Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Our ability to provide a comprehensive and individually targeted programme of activities and non-clinical support for our in-patients can be enhanced by volunteers. This is evidenced through self-governance evaluations and client feedback. Volunteers can assist the Occupational Therapy Team in providing therapeutic activities to in-patients under supervision.

• To provide specific (e.g. facilitation of music lessons) or general (e.g. available to take clients for walks, befriending) non – clinical support to in-patient clients on and off the wards at Dane Garth depending on skills and qualities of individual volunteer.
• All on ward activities will be pre-arranged and monitored by staff in line with client need on a daily or weekly basis. Level of supervision to be defined by ward staff in line with client need and volunteer experience. All activities will require a predetermined level of staff supervision.
• Off ward activities will be for in-patient clients with their own leave only, but who have requested informal support from a volunteer. In these instances a volunteer will have already established a relationship with the client on the unit.
• Volunteers to attend unit at pre-arranged times and report to reception where an appointed supervisory member of the OT team will meet them.
• All activities to be risk assessed by appropriate ward staff.

An Enhanced DBS with Adult Barring is required for this role. There is no charge to a volunteer for a DBS application.

Essential requirements for this role are:

• To follow instructions of OT staff as to activity to be facilitated and any relevant client information.
• Chat to people in groups or individually.
• Build relationships with clients, giving them confidence to make friends and join in.
• Encourage and help clients to take part in activities.
• Ensure service users are engaging with the activity safely, and alert supervising staff to any issues.
• Help staff to set up and clear down the room. Prepare equipment and materials in advance of the activity taking place.
• Feedback any relevant and appropriate information to staff at the end of the session or beforehand if necessary.
• Develop potential new activity ideas alongside staff members and service users.
• Volunteers with particular skills and interests may lead on small group activities such as crafts, book clubs etc.
• If the activity is one that involves a skill, having some degree of expertise in that skill would be of benefit.
• Good people skills are required as a lot of direct interaction will take place with the service users.
• Be able to manage individuals or groups of people undertaking an activity.
• Be enthusiastic about your chosen activity
• Be friendly and approachable – able to build a rapport with service users.

For this role applicants must be over the age of 18

To apply please click the link below

Apply here