Hospital Volunteer

What is a Hospital Volunteer?

Hospital Volunteers provide support for patients who are in hospital for mental health reasons.

Hospital Volunteers help our Clients:

• be heard when it matters most.
• stay in control of decisions around care and treatment whilst in hospital.
• ensure their rights are met, including to an Independent Mental Health Advocate (IMHA).

They volunteer alongside our paid IMHAs (Independent Mental Health Advocate) – who provide the statutory support patients are entitled to under the Mental Health Act. Hospital Volunteers have a designated IMHA to partner with, so they understand one other’s role and work together to provide the best service possible to our Clients.

What will I do?

Before you start:

• complete our application process, training, and shadowing to a satisfactory standard.
• depending on your preferences, set a day and time to regularly volunteer a few hours.
• you will be introduced to an IMHA who will provide practice support for you.

At your first session:

• we will agree with you a hospital ward to work on.
• you’ll introduce yourself and engage proactively about our service and how we can help, with staff and patients on the ward.
• you will speak to any patients 1 to 1, who want outcomes achieved or their voices heard with respect to their care and support whilst in hospital.

At sessions that follow:

• you will continue to introduce yourself to new patients and staff.
• you will work on ongoing outcomes with any patients from previous weeks.

What next?

• at the end of the session you will feedback to us on how the session has gone.
• you will write up notes and send these to a delegated IMHA and the Volunteer Coordinator.
• experienced volunteers maybe able to provide support on a second ward – but only if they can do so within their usual volunteering hours.

Skills

What can I expect from VoiceAbility?

• the opportunity to make a positive difference to people with care and support needs.
• the opportunity to learn new skills, meet new people and gain experience in your chosen volunteering role(s).
• the opportunity to help us develop our volunteering work.
• volunteer induction training and training specific to any volunteering role you undertake.
• 1:1 Support from VoiceAbility staff including regular feedback.
• a reference if you complete over six months of Volunteering.
• the equipment you need to complete your role.
• reimbursement of expenses and travel costs in line with VoiceAbility policy.

What do VoiceAbility expect from me?

• to complete the recruitment process including providing two references and complete a DBS check (VoiceAbility will cover the cost of this).
• to complete all necessary training.
• understand and sign the Volunteering Agreement.
• to perform your role in a way that is consistent with VoiceAbility’s Values of being.

*We are particularly interested in hearing from those with experience of care and support needs*