Role Description
Volunteer Role:Meet and Greet Buddy
Based at:Regional Neurological Rehabilitation Unit (RNRU), Homerton University Hospital, Homerton Row, Hackney, E9 6SR
Days/Times:3 Hours minimum on Mondays between 11:00 am and 4:30 pm, with one organised initial meeting on Monday Mornings between 11:30 and 12:30.
Responsible To:Leisure Coordinator
Main Purpose:To assist in welcoming, orientating and provision of household information to new patients arriving at the RNRU.
Duties
- To liaise with Leisure Coordinator on Monday morning, collecting information in preparation for the meeting new RNRU patients.
- To meet and welcome new patients on to the unit with the Leisure Coordinator or Speech and Language Therapy Assistant within 1 hour of their arrival.
- As appropriate offer examples of your experience of general life on the unit.
- Introduce new patients to others staying on the unit
- Be a friendly face to talk to, helping them settle into their surroundings
- Assist staff in orientating new patients and their families to areas of the unit
- Asking patients to give feedback on their experience of the ward by completing a survey
- To seek help from a member of staff as appropriate.
- Monitor patient information display points around the unit to ensure information is up to date and available to patients and visitors.
- To undergo training as required.
- To undertake any other duties that may reasonably be required.
Person Specification
Meet and Greet Buddy
ESSENTIAL:
- Aged 18 or over.
- Able to commit reliably to at least 3 hours a week for a minimum of six months
- Ability to relate well to people on a one to one basis and be sympathetic to others’ situations.
- Well presented, with a friendly and approachable manner and good verbal communication skills
- An ability to be patient and calm even in the face of difficult situations.
- An ability to act on own initiative within the role description
- Common sense, flexibility and initiative.
- Reliable and enthusiastic.
- Willing to participate in a variety of activities appropriate to the client group.
- A willingness to be flexible and to follow the guidance of a Volunteer Supervisor
- A commitment to improve the patient’s experience of their time in hospital.
- A commitment to the trust’s equal opportunities and diversity policies
- Respectful of confidential information.
- Sense of humour.
- Basic understanding of brain injury/neurological conditions.
- Interest in leisure as a way of promoting wellbeing
- To be willing to receive training in any areas as appropriate to the volunteer role
- Computer skills.
Desirable:
- Language skills
General information
o Volunteers should not undertake duties outside this role description without checking first with their Volunteer Supervisor.
o Volunteers must not undertake any manual handling tasks.
o A volunteer can offer emotional support and empathy but must under no circumstances offer advice or a medical opinion on a patient’s treatment or assist with anything of a clinical nature.
o Volunteers are reminded of the importance of confidentiality at all times. They must under no circumstances discuss patients’ affairs with any person other than the relevant staff. If a patient discloses information relevant to
About the RNRU
The RNRU is a 27-bed unit specialising in early inpatient rehabilitation for adults after single incident neurological events other than spinal injury. The majority of our patients have suffered head injuries, strokes, subarachnoid haemorrhages or other forms of diffuse brain damage resulting, for example, from certain infections or cardiorespiratory arrest.
The unit’s multi-disciplinary team consists of neurologists, nurses, therapists (occupational, speech & language and physio) and other staff. Throughout the week, patients are engaged in an intensive rehabilitation programme, which includes group and individual sessions.
The average stay for patients is approximately 4 months, so leisure activities can constitute a particularly important part of patient life on the Unit. The RNRU has a dedicated Leisure Coordinator.
their condition, the volunteer should direct the patient to speak to the Nurse in Charge.
o Volunteers are complementary to paid staff and must not be used to replace roles that are usually undertaken by hospital employees.
Incorporating hospital and community health services, teaching and research.