Friends of the RUH

At this extraordinary time, there is increased and immense pressure on the NHS.  We're looking for people with a range of skills to volunteer to help support our staff and patients.

Volunteer roles currently being made available include

• Welcome volunteers
• Housekeeping
• Estates

These are key roles that will keep the hospital functioning as effectively as possible and we welcome Volunteers to assist.  Training and support will be made available.

Further roles will appear as the Covid-19 situation evolves.

Welcome Volunteer’s base themselves at the main patient and visitor entrances to the hospital.  Their role is to greet patients and visitors to the hospital and provide directions and information about the hospital departments and services. 

Many visitors and patients may be unsure of the hospital environment, so the Welcome Volunteer provides a friendly and supportive introduction to the RUH.  Welcome volunteers are part of the RUH Reception function, so if there are any issues visitors and patients can be referred to the Main Reception desk.

Shifts are morning or afternoon, 5 days a week.

Purpose

The RUH has created a volunteer housekeeper role to assist the current housekeepers working across the hospital.  This role takes on some of the housekeeping duties and will allow the experienced housekeepers to focus on the patient areas and other key tasks.

Role

The role of the volunteer housekeeper would consist of the following duties:-

• Keeping the Ward kitchen stocked and clean, dispose of out of date produce, washing up and sterilising cutlery and crockery, mopping the kitchen floor, and monitoring the Fridge temperature daily.
• Wearing PPE (gloves/ apron and mask) to clean ward equipment in-store /public areas using Clinell wipes i.e. drip stands/ telephones/ monitors/keyboards, any touchpoints surfaces.
• Collecting food trolley from the kitchen and setting up a trolley with utensils and crockery for mealtimes.
• Tidying and stocking up of essential equipment/ documentation

You will not be required to work in bays or in direct contact with any patients.  Volunteers will be allocated to wards after their initial shifts and will generally stay working in the same ward.

Training

To be able to book yourself to the role you will need to complete the following courses

• RUH Housekeeping 01
• RUH Housekeeping 02

These courses consist of a series of short videos to familiarise volunteers with tasks and equipment prior to starting the role.

These videos are available separately at RUH Training - Housekeeping videos

Support and further training will be given during the initial shifts and you will be working with the existing Housekeeping staff on the ward.

The available shifts will be

• 7:30 – 13:30  - supporting breakfast and lunch
• 11:30 – 15:30 – supporting lunch
• 11:30 – 19:30 – supporting lunch and dinner
• 14:00 – 21:00 – supporting afternoons, dinner, end of day tidy
• 16:00 – 19:00 – supporting dinner

Purpose

Assisting the Estates team on a range of jobs around the hospital.   Tasks may vary depending on need and weather but could involve gardening, painting (indoor and outdoor), supplies management,  pathway and parking clearance/sweeping.

Role

The role of the Estates Volunteer may involve:

• Gardening - weed removal, litter picking, collection of green waste & take to the waste compound.
• Painting – internal and external areas including corridors, barriers, safety lines, etc.
• General estates cleaning – sweeping pathways/parking areas, leaf build-up, gravel areas, etc.
• Collection and storage of deliveries from suppliers
• Clearing notice boards for further use.

The Estates team are currently offering two volunteering shifts on each Wednesday.  Volunteers can sign up for one or both shifts.

• 7:30 – 12:30 
• 13:00 – 16:00