Welcome!

We are currently recruiting in the following areas:

Surrey Downs (Epsom & Ewell, Elmbridge, Mole Valley)

Do you want to make a difference to health and social care services in Mole Valley and Epsom and Ewell, and ensure that residents have a say in how the care they receive is delivered?

Who are Healthwatch Surrey?

• We are statutory organisation that listens to what local people say about the health and social care services they access.

• We take their views and concerns to decision makers, to influence and improve how local services are run.
• We also offer information and advice through our Helpdesk, and our free, independent NHS complaints and advocacy service.

How do we make a difference?

• We work closely with the CQC, Surrey County Council, Clinical Commissioners and NHS service providers to provide feedback from patients, escalate concerns and work to improve services based on the patient experiences our staff and volunteers have collected.
• We engage with less well-served communities, especially those at risk of health inequalities, to ensure everyone has a say in the care they receive. 

How can I help?

An exciting opportunity has arisen to help us develop a volunteer team to support our work in the Mole Valley and Epsom and Ewell areas. You will be instrumental in helping to develop our ‘Surrey Downs’ volunteer group, who will reach out to communities in the area to hear their recent experiences of health and social care and work with local NHS and social care providers to improve services.

What will I do as the Chair of the Surrey Downs volunteer group?

• Working closely with the staff team to create a workplan for your volunteer group; and taking the lead in organising the group to deliver the community engagement and outreach activities contained in the workplan (with admin support from our team). 
• Facilitating volunteer group meetings (with support from our team).
• Setting the agenda for monthly volunteer group meetings (with support from the staff team).
• Cultivate relationships with our partners at Epsom and St Helier Hospital Trust, Surrey Downs Integrated Care Partnership, and with partners in the voluntary and faith sector so we can work together to improve local services.
• Acting as a spokesperson for the volunteer group and for Healthwatch Surrey as appropriate.
• Keeping a watching brief on your local Integrated Care Partnership.

What can I bring to the group?

• A willingness to lead a team of approx. 8-10 volunteers.
• An interest in health and social care.
• A desire to make a difference to local health and social care services.
• Awareness of current issues in health and social care in your area (or willing to become aware).
• Understanding of the value of community engagement.
• Organisation and flexibility.
• Tact and diplomacy. 
• Impartiality.
• Good interpersonal skills.

What can you offer me in return?

We can offer you a well-supported, flexible volunteer role that allows you to utilise your skills and experience to help improve health and care services in your local area. The local groups are a great way to meet new people and find out more about services in your community. If you live in the Mole Valley or Epsom and Ewell area and can spare 10 -20 hours a month to volunteer with us, then we would love to hear from you. We will provide lots of support as you settle into the role, full administrative support, and peer support from the established Chairs of other volunteer groups across the county.

Where will I be volunteering?

Volunteering with us looks a little different right now. During the Covid-19 pandemic, our volunteer groups have been meeting virtually. We have been reaching out to Surrey residents and connecting with our partners in health and social care and the voluntary sector virtually, using Zoom and MS Teams. In the future, once it is safe to resume our face-to-face community engagement work, our volunteers may also return to meeting face to face and speaking to Surrey residents in hospitals, care homes, surgeries, and other community settings in their local area to hear their views.

What time commitment will I need to make?

Our Volunteer Group Chairs typically give 10–20 hours of their time each month.

Will you pay my expenses?

We reimburse volunteers for travel expenses.

What training will I need?

Full training and ongoing support will be provided.

If you have any questions about volunteering with us, please contact our Volunteer Officer: volunteers@healthwatchsurrey.co.uk

Healthwatch Surrey is supporting the NHS and social care by helping them to understand what is working well and not so well for local people during the Covid-19 pandemic.

• Healthwatch Surrey is a statutory organisation that listens to what local people have to say about the health and social care services they access.
• We take their views and concerns to decision makers, to influence and improve how local services are run.
• We keep an eye on changes to services and make sure that local people are consulted in decision making and in the design of local health and social care services.

What will I do as a Community Listener?

• Our Community Listeners help us to identify local community groups such as carers groups, veterans’ groups and faith groups, who are meeting virtually.
• They attend these virtual community meetings regularly to introduce the participants to Healthwatch, and build rapport and trust, so that they feel comfortable with sharing their health and social care experiences with us.
• They listen to what local people have to say about the health and care services they use, and accurately record their personal experiences, both good and bad, and identify key themes.
• They also signpost people to local services that can support them.

How does this make a difference?

We work closely with the CQC, Surrey County Council, Clinical Commissioners and NHS service providers in Surrey to provide feedback from patients, escalate concerns and work to improve services based on the patient experiences our Community Listeners have collected. We engage with less well served communities, especially those at risk of health inequalities to ensure everyone has a say in the care they receive.

This role will suit someone who:

• Is interested in health and social care
• Enjoys talking to people
• Is a good listener
• Has a caring attitude
• Is confident and outgoing
• Can accurately record information
• Enjoys working as part of a team
• Is organised and reliable

We would especially like to hear from you if you are already linked up with voluntary, community and/or faith groups in Surrey.

Practical Considerations:

Where will I be volunteering?

Volunteering with us looks a little different right now. During the Covid-19 pandemic, we have been exploring virtual ways of reaching out to Surrey residents, using MS Teams and Zoom. In the future, once it is safe to resume our face-to-face community engagement and outreach work, our Community Listeners may also return to speaking to Surrey residents in hospitals, care homes, surgeries, and other community settings in their local area to hear their views. 

What time commitment will I be expected to make?

Our volunteers typically give 2 to 3 mornings or afternoons a month, however you can give more or less of your time if you wish. Some community groups may meet virtually on evenings and weekends. volunteering with us is flexible, and you pick which activities you wish to support us with.

Will my expenses be paid?

We reimburse volunteers for travel expenses.

What training will I need?

Training in safeguarding, equality and diversity and community engagement will be provided for this role, as well as ongoing support.

Will I need a DBS check?

You may be required to undergo a standard DBS check to complete your volunteer role.

If you have any questions about volunteering with us, please contact our Volunteer Officer: volunteers@healthwatchsurrey.co.uk

We are currently recruiting in the following areas:

Epsom and Ewell

Mole Valley

Do you want to make a difference to health and social care services in Epsom and Ewell, and ensure that residents have a say in how the care they receive is delivered?

Who are Healthwatch Surrey?

• We are statutory organisation that listens to what local people say about the health and social care services they access.

• We take their views and concerns to decision makers, to influence and improve how local services are run.
• We also offer information and advice through our Helpdesk, and our free, independent NHS complaints and advocacy service.

How do we make a difference?

• We work closely with the CQC, Surrey County Council, Clinical Commissioners and NHS service providers to provide feedback from patients, escalate concerns and work to improve services based on the patient experiences our staff and volunteers have collected.
• We engage with hard-to-reach communities, especially those at risk of health inequalities to ensure everyone has a say in the care they receive.

How can I help?

An exciting opportunity has arisen to help us develop a volunteer team to support our work in the Mole Valley and Epsom and Ewell areas. You will be instrumental in helping to develop our ‘Surrey Downs’ volunteer group, who will reach out to communities in the area to hear their recent experiences of health and social care and work with local NHS and social care providers to improve services.

What will I do as a Community Influencer in either the Surrey Downs volunteer group?

• Work with our team and the group Chair to agree the priorities and a workplan for the group. This will involve identifying communities at risk of health inequalities in your area and the voluntary organisations that support them.
• Familiarise yourself with the changes happening in health and social care in Mole Valley and advocate for patient involvement at Stakeholder Reference Group meetings.
• Build relationships with our partners at Epsom and St Helier Hospital Trust, Surrey Downs Integrated Care Partnership, and with partners in the voluntary and faith sector so we can work together to improve local services.
• Sharing the feedback collected from local people at meetings with our partners in the NHS.
• Support us to read papers and reports so we can establish the key questions we should be asking on behalf of local people at scrutiny boards and meetings.

What can I bring to this role?

• An interest in health and social care
• A desire to make a difference
• Awareness of current issues in health and social care (or is willing to become aware)
• Understanding the value of community engagement
• Organisation and flexibility.
• Impartiality.
• Good interpersonal skills.
• Good ICT skills.
• Ability to work well as part of a team.

What can you offer me in return?

We can offer you a well-supported, flexible volunteer role that allows you to utilise your skills and experience to help improve health and care services in your local area. The local groups are a great way to meet new people and find out more about services in your community.  If you live in the Mole Valley or Epsom and Ewell area and can spare 10 -20 hours a month to volunteer with us, then we would love to hear from you. We will provide lots of support as you settle into the role, full administrative support, and peer support from the other Community Influencers across the county.

Where will I be volunteering?

Volunteering with us looks a little different right now. During the Covid-19 pandemic, we have been using virtual ways of reaching out to Surrey residents and connecting with our partners in health and social care and the voluntary sector. In the future, once it is safe to resume our face-to-face community engagement work, our volunteers may also return to meeting face to face and speaking to Surrey residents in hospitals, care homes, surgeries, and other community settings in their local area to hear their views.  

What time commitment will I need to make?

Our Community Influencers typically give 10–20 hours of their time each month.

If you have any questions about volunteering with us, please contact our Volunteer Officer: volunteers@healthwatchsurrey.co.uk

Are you passionate about young people’s rights, health and wellbeing?

Do you want young people to have a say in how the NHS and social care services they use are run, and make sure their views are heard and considered by decision makers?

Can you spare a couple of hours each month to support our work in your local area?

What you will be doing:

• Listen to young people’s views of health and care services and help us to feed their concerns back to the people in charge, so that we can make a difference!

• Visit schools, colleges, and community groups to talk to other young people about how they can make their views heard.

• Help us to create exciting social media content to raise awareness of our work and come up with innovative ways to reach out to young people in Surrey.

This role will suit someone who:

• Wants to learn more about how the NHS and social care system works, and how the patient voice is used to improve local services.
• Cares about the views and wellbeing of young people.
• Enjoys talking to people.
• Enjoys working as part of a team.
• Is organised and reliable.
• Is looking to gain confidence and experience to boost their CV.

What time commitment will I be expected to make?  

Our volunteers typically help with one or two events each month however you can do more, or less depending on your study commitments. Volunteering with us is flexible, and you decide when you would like to help!

Will my expenses be paid?

We reimburse volunteers for travel expenses, including bus and train fare, and for refreshments.

Will I receive training?

Full training and ongoing support will be provided for this role.

If you have any questions about volunteering with us, please contact our Volunteer Officer: volunteers@healthwatchsurrey.co.uk

Do you want to improve health and social care services in Surrey and ensure that local people have a say in how services that affect them are run?

• Healthwatch Surrey listens to what local people have to say about the health and social care services they access.
• We take their concerns to decision makers, to influence and improve how local services are run.
• We keep an eye on changes to services and make sure that local people are consulted in decision making and in the design of local health and social care services.

We couldn’t do this without the help and support of our dedicated team of Community Promoters.

Role Summary:

What will I do as a Community Promoter?

• Support our engagement team in talking to local people about what we do on our Healthwatch stands at events and fairs.
• Support our team in delivering our presentation to local community groups, charities and other organisations who would benefit from knowing about us.
• Help us to create videos and social media content that can be used to show others what we do.
• Take leaflets and posters out to public places in your local area.
• Research and identify groups who meet in Surrey who may want to know more about us.

This role will suit someone who:

• Is interested in health and social care.
• Enjoys talking to people.
• Is confident and outgoing.
• Is creative.
• Can work under pressure.
• Enjoys working as part of a team.
• Is organised and reliable.

Practical Considerations:

Where will I be volunteering?

We are currently looking for Community Promoters to support us out in the community in Guildford and Waverley, Surrey Heath, Surrey Downs, North West Surrey, and East Surrey. Please let us know which location you are interested in volunteering in on your application.

What time commitment will I be expected to make?

Our Community Promoters typically help with one or two events each month however you can do more, or less if you wish. Volunteering with us is flexible.

Will my expenses be paid?

We reimburse volunteers for travel expenses.

What training will I need?

Full training and support will be provided.

If you have any questions about volunteering with us, please contact our Volunteer Officer: volunteers@healthwatchsurrey.co.uk