NHS Lanarkshire Volunteering

Ward Helper Volunteer

Ward Helper – Role Purpose

To support patients in the ward by spending time with them, assisting with distributing meals or carrying out activities.

Where

Various locations throughout NHS Lanarkshire

When

Monday – Sunday, various times.

Tasks to be undertaken

Volunteers can carry out a range of duties to support patients within the wards. Patients may be elderly or not have any visitors so having volunteers spend time with them can really make a difference.

Our ward helpers can support with some or all of the following tasks:

• Chatting to patients and helping them feel at ease
• Assist during the patient mealtimes (12pm or 5pm) to distribute food and drinks and help to clear up at the end
• Serving juice, tea and coffee to patients under ward instruction
• Playing board games or arts and crafts with patients
• Offering companionship and someone the patients can talk to

Tasks NOT to be undertaken

• Manual handling of patients
• Pushing patients or visitors in wheelchairs
• Personal care
• Taking patients to the toilet
• Clinical duties

Skills, attitudes and experience needed

There is no experience required for this role but the following attributes are desirable:

• Be able to work as part of a team as well as individually
• Be good natured and patient
• Be a good listener
• Be able to maintain confidentiality
• Be willing to attend regular support meetings
• Be interested in working with people of all ages
• Have an awareness of mental health problems, in particular dementia, depression and anxiety or be willing to undergo awareness training
• Be able to work within Health and Safety and infection control protocols

Support/Supervision

• A named member of ward staff provides day-to-day support for volunteers on site.
• Support can also be provided from the NHS Lanarkshire Voluntary Services team. You can contact the team at HRVolunteering@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk. This mailbox is monitored Monday-Friday 9am-5pm. Alternatively, you can call 07966296367

Expenses

• Travel expenses can be claimed in line with NHS Lanarkshire policy.
  In order to claim expenses all receipts must be provided when submitting expense claim.
  Please contact the team for more support in claiming back expenses.