Voluntary Services

Volunteer Role Outline

Role / Activity Volunteer for the Ageing and Health Wards
Summary of the role / With the support and guidance of the volunteer coordinator, Activity Promotion Project Leader and ward staff contribute to improving the ward environment, challenge barriers to activity, empower patients and visitors to take a positive role in rehabilitation and increase physical and mental activity. To ensure patients and their families experience a welcoming, safe, secure and stimulating atmosphere during their stay.
Location / Ageing and Health Wards
North Wing
St Thomas’ Hospital
Contacts / Voluntary Services
Tel: 020 7188 1658
VS email:
Hours / Requirement by the dept/ward:
There will be a team of volunteers for this project organised on a rota basis. The core hours to be covered will normally be Monday to Friday 10.00 am to 4.00 pm.
Tasks and activities /
  • Help organise and fully participate in activities for the patients in groups or with individuals
  • With the support and guidance of the staff provide 1:1 time with patients: following exercise and walking programmes, reading magazines, talking to them, playing games etc
  • Assist with guiding new patients and their families around the ward and encourage existing patients to use the facilities on the ward
  • To assist with distributing refreshments
  • To assist at mealtimes with serving and encouraging patients to eat
  • With the permission of staff accompany patients to access facilities in the main hospital such as the shops, hairdresser, lunchtime concerts and gardens
  • Running errands for patients whose mobility is restricted such as buying a paper
  • Assisting with patient feedback surveys

Skills and abilities /
  • Reliable, punctual and consistent
  • A pleasant, mature approach and understanding of the issues patients on these wards face
  • Excellent communication skills and able to adapt these to communicate with a diverse group of patients, families and staff
  • Ability to motivate and encourage patients to increase their physical activity in a sensitive manner.
  • Understand patient confidentiality and how to report information to staff
  • Enjoy organising and participating in a range of activities in small groups or with individuals
  • Open and engaging personality

Training / In addition to attending the one-day Trust Volunteer Induction you will need to be able to attend a one-day training course for this role to cover topics needed such as encouraging exercise and mobility in a safe manner, Dementia Awareness and Infection Control. The training will conclude with a simple competency assessment.
Dress Code / Copy of Dress code available. ID badge and volunteer jacket must be worn at all times. Casual smart clothes, closed flat shoes, no jewellery.

Functional Requirement Form Below

FUNCTIONAL REQUIRMENT FORM

Job Title: Activity Volunteer / Ward/Department: Ageing and Health Wards / Recruiting Manager: Amanda Bryan
Shift Pattern: Rota / Directorate & Site: Voluntary Services. St Thomas’s Hospital / Line Manager: Amanda Bryan
Requirements / Never / Occasional
0-33% of work time / Frequent
33-66% of
work time / Constant
67-100% of
work time
  1. Physical

  1. Sitting
/ x
  1. Standing
/ x
  1. Walking
/ x
  1. Lifting and handling patients
/ x
  1. Lifting and handling objects e.g. boxes
/ x
  1. Push/pull e.g. trolleys
/ x
  1. Bend/squat/crouch/kneel/crawl
/ x
  1. Climb/descend stairs
/ x
  1. Climb ladders/work at height
/ x
  1. Using hands above shoulder height
/ x
  1. Twist/spinal rotation
/ x
  1. Sedentary/ immobile posture
/ x
  1. Reaching forward
/ x
  1. Simple grasping/fine manipulation/ manual dexterity
/ x
  1. Applying hand grip force
/ x
  1. Typing
/ x
  1. Writing
/ x
  1. Operating foot controls
/ x
  1. Repetitive movement
/ x
  1. Work in confined spaces*
/ x
  1. Work within a team
/ x
  1. Psychosocial

  1. Repetitive/complex tasks requiring attention to detail
/ x
  1. Ability to concentrate/good memory
/ x
  1. Communication demands (phone/e-mail/face-to-face)
/ x
  1. Night worker
/ x
  1. Rotational shift work
/ x
  1. Requirement to wear personal protective equipment
/ x
  1. Required to deal with distressing/ challenging situations
/ x
  1. Requirement to deal with anxious/aggressive people
/ x
  1. Requirement to work to deadlines
/ x
  1. Requirement to supervise others
/ xx
  1. Lone work

  1. Sensory
/ Yes / No
  1. Good vision essential (with or without glasses)
/ x
  1. Good colour vision essential
/ x
  1. Good hearing essential (with or without hearing aid(s)
/ x
  1. Additional screening required pre-commencement
/ Yes / No
  1. Undertaking exposure prone procedures (EPP)/ Renal Dialysis*
/ x
  1. Food handler*
/ x
  1. Exposure to chemical hazards e.g. skin and respiratory irritants (please specify)

  1. Exposure to physical hazards e.g. vibration, extremes of hot/cold temperature, extreme noise (please specify)
/ x
  1. Exposure to biological hazards e.g. viruses, bacteria, medical waste, animal handling (please specify)
/ x
  1. Classified worker under the Ionising Radiation Regulations
/ x
  1. Additional immunity/screening post commencement
/ Yes / No
  1. Contact with/access to patients
/ x
  1. Contact with/handling clinical specimens
/ x