Ward and Department helpers

What would I be doing?

 As a ward or  department volunteer your role would be to provide support for patients and  visitors during their stay in a hospital or hospice. You would play an  important part in making sure patients have a pleasant stay, by offering social  and practical support.
The tasks  assigned to ward helper volunteers can vary, but they could include:

• helping to make beds and tidy lockers
• topping up water jugs, pouring/fetching drinks for patients
• arranging flowers, changing the water, cleaning vases
• checking and tidying linen
• helping with menus
• helping to serve meals and drinks
• assisting patients to eat and drink
• taking phone messages and passing them on to a member of staff
• accompanying more mobile patients to hospital departments, the       hospital shop and around the grounds
• writing letters for patients or reading to them
• playing cards or board games
• talking to patients and listening to them
• restocking the leaflet rack and re-ordering leaflets as       required.

What skills would I need?

To be a ward helper, you should:

• have a friendly, approachable manner
• be calm and patient, and be prepared to listen to people
• have a compassionate nature
• have a genuine interest in helping people
• be confident and flexible
• be physically fit and agile to meet the needs of the ward
• have a smart appearance
• understand the importance of confidentiality and the  limitations of the role.

If you'd like to know more about being a  volunteer, give us acall! All calls are confidential and because we're impartial, you'llget the best possible advice on your options.  You can also email an adviser or request a call back at a time tosuit you.