British Red Cross - Independent Living Service Volunteer (Discharge support)

Volunteers supporting the Independent Living Service will be based at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and in the wider community.

What you will be doing

BRC is looking to recruit up to 10 volunteers to support their Independent Living Service. Volunteers can come from any background, studying any course. As one of our volunteers, you will be an essential part of our team. You will support patients who help leave hospital by:

• Visiting them as they get ready to go home
• Bringing them home from hospital
• Helping them settle back home, ensuring they are safe and well, with access to the things they need, such as essential shopping, sufficient heating, and medication
• Helping them find further support if they need it
• Keeping a record of help provided.

Ideally, we'd like you to be able to volunteer for a minimum of 5 hours a week within these hours: Monday-Friday 10:30am-9:30pm and/or Saturday/Sunday 10:30am-6:30pm. However, we are flexible, and you can do anything from a 2- hour shift and/or volunteer on a fortnightly basis, with a minimum commitment of six months.

This role is part of an exciting new NHS and Adult Social Care volunteering programme, seeking to transform the way we do volunteering locally. To find out more about other innovative new roles we are creating, please ask to be put in contact with Serena Jester from the volunteering programme team.

Essential Skills:

If you are compassionate and like helping and meeting new people, then this could be the role for you. You’ll also need to:

• Be warm and friendly, with empathy for others
• Have good communication skills
• Be encouraging and supportive
• Be able to work independently and as a part of a team
• Be able to commit to a regular shift

What will students learn?

What's in it for you

·      Knowing you are making a real difference to the lives of vulnerable people and the ongoing mission of the British Red Cross

·      Meet new people and be part of a friendly and supportive team

·      Develop your existing skills and gain new ones including team working and one-to-one communication - some of our volunteers have even gone on to join our paid staff team!

·      Be part of the world’s largest humanitarian organisation

And …

·      All training and induction for the role (there is no charge for training)

·      On going support from the BRC volunteer manager

·      Reasonable pre-agreed travel expenses for the role including for attending training

Additional Information:

·     How to apply: Via Red Cross website, link will be provided when you click on Join. Please get in touch for an informal conversation about the role and to answer any questions you might have.

·      Is there an interview? Informal in person meeting after application

·     BRC will be responsible for arranging and providing all the required training for volunteers.

·     Enhanced DBS Required (BRC will organise)