Job summary
- Main area
- Voluntary work
- Grade
- Voluntary
- Contract
- Voluntary: 6 months (Ongoing as required)
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- Flexible working
- Term time hours
- Other
- Employer
- North Bristol NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Southmead Hospital
- Town
- Bristol
- Salary
- Voluntary unpaid role
- Closing
- 31/03/2028 23:59
Employer heading
Patient Befriender (ADVERTISING)
Voluntary
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Job overview
About North Bristol Trust’s Volunteer Services
Volunteers make a unique and valuable contribution to patients, carers, relatives, visitors and staff at North Bristol Trust (NBT).
Volunteer Services have patients at the heart of everything we do and we aim to enhance the patient experience and support NBT staff through creating and supporting meaningful volunteer roles. NBT has established a valued, skilled and passionate team of over 400 volunteers across the Trust from patient befrienders, meet and greeters, Spiritual and Pastoral Care volunteers, Fresh Arts volunteers, and many more.
Our vision is to: To deliver an inclusive, supportive, and safe Volunteer Service, driven by continuous learning and our commitment to put the patient experience at the heart of everything we do.
Main duties of the job
Patient Befriender Volunteer
We are looking for volunteers to provide company and companionship to suitable patients, spending time with them on the wards, engaging in conversation or activities, with the support and supervision of ward staff.
We are looking for volunteers who enjoy meeting new people, have excellent listening skills, and a friendly and open manner. In return you will meet new people and contribute to improving the wellbeing of our patients. You will also gain practical volunteer experience and learn about the healthcare environment gaining experience that may be transferable to paid employment.
Working for our organisation
North Bristol NHS Trust employs over 12,000 staff providing healthcare to the residents of Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset from our award-winning hospital building at Southmead. We are the regional Major Trauma Centre, and an internationally recognised centre of excellence in a range of services and major specialities. Our vision is that by enabling our teams to be the best that they can be, we will provide exceptional healthcare, personally delivered.
We commit to treating each patient as an individual with respect and dignity, aiming to deliver excellent clinical outcomes and a first-class experience for everyone who uses our services.
North Bristol NHS Trust values all people as individuals. We aim to be an anti-discriminatory organisation and are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We welcome applicants from all underrepresented groups.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- Speak to the nurse in charge upon arrival, who will provide information on what patient to offer befriending support
- Provide companionship to patients by talking and listening to them
- Encourage patients to participate in social and recreational activities, such as reading (this could be reading to patients or encouraging and supporting them to read to themselves), doing a jigsaw, sharing a crossword, playing cards, or other appropriate activities that appeal to the patient
- If you would like to do a creative or a musical activity with the patient, please consult Volunteer Services so that the activities align with Fresh Arts Guidelines
- Prompt patients to make their menu choices for the next day’s meals and recording these on their menu request form
- Chat with carers and signposting to the hospital’s carers liaison service
- Assist patients to fill in patient feedback forms when discharged
- Buy items from the hospital shop on the patient’s behalf, with permission from the patient and knowledge of the nurse in charge
- Notify the appropriate staff member if the patient would like refreshments, or assistance
- Escalate any concerns immediately to a member of staff
Person specification
Experience
Essential criteria
- Excellent listening skills and a non-judgemental attitude
- A friendly and open manner
Desirable criteria
- Experience working with people with cognitive impairments or dementia
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Volunteer Services
- Job title
- Volunteer Service Coordinator
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0117 41 40110
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