Family Link Role Profile

What does a Family Link Volunteer do?

As a Family Link Volunteer you’ll be using a mobile phone and/or tablet provided, to take scheduled, pre-booked calls from friends and relatives who would like to make contact with one of our patients. You’ll visit the ward or area where the patient is staying and help to facilitate the call.

This may simply mean handing the phone or tablet to the patient, setting up the equipment for patients and using a specialist tablet stand to help the patient see the screen, or relaying the conversation to the patient.

You may also deliver notes and cards from friends and relatives, to patients on the wards.

• Check the pre-booked phone calls for your shift.

• Locate the patient and the ward.

• Set up the equipment for the phone/video call.

• Start the patient’s phone call and remain with them until the call has finished.

• Speak to patients on wards and give them company between calls.

• Bring the equipment back to the locked trolley and place on charge.

What we won’t ask you to do

• We won’t ask you to make calls to patients’ friends or relatives to pass on any patient information.

• You won’t be responsible for making decisions about who is able to make or receive a call.

• You won’t be asked to take general phone calls or messages.

What skills or experience do you need?

• Excellent communication skills – talking and listening to patients and staff – with a good standard of oral English

• Understand and comply with confidentiality requirements

• Have a professional and friendly demeanour, and able to work in a team

• Be committed to the role and attend regularly. Be punctual and dependable.

• Within the boundaries of your role, be self-motivated and able to help without direct supervision

• The ability to know when to seek help.

• Have a basic knowledge of using technology (although full training will be given).

For the full document please download the attachment

You may also be interested in:

• Examples of volunteering roles - Ward helper volunteer
• Ward support volunteers role description

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