For most volunteering roles, there are a number of pre-employment checks that we must do which can take several weeks to complete. You will not be able to volunteer until this process has been completed.
As part of the recruitment process, this Trust, in line with all NHS Trusts is required to seek Disclosure and Barring Services clearance (DBS) on all members of staff and those volunteering their services who, in the course of their normal duties, have access with children and/or vulnerable adults.
You may also be required to complete a work health assessment by our Occupational Health team whose aim it is to promote and maintain the health of all people.
Before health clearance is given for volunteering, you may be contacted by the Occupational Health team and may need to be seen by an occupational health advisor or physician. You may be asked to have a vaccination/s if required.
You will be invited to come in for an informal interview. This will give us a chance to get a better understanding of what kind of volunteering work you would like to do.
We recruit into specific vacant volunteer roles, so this meeting will help us establish if there are any suitable roles for you at the moment.
Volunteers must be aged 16 or over. To work in some acute areas, volunteers need to be aged 18 or over. There is no upper age limit.
We ask for a minimum commitment of 100 hours, however many of our volunteers are happy to stay with us for longer.
For most roles, a weekly commitment of a minimum of three hours is required but this can vary according to the specific volunteer role.
You are free to volunteer for as many hours as you would like per week, however this needs to be at regular, agreed times.
We are very flexible and there are often opportunities to volunteer in the evening or at weekends.
It is not possible to engage in shadowing staff, nor will you ever be asked to provide any clinical care to patients. There is often some confusion between work experience and volunteering.
Volunteering involves a regular commitment of time and is not a structured learning programme.
You will not be shadowing and assisting staff and you will not rotate regularly between departments. You are likely, however, to get a good feel of how a hospital works.
Volunteers can claim back any out of pocket expenses they have encountered. There is a policy which governs this process.
Not at all! We are also seeking volunteers to help us at other Trust locations and out within the community.
Volunteering involves a regular commitment of time and is not a structured learning programme. You will not be shadowing and assisting staff and you will not rotate regularly between departments. You are likely, however, to get a good feel of how a Hospital works.
