Volunteering

The volunteer will play a valuable role in supporting patients and their relatives during their stay in the High Dependency Unit (HDU). They will work alongside a team whose priority is to make sure the patient is receiving high quality and compassionate care. In an often fast paced and technical environment, the volunteers will focus on communication and personal interaction, to enhance the patient’s experience and promote recovery.

This is a unique environment to volunteer in. It is a busy and rewarding environment with the volunteering role providing a valuable contribution to patient experience. Volunteers do however need to have an awareness of their own emotional strengths and weaknesses.

 Some patients may have tracheostomies or tube attachments and some may be approaching the end of their life. Although volunteers would never be involved in ‘clinical’ activities they must be able to function in this environment sensitively and comfortably.

You must meet the following criteria to apply: 

• Must be over 18 years of age
• No recent close bereavement in intensive care/high dependency
• Able to communicate sensitively and appropriately with people in distress and in challenging situations 
• Skills in active listening
• Able to use basic functions on iPads/e-tablets 
• Treating all patients equally with dignity and respect regardless of their viewpoints or personal preferences
• To be able to quickly identify an appropriate member of staff to whom to refer clinical questions and resist answering such questions personally
• To demonstrate a positive ‘can-do’ approach to the role
• Good time keeping and reliable attendance
• Clear understanding of the boundaries of their role and to liaise with clinical staff before commencing activities with patients
• Able to speak up with any concerns
• Demonstrates a high level of understanding of patient confidentiality. 

This role would particularly suit someone who is currently studying healthcare or is looking to study health care or has recently retired from a health care role.

Commitment Required: 

Minimum three hours per week organised on a rota basis with a team of volunteers to cover: Monday-Sunday 11am-7pm.

Tasks and Activities: 

Checks:

The following checks will be carried out by the Voluntary Services Team: enhanced DBS, references, occupational health screening and on line induction. 

Interview Dates and Training

Due to staff capacity we will need to schedule in the interviews in advance.  If you are selected for interview (in person on the St Thomas Hospital site)  the dates we will be offering you are:

Thurs 26th  Nov at 11.00 am

Mon 30th Nov at 5.30 pm

Tues 1st Dec at 2.00 pm.

Only candidates short listed will be invited for interview.  You will be informed if you have or have not been shortlisted when recruitment closes. 

You will need to be able to attend a half day training course before you can start this role.  This has been scheduled for Thursday 21st Jan 2027 - you must be able to attend this training and there are no other options.  

When you apply for this role please indicate that you will be available for the intervie dates (at least one) and the training date of the 21st Jan 2027.