Recruitment

We are looking for warm, welcoming, approachable individuals who are great listeners to join our fantastic team.  If you are happy to help whilst being sensitive to the needs of others and being observant but not intrusive then please apply as you will not be disappointed.

Role Summary:

The main purpose of this post is to establish a friendly helpful and effective welcome to patients and visitors to St Joseph’s Hospice (STJH) and to provide a general guiding and way finding service.

Key Tasks:

Meet & Guide

• To act as a First point of contact to all visitors to the Hospice, maintaining a professional calm approach, ensuring that it is a safe, welcoming and caring environment.
• To act as a Focal point  to all visitors to the Hospice with tact and diplomacy, providing comprehensive introductory information, advice and directions i.e. location of services and facilities, timing and location of meetings, workshops; religious ceremonies; outpatient appointments etc.
• To act as an Escort to visitors; staff and outpatients as and when required to the adjoining reception waiting area; workshops; therapy sessions, club meetings etc, ensuring a high quality and sensitive service.
• To meet prospective clients at reception to show them around the hospice and inform and advise them of all the facilities available at St Joseph’s hospice in line with agreed guidance.
• To refer enquirers to appropriate members of staff where further help is required.

Reception Support

• To provide assistance with the registration of visitors.
• To monitor the car park on the Hospice premises.
• To keep company to visitors who are waiting in the reception seating areas for taxis and/or outpatient appointments.
• To provide support to the reception team in daily key activities such as the appearance and maintenance of the reception waiting areas.
• To assist with deliveries and donated jumble sale items for the Hospice.
• To undertake any other adhoc admin tasks as and when necessary.
• To operate the Switchboard and handle telephone enquiries.

Time requirement- 5 days per week (Mon - Fri):

• 08:00 - 11:00/11:00 – 14:00
• 14:00 - 17:00
• 17:00/ 18.00 – 21:00

Hours can be flexible i.e. can be extended if necessary but we will require commitment to agreed times each week.

Skills and qualities required:

• Good Communication Skills.
• Basic IT Skills in Microsoft Office.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• An ability to make people of all backgrounds feel welcomed and at home.
• A caring and emphatic personality.
• Handling difficult situations in a tactful, caring and sensitive manner.
• Sensitive to and knowledgeable of the cultural traditions of different groups and communities.
• Understanding of confidentiality issues within the Hospice environment.
• Dress code should be smart and presentable.
• Able to work on own initiative with a can do attitude.

Desirable:

• Speaking one or more community languages i.e. Turkish, Urdu, Arabic, Bengali, Hindi.

• First Aid Trained.
• An understanding of the impact of death and dying.

Training:

• STJ Hospice Policies and Procedures (e.g. Fire; Health & Safety).
• Customer Care and Telephone Etiquette/Wheel Chair Training.
• IT Skills e.g Typing and Teach-yourself ongoing training courses.
• Reception and Switchboard Training will be provided for this role.

Benefits:

• Good Customer Care and Communication skills.
• Opportunity to develop Front of House/Reception skills.
• Meeting new people from diverse backgrounds and cultures
• An enhanced understanding about issues related to death and dying.

• Support the work St Joseph’s Hospice.
• Gain experience of working with patients with palliative care needs. 
• Enjoy meeting visitors and members of the public that visit the hospice.
• Gain experience of hospice setting and attend relevant training.
• Reimbursement of travel expenses up to zones 1-6 (at oyster card rates).
• Lunch allowance redeemable at the hospice restaurant after 3 hours volunteering.