Volunteer Companion - Hospital - Sunderland

Your role will include some of, but is not restricted to, the following tasks:

• Supporting the medical team to offer a positive end of life experience.
• Spending time listening and talking with patients, family, friends, and carers.
• Giving family members/carers a short break.
• Sharing information about local support services and signposting to other Marie Curie resources and services, if appropriate.
• Writing and submitting, to the Volunteer Manager, a short report on each visit.
• Keeping the Volunteer Manager informed of any changes in connection with the patient, either in person or by telephone.
• Being an active team member of the Marie Curie Companion service.
• Attending group support and development sessions.

Location: Sunderland Royal Hospital

The qualities, skills and experience you will need: 

• Comfortable being with, and talking about death and dying
• Caring and compassionate
• Patience, empathic and self-aware
• Confident communicator, verbally and in writing
• Excellent listener
• Friendly and good humoured
• Resilient and able to accept feedback
• Reliable and good timekeeper
• Able to use their own initiative and accept offers of support
• Able to be a committed and supportive team member

What can you gain from this opportunity: 

• A real sense of purpose and pride in contributing to Marie Curie’s mission to close the gap in end-of-life care.
• An excellent opportunity to build on your skills and experience in a charity environment.
• Full training, ongoing guidance, wellbeing support and supervision in your role.
• Recognition for your time.
• Agreed reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.

What we ask of you: 

• To provide two references from non-family members and other relevant documents related to the role.
• To keep to all the charity’s policies and procedures.
• Access to a personal email account.
• To complete an induction and any training related to the role.
• Complete mandatory training and role related renewals.
• Minimum age age of 18
• Commitment requirement of 3 hours per week for a minimum of 1 year

What you’ll gain:

• Full training, ongoing guidance and wellbeing support
• Recognition for your time
• Deep sense of purpose
• Meet amazing people and grow your skills
• Be part of the UK’s leading end-of-life charity

Perks:

• Travel and expenses covered
• Access to discounts on shopping, dining, travel and more

Please note: This opportunity requires you to submit a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Application - Marie Curie will cover the cost of this. 

Need more information

Contact our Volunteer Services Officer