Activity Support Volunteer

Lancashire & South Cumbria Foundation Trust recognise and value the importance volunteer support is to us and our patients. We currently have a volunteer role available supporting us at The Harbour in Blackpool. You must be 18 years and over to apply for this role.

Our ability to provide a comprehensive and fulfilling programme of activities and non-clinical support for our in-patients can be enhanced by volunteers. This volunteer role is designed to support our staff with providing such activities.

These can include, providing specific activity support, such as art classes, knitting groups or general activities, such as befriending, reading groups, puzzles to patients at The Harbour. Volunteers support is required on Wordsworth, Bronte, Dickens and Austen Wards

All on ward activities will be pre-arranged and monitored by staff in line with patients needs on a daily or weekly basis, and the level of supervision to be defined by ward staff in line with client need and volunteer experience. All activities will require a predetermined level of staff supervision and volunteers will never be left alone on the wards. Applicants must over 18 years old.

An Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check is required for this role. There is no cost to a volunteer for a DBS check.

What skills do I need?

• To follow instructions of staff as to activity to be facilitated and any relevant client information.
• Chat to people in groups or individually.
• Build relationships with clients, giving them confidence to make friends and join in.
• Encourage and help clients to take part in activities.
• Ensure service users are engaging with the activity safely, and alert supervising staff to any issues.
• Help staff to set up and clear down the room. Prepare equipment and materials in advance of the activity taking place.
• Feedback any relevant and appropriate information to staff at the end of the session or beforehand if necessary.
• Develop potential new activity ideas alongside staff members and service users.
• Volunteers with particular skills and interests may lead on small group activities such as crafts, book clubs etc.
• If the activity is one that involves a skill, having some degree of expertise in that skill would be of benefit.
• Good people skills are required as a lot of direct interaction will take place with the service users.
• Be able to manage individuals or groups of people undertaking an activity.
• Be enthusiastic about your chosen activity.
• Be friendly and approachable – able to build a rapport with service users.

Please email volunteering@lscft.nhs.uk or ring 01772 645507 for an application pack.

When do I need to be available?

Details

Times and dates to be discussed and agreed by the volunteer and their supervisor. Please email volunteering@lscft.nhs.uk or ring 01772 645507 for an application pack.

Where does this role take place?