Veteran Aware Volunteer

Role Profile:

The aim of the Veteran Aware Volunteer role is to support the work of the NCH&C Veteran Aware Group (see below) by engaging with patients who are identified as being armed forces veterans. The volunteer will visit patients during their inpatient stay providing companionship, conversation and signposting to specialised community support services which are aimed at supporting veterans and their families. It is intended that volunteers for this role will have lived experience either as a veteran or a family member . Volunteering for this role involves an ongoing commitment of approximately 3 hours a week.

Activities undertaken by volunteers will not be used as a substitution for that of paid staff. Volunteers will not be asked to help in ways which facilitate a decrease in paid employment. The work of volunteers will always be to complement and not supplement that of paid employees of the Trust.

Key Responsibilities

Key responsibilities may vary from session to session and any variations will be discussed with you as needed, but they are likely to include:

1.     Providing companionship to patients

2.     Gathering patient & carer/family member feedback

3.     Sharing information on community based veteran support services and groups that may be helpful to the patient post-discharge

4.     Helping patients to arrange and receive visits (real and virtual)

5.     Reporting any concerns you have about individual patients to the Volunteer Champion

Registration and Training

All volunteers will need to undertake a Standard DBS check and provide two appropriate character references.

All volunteers will need to complete our volunteer recruitment, including our Volunteers’ Induction training. This will provide you with a comprehensive introduction to Voluntary Norfolk and NCHC NHS Trust; key subjects which are relevant to all volunteering roles, and practical matters such as how to log your hours and how to claim expenses. 

Refresher training sessions will be required throughout your time as a volunteer.

Volunteer Profile

A Ward Support Volunteer will be friendly, compassionate and enthusiastic about supporting the clinical teams, patients and family members.

In addition they will have/be:

1.     A good command of verbal and written English

2.     An armed forces veteran or person with lived experience (eg spouse, family member or carer)

3.     A commitment to undertake training appropriate to the role

4.     A good understanding of the importance of confidentiality

5.     Good communication and interpersonal skills

6.     A good understanding and demonstration of customer service standards

7.     The ability to work independently

8.     A flexible approach and attitude

9.     Responsible, thoughtful, honest

10 . Non-judgemental with a sympathetic nature

11. Willing to treat all patients, relatives, visitors, staff and other volunteers with consideration, politeness, dignity and respect

12. Able to work within the guidelines and to accept appropriate supervision and guidance from staff.

What is the Armed Forces Covenant (AFC)?

To those who proudly protect our nation, who do so with honour, courage, and commitment, the Armed Forces

Covenant is the nation’s commitment to you.

It is a pledge that together we acknowledge and understand that those who serve or who have served in

the armed forces, and their families, should be treated with fairness and respect in the communities, economy and society they serve with their lives.

The Armed Forces Act, which gained Royal Assent in Parliament (December 2021), enshrines the Armed Forces Covenant in law for the first time to help prevent service personnel and veterans being disadvantaged when accessing essential services like healthcare, education, and housing.

The covenant focusses on helping members of the armed forces community have the same access to government and commercial services and products as any other citizen.

This support is provided in a number of areas including:

·    Education and family well-being

·    Having a home

·    Starting a new career*

·    Access to healthcare*

·    Financial assistance

·    Discounted services

     * main issues of focus to NHS Trusts nationwide.

Veteran Aware at NCH&C.

The NCH&C Veteran Aware Group (VAG), chaired by NCH&C Veteran Aware Champion and Dyad (Andy Sumpner – former Royal Army Medical Corps paramedic), is a sub-committee of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group and meets bi-monthly. The primary remit of the VAG is to embed the Covenant ‘Manifesto’ standards into our operational day-to-day work. We have a small membership and are always looking for new members to get involved in the promotional work we are doing.