Leamington Spa Hospital provides neuro rehabilitation to adults following an acquired brain injury or stroke. There are two wards that make up the Central England Rehabilitation Unit (CERU) and a further two wards for stroke rehabilitation and elderly frailty. The hospital also runs various out-patients’ clinic including physiotherapy, podiatry, chiropody and dentistry.
Our volunteers not only enhance patient experience but can also benefit from helping us; gaining knowledge, social connections, skills, confidence and motivation. It can also improve physical and mental health. Our aim is to give our volunteers a real sense of belonging and purpose.
We welcome volunteers who are 17 or older to get involved and volunteer for their local NHS however our Under 18 volunteer opportunities are extremely limited. If you are 17 years old and interested in volunteering with us please email volunteering@swft.nhs.uk before applying to see if we have vacancies.
Please contact us should you have any questions, if not we look forward to receiving your completed application.
Volunteers work in a small team to offer a range of gentle movement activities to patients to directly support their rehabilitation journey. Volunteers will:
Volunteers should be warm and friendly, open-minded and willing to participate in activities to help volunteers feel comfortable with new movements.
Volunteers work alongside Occupational Therapy staff and other volunteers to support patients to participate in a weekly gardening group. Volunteers will:
Volunteers should be patient, kind and willing to support patients to work towards goals at their own pace.
Meet and Greet volunteers are based in reception and direct visitors/patients to the relevant departments within the hospital. Volunteers will:
Volunteers should be friendly, confident communicators and will need to learn where different hospital departments are on site.
Volunteer therapy dogs and their owners visit patients who are missing their own animals or would benefit from some time with an animal. Therapy dogs and their owners spend time with both individuals and small groups of staff and patients, chatting and allowing patients to stroke and occasionally feed the dogs. All volunteer therapy animals need to be accepted as an approved dog by a registered charity such as Therapy Dogs Nationwide (https://tdn.org.uk/join-us/) or Pets As Therapy (https://petsastherapy.org/information/for-volunteers).
Volunteers visit patients whom staff have identified as needing some company, a listening ear and/or a new activity that can boost an individual’s emotional wellbeing and support their recovery journey. Each visit varies in length and can be led by the likes and interest of each patient and volunteer. Volunteers may:
Ward volunteers are required to complete confidential feedback forms at the end of their visits which will then be added into patient records. Volunteers should be friendly, open-minded, patient and understanding of boundaries. Volunteers do not get involved in any aspects of personal care.
Volunteers will be directed by staff to help patients who require assistance and company to eat and drink. Volunteers will:
Volunteers will need to be flexible and open to what each individual patient needs during a meal.
Our vision is to improve the health and wellbeing of the community we serve, building a healthier and happier future together.
