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Job summary

Main area
Volunteer
Grade
Volunteer
Contract
Voluntary: 0 days
Hours
Flexible working - 4 hours per week
Job ref
265-7481402
Employer
Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Northampton General Hospital
Town
Northampton
Salary
Unpaid
Closing
24/09/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust logo

Emergency Department (A&E) Volunteer (Over 18s only)

Volunteer

Job overview

Our volunteers are an invaluable part of the hospital team. Working with us in a  volunteering role means you’re playing a part in delivering the best possible care to our patients and their families.

Are you friendly, caring and able to approach people to offer help?

We are looking for volunteers to support in our busy A&E departments, you will support our patients across A&E making their stay as comfortable as possible.

We are also supporting Northamptonshire Carers by engaging with our patients at A&E to improve their wellbeing – this will continue during their stay if admitted.

Main duties of the job

You will be based in A&E supporting staff with patient care. You will receive training and shadow an experienced volunteer to start with. Your duties will then include:

  • Spending time with patients, engaging in friendly conversation
  • Help and assist with hydration and nutrition
  • Directional support
  • Restocking

Volunteers cannot replace the role of a paid employee and this is not a work placement.

Working for our organisation

Northampton General Hospital is one of the largest employers in the area and we are on an exciting journey. All our divisions are committed to doing things better, with more efficiency as we update, modernise, and advance. We have also entered a Group Model with neighbouring Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and become University Hospitals of Northamptonshire.

Our Excellence Values

Compassion

Accountability

Respect

Integrity

Courage

We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and help to unleash everyone’s full potential. As an organisation, we value how we communicate and promote our vacancies to all communities.

The Hospital Group encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups, especially those from BAME, Disabled and LGBTQ+ backgrounds as these are underrepresented in our hospitals.

We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative.

We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from all backgrounds. This ensures everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging working for Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

  •         Spending time with patients, engaging in friendly conversation
  •          Help and assist with hydration and nutrition
  • Ensure kitchen areas are clean.
  • Wellbeing – offer books and puzzles to patients.
  • Restocking, ensuring enough stock for staff e.g., alcohol wipes, linen
  • Linen trolleys – each area has different requirements, check the needs, and restock as required, ensuring it is tidy
  • Support patients with completing Friends & Family cards

We welcome volunteers from all backgrounds, if you require reasonable adjustments to make your application, please contact us on 01604 523159 to book an appointment with the team. 

Person specification

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria
  • Show empathy and compassion towards others and treats people with dignity and respect.
  • Experience assisting the public.

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Ability to communicate in a calm and professional manner.
  • Team player
Desirable criteria
  • Good interpersonal skills.

Key Competencies. Personal Qualities and Attributes

Essential criteria
  • Recognise when appropriate to seek support from others.
  • Reliable, honest and punctual.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

We are a Living Wage EmployerApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyMenopause Friendly EmployerPositive about disabled peopleJob share policyDisability confident leaderPathway to excellenceDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - SilverMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.We offer Wagestream - A financial wellbeing benefit which lets you access your pay as you earn it.ENEI Gold '22NHS Rainbow badgeAccessAbleNHS 75th BirthdayHappy to Talk Flexible WorkingNHS Rainbow Badge - BronzeArmed Forces Covenant111 Help Us Help YouCycle to Work

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Jane Steinerstamps
Job title
Volunteer Services Coordinator
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01604 523159
Additional information

N/A

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