Welcome to the Poole Hospital and Outpatients Assessment Clinic (OAC) Volunteering Portal
Poole Hospital and the OAC are part of University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust, where we offer a range of rewarding volunteering opportunities.
Roles include assisting on wards, talking with or feeding patients (with full training provided), and supporting the hospital charity team.
Please complete the application form and indicate the roles you’re interested in. Once received, we’ll arrange an informal meeting at the hospital. If you proceed, you may be required to complete a DBS and ID check.
Important Notice for Applicants Under 18
Thank you for submitting your response. We are sorry but we cannot accept applicants under 18 years of age due to safety concerns.
We have a special volunteering programme for young volunteers (aged 16-18) and will provide information on our website soon.
If you are looking to gain some experience in the trust please visit our work experience page for more information.
https://www.uhd.nhs.uk/careers/work-experience
Thank you
Attention all Volunteers and Applicants!!!
We need you in the roles below 👇 and look forward to hearing from you!
Guide volunteers
Our guide volunteers are an essential part of our volunteering programme as they would often be the first person a patient would see.
You will meet and greet patients and visitors when they arrive at the hospital and direct or guide them to the appropriate ward or department.
No two days are ever the same volunteers may be required to help patients with wheelchairs if they are able to and are wheelchair trained. Our volunteers also assist to ensure there are enough wheelchairs at the hospital entrances.
Our guide volunteers are extremely valued and are a key part of the hospital, working very closely with our reception teams across the trust.
Requirements
This is an active role which aims to provide extra support to our patients and therefore you’ll need to be able to be mobile for the duration of your shift.
You will need to be interested in the wellbeing of our patients and able to contribute to patient care by helping and linking with others within the boundaries of your volunteer role.
Overall you will have compassion and understanding and be able to demonstrate our Trust's Values in everything you do as a volunteer with us.
A full role-description is available on request.
Outpatient volunteers
Our outpatient volunteers are key when patients arrive for their outpatient appointments.
You will meet and greet patients and direct them to their relevant clinic. You will also be required to support them with the self check in machines upon arrival.
Part of the role on outpatients would be at times to help manage the patient flow or to call patients forward for their appointments or by their ticket number.
Our outpatient volunteers are extremely valuable and are a key part of the hospital working very closely with our outpatient team across the trust.
Requirements
This is an active role which aims to provide extra support to our patients and therefore you’ll need to be able to be mobile for the duration of your shift.
You will need to be interested in the wellbeing of our patients and able to contribute to patient care by helping and linking with others within the boundaries of our volunteer role.
Overall you will have compassion and understanding and be able to demonstrate our Trust's Values in everything you do as a volunteer with us.
A full role-description is available on request.
UHD Charity volunteers
Our UHD Charity volunteers are key to helping our charity both within the hospital and at pop events off site.
They have a varied role including running the charity bookshop or ‘pop-up’ shops on and off hospital site/s. Admin support such as updating UHD Charity promotional materials across all UHD sites including charity information boards, poster and leaflet points and replenishing donation envelopes.
They are involved in Lottery promotion by helping to help advertise the UHD lottery in hospital entrances across our sites or attending community events. This can include attending cheque presentations, meetings, social events, fundraisers and galas.
Requirements
This is an active role at times and therefore you will need to be able to be mobile for the duration of your shift. You should be able to volunteer as part of team and be discreet and able to maintain confidentiality.
Overall you will be able to demonstrate our Trust's Values in everything you do as a volunteer with us. A full role-description is available on request.
Mealtime Companions
We have volunteers helping in many different inpatient wards across the hospital. This role is to support our older person services wards at mealtimes with feeding, hydration and sharing information with the allocated nurse for the patients.
Our volunteers can provide an extra layer of practical support and help to ensure the wellbeing of all of our patients. Volunteers on OPS wards can be aged 16+.
As one of our valued mealtime companion volunteers, you will assist ward staff by providing refreshments to patients and relatives, spending time chatting with or befriending patients and ensuring their wellbeing.
You will help with many things and even the smallest thing can make a real difference, for example by ensuring patients can access the trust portable phones to speak to loved ones or by obtaining additional items such as pillows or extra blankets to ensure the patient's comfort and wellbeing during their stay.
This is a great role to give insight into a healthcare role and is very much valued by our patients and staff alike.
Requirements
This is an active role which aims to provide extra support to our patients and therefore you will need to be able to be mobile for the duration of your shift.
You will need to be interested in the wellbeing of our patients and able to contribute to patient care by helping and linking with others within the boundaries of our volunteer role.
Overall, you will have compassion and understanding and be able to demonstrate our Trust's Values in everything you do as a volunteer with us.
A full role-description is available on request.
Volunteering for 16 and 17 years olds. Volunteering is available during the hours of Monday – Friday with shift times of 8-11, 11-2 and 2-5pm and a commitment of 6 months is required
We have a variety of roles including Guiding, administration and assisting on wards which could be talking to patients or carrying out food and drink rounds. We also have the outpatient’s clinic where the roles are steward marshalling, located at the Dolphin shopping centre
Our guide volunteers are an essential part of our volunteering programme as they would often be the first person a patient would see. You will meet and greet patients and visitors when they arrive at the hospital and direct or guide them to the appropriate ward or department.
In terms of ward volunteering, we have volunteers helping in many different inpatient wards across the hospital, from medical surgical and on our elderly care wards. Our volunteers can provide an extra layer of practical support and help to ensure the wellbeing of all of our patients. For many areas volunteers can be aged 16+, with the exception of the emergency medicine departments and maternity along with the cancer wards where the minimum age is currently 18 years of age.
As one of our valued ward-based volunteers, you will assist ward staff by providing refreshments to patients and relatives, spending time chatting with or befriending patients and ensuring their wellbeing.
You will help with many things and even the smallest thing can make a real difference, for example by ensuring patients can access the trust portable phones to speak to loved ones or by obtaining additional items such as pillows or extra blankets to ensure the patient's comfort and wellbeing during their stay.
This is a great role to give insight into a healthcare role and is very much valued by our patients and staff alike.
Requirements
This is an active role which aims to provide extra support to our patients and therefore you will need to be able to be mobile for the duration of your shift.
You will need to be interested in the wellbeing of our patients and able to contribute to patient care by helping and linking with others within the boundaries of our volunteer role.
Overall you will have compassion and understanding and be able to demonstrate our Trust's Values in everything you do as a volunteer with us.
A full role-description is available on request.
Where can I volunteer?
University Hospital Dorset consists of three sites and one Outpatients Assessment Clinic. Joining as a volunteer will qualify you to volunteer at any of these sites; Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole and the Outpatients Assessment Clinic. You can contact our Volunteering Team by emailing us on proudto.volunteer@uhd.nhs.uk
Why Volunteer?
Volunteering is a great way of helping the local community and can have a positive impact on wellbeing.
Volunteering is an opportunity to meet and help a wide range of people increasing social interaction. This can be used as experience if returning to work or considering a career change. We encourage our volunteers to undertake the National Volunteers' Certificate which is online learning.
You do not need previous experience to volunteer. You will need to be kind and caring with an interest in people. Volunteers need to have a flexible approach to ensure the best service to our patients and staff. We ask volunteers to commit to at least 3 hours a week for a minimum of a six month period.
Volunteers need to be over 16 years of age. Volunteers will need to complete a health assessment and application form which can be completed from this page. You will require two references and will be asked to undertake a disclosure and barring check. Induction and training is provided by the hospital, volunteers receive agreed travel expenses and subsidised rates for meals and drinks in the restaurant.
“I am so glad that you are thinking of volunteering within our organisation. UHD is a great place to work and volunteer, with a truly patient-centred approach and a real commitment to teamwork. As such, we really value the contribution of our volunteers - you all make such a difference to the experience of our patients.”
