Volunteer Roles - Patient Focussed

Harris HospisCare could not achieve what it does without the dedicated support of 350 volunteers who support us in so many extraordinary ways, including manning our reception area, bereavement counselling, home support, assisting in our Caritas Centre, gardening and transporting patients, as well as serving and sorting stock in our shops.

Bereavement Service

Bereavement volunteers (BSVs) provide support to people who have been bereaved. There is specific training for this role which consists of 40 hours over three months. Volunteers who undertake this training are expected to commit to 2 years in the role, and to provide a minimum of two face-to-face contacts per week. There are opportunities for BSVs who have worked with us to train as group facilitators and to work alongside our qualified staff.

Caritas Centre

The Caritas Centre is open three days a week – Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Volunteers working here will welcome patients, families, carers and visitors, offering tea, coffee and a ‘listening ear’.  Some will act as information guides, helping people locate relevant information in written form or via the internet. Volunteers can also support the nursing team by assisting patients who spend the day in the Centre helping with meals, or bathing and other practical tasks.

Volunteers work between 9.30am and 3pm.

Caritas Centre volunteers will be expected to attend a tailor made training programme, and will take part in regular support groups with an experienced facilitator.

Reception

Volunteer receptions work half days.  They welcome visitors, answer the telephones and take messages.

Community Support Volunteers

Following completion of the training programme and having volunteered within the Caritas Centre for a period of time, volunteers are offered the opportunity to carry out some further training. This training equips volunteers with the skills needed to offer support to people within their own homes.

Community Support Volunteers help out patients in the home, offering respite for carers and providing practical help such as talking with patients, helping with shopping, or taking patients out for a walk or to appointments.  

Driving

Volunteer drivers drive patients who may be spending the day at the hospice or attending a clinic appointment, to and from the hospice. Sometimes they take patients to hospital appointments. When a patient needs an escort, volunteer drivers carry out this service. Driving volunteers are also expected to attend the training programme.