welcoming, less frightening experience for patients and their visitors.
• Improve on or gain new skills
• Become an integral part of the Hollywood Private Hospital volunteer team
• Be truly valued and appreciated for your volunteering effort
• Be provided with free training, parking and volunteer services uniform.