Volunteer to Career - Emergency Department, NNUH

This Volunteer to Career role is a six-month volunteering placement with career development support. Beyond this there is the potential to extend your volunteering placement with Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) and/or continue with onward training opportunities as agreed.

Joining as part of the Volunteer to Career (VtC) Programme, you will be assigned a mentor. Your mentor will support you to discover job roles in Health & Social Care, as well as providing free training and support to give you the confidence and skills to pass interviews and into employment.

Role task list

·        Liaise with patients to see if they are offered regular food and fluids – consultation of approval from staff (Undertake and deliver)

·        Check with patients if they would like a shower – (clinical staff to arrange)

·        Engage patients in risk appropriate meaningful therapeutic activities including breathing techniques

·        Offer companionship to patients while they wait to be seen by the mental health team

·        Check in on those patients who do not wish companionship, to check if they would like anything (e.g., refreshments)

·        Support patients by using reasonable adjustments (communication needs e.g., if a patient is unable to communicate verbally may need to communicate via writing) where required

·        Support patients’ relatives by offering them a listening ear, refreshments or showing them where the facilities are 

·        Handing-out and collecting Mental Health specific feedback forms supporting patients and families if they wish

·        Offering leaflets about mental health support services in the community

Special considerations for department/area of volunteering

The Emergency Department can be very busy and stressful to work in and patients may be seriously ill or in life threatening conditions. Patients and those accompanying them can also be extremely worried, upset and emotional. This position would suit someone with a calm and mature disposition, who is happy to volunteer in a busy and noisy environment, and who feels like they could offer reassurance to patients and their families.

Volunteers will be expected to attend one session a week. Volunteering sessions take place Monday to Friday -10am till 1pm, 1pm till 4pm and 4pm till 7pm. The specific day(s) and times will be agreed between yourself and Victoria Warren-Potter (Emergency Department Volunteer Coordinator).

Please note, the recruitment process for this role includes an informal interview which will take place on a weekday between 9.00am-3.00pm and attendance at an induction day, which will also take place on a weekday between 9.30am and 3.00pm.

Volunteer William's story:

“As a former care assistant, I realised that communication and connection are vital for patients’ mental – well-being. The Healthcare sector can be very stressful, pressure can mount on staff when providing care, and this pressure limits the staff’s ability to meet patients’ social needs. However, when we can, I have seen the healthcare team extend a smile at every opportunity, or a conversation over tea, an extra five minutes for a chat. This communication often alleviated the worry and loneliness that so many of our elderly residents faced.  

This voluntary role is dedicated to the same kindness, communication and engagement. I hoped it would allow me to ease pressure on staff and be the friendly face patients need. Only 15% of Psychology graduates go into a psychology-related field. It is highly competitive, and many students are unaware of the realities of working in psychology.  Volunteering has put my foot in the door. It involves exposure to vulnerable patients, working within an MDT and, unfortunately, filling out paperwork; much like a clinical psychologist. Jokes aside, though within a voluntary capacity, I have been enabled to do so much."

Volunteer to Career at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital is offered in partnership with the Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board.