Job overview

Join our super volunteers!

We know just how much our wonderful volunteers can improve a patient’s stay here at Addenbrooke's or the Rosie hospital.

We are looking for enthusiastic and motivated individuals who have a caring attitude and a commitment to supporting the Trust’s Values, Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent.

Being a volunteer has proved extremely rewarding for many here at CUH and provides great opportunities to learn new skills and experience in the healthcare setting, as you help to improve the care and experience of our patients, their families and support staff.

Please note important information – This role is specifically for Saturdays and Sundays only, but the training for this role will need to take place during the week when trainers are available. Please only apply if you are able to do two sessions of training on a weekday before then starting at weekends.

https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/our-people/volunteering/

“I love volunteering at CUH because I keep learning so much, from the patients, from the staff and from being involved.” Simon, CUH Volunteer

As per Home Office guidelines, please be aware that, unfortunately, the Trust is unable to offer sponsorship for this particular position.

Please note, this role is volunteering. 

Main duties of the job

As a ward volunteer, once trained, you will be allocated your own ward which will then remain your regular area. This allows you to get used to the area, staff and types of patients you will see on your specific ward.

 The role involves visiting patients who could be lonely, anxious or frightened. Volunteers also take on occasional visiting requests from staff, patients and family members, to visit patients in other areas as well.

You’ll meet a wide range of people as you move through the ward, interacting with individual patients. Often people just want someone to talk to, but you might be involved in playing a game or reading a book or magazine with a patient, shopping for small items from the concourse, or taking a patient to one of the garden spaces on site. Volunteers also give out activity packs to help patients to pass the time. Good communication skills, confidence and adaptability are important for this type of role.
If you are volunteering during a mealtime, another part of this role is assisting the housekeeping team serve the meals to patients. You may also be involved on the drinks round as well but its fine anytime whilst on the ward to offer hot and cold drinks to patients.

Available weekend shifts
10.30 – 13.00
14.00 – 16.00
16.30 – 18.30 

Working for our organisation

Our Trust

Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 13,000 staff and over 1100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people – patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing ‘outstanding’ care to our patients and rated ‘Good’ overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH’s values – Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent – are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population.

CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people’s age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background.