Volunteers are crucial to the NHS’s vision for the future of health and social care and there has never been a better time to become a volunteer in a health care setting.
The Norfolk & Norwich ...
Inpatient Volunteers
Contact person
Louise Willimott
#60141
Scan me or visit www.getinvolvednorfolk.org.uk/o/Norfolk--Norwich-University-Hospitals-NHS-Foundation-Trust/opportunities/Inpatient-Volunteers/60141 to join
Summary
Volunteering on our wards is a wonderful way to make a real difference to patients, families and staff.
Detailed description
Whether by offering companionship, supporting mealtimes, encouraging mobility, or helping ward teams with day-to-day tasks, our inpatient volunteers play a vital role in supporting patients, their families, and our staff.
Our volunteers come from all walks of life and bring kindness, creativity, and compassion to their roles. A hospital stay can be confusing and stressful for anyone, but our volunteers play a vital role in improving the experience of patients, relatives, and visitors. The company of a friendly volunteer can greatly enhance wellbeing and has been linked to improved recovery outcomes. Families also value knowing that their loved ones are receiving companionship and support when they cannot be present themselves.
Ward-based volunteers can support our patients in many meaningful ways, and the role can be tailored to suit individual strengths and interests — whether that’s enjoying conversation, engaging in creative activities or providing practical assistance to staff.
How Volunteers Support Our Patients
As an Inpatient Volunteer, you may:
- Provide companionship, conversation and a listening ear
- Support simple activities such as quizzes, arts and crafts, board games or sing-alongs
- Help patients to stay socially engaged and feel supported
- Welcome visitors and assist ward clerks with basic administrative tasks
- Support housekeeping staff to maintain a clean, welcoming ward environment
- Run errands
- Help with refreshments and distributing meals at lunchtimes
- Assist with transporting patients in wheelchairs
- Encourage patients to engage in simple bedside or chair-based exercises
Who We're Looking For
We welcome volunteers who are:
- Friendly, compassionate and caring
- Positive, patient and empathetic
- Resilient to a busy hospital and ward environment
- Proactive, reliable, and able to use initiative
- Approachable, with a good sense of humour
Training and Support
All our volunteers receive a full induction and ongoing support, with opportunities to learn new skills - from mealtime awareness, safe wheelchair use, dementia awareness and more.
If you feel suited to this role, please message us to express your interest.
Please note: We are unable to accept applications for ward-based volunteering from individuals under 17.5 years of age.
What we will provide to volunteers
💸 Reimbursement of costs
🤝 Extra support
About Norfolk & Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Volunteers are crucial to the NHS’s vision for the future of health and social care and there has never been a better time to become a volunteer in a health care setting.
The Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital has invested greatly in its volunteer programme and is able to offer a variety of rewarding and impactful volunteering opportunities which benefit the volunteers, our patients, our families, and our hospital staff.
If you would like to contribute to your local community, learn new skills, meet new friends or discover career options while contributing to a great experience of care, we have a role for you!
There is a myriad of volunteer roles at NNUH, providing stimulating, challenging, and rewarding opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds. Our volunteers provide a valuable non-clinical dimension to hospital life, contributing their skills to wards, clinics, way finding, administration, telephone wellbeing, fundraising, hydration & nutrition, Dementia, Driving and Settling in at home, to name but a few.