Postnatal Support Volunteer
Tags: Guidance, Template
15th December 2022
0 Likes
Thank you to Chelsea & Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust for sharing this role description.
Purpose:
As a volunteer you will support a busy postnatal department at West Middlesex University Hospital. You will support new parents and their little ones as well as our staff team. This is a diverse role and would be suitable for anyone who is interested in variety and face-to-face support.
Duties (what you will be doing):
- Supporting new parents on the postnatal ward – this could be a variety of things from fetching them a drink through to reporting any concerns or issues to a midwife
- Escort mums to and from other appointments and scans in the hospital (you would not be expected to escort any bed-ridden mums)
- Answer buzzers which mums use to call for attention – escalate any more complex issues to the midwife team
- Replenish paperwork
- Help mums complete patient surveys
- Sit the baby while mum has to attend an appointment/use the toilet/wash (this will always be under the guidance of the midwife team, and only if you are comfortable)
- Help with changing nappies and other run-of-the-mill baby care (this will always be under the guidance of the midwife team, and only if you are comfortable)
- Generally creating a warm, welcoming and supportive atmosphere
- Orientation to the ward
Boundaries (what you won’t be doing):
- No clinical care of mums (e.g. no taking out of cannulas or catheters)
- No giving clinical advice
- No parenting
- No infant feeding (unless you participate in the two day infant feeding course offered by the Trust) – this also includes infant milk formula
- No personal care (e.g. toileting or getting mums changed)
- No cleaning
- No lifting of heavy equipment
- No changing of beds
Time commitment:
- Volunteering shifts are available and day of the week between 9 am and 8 pm
- You are expected to commit to one shift of at least a 3 to 4 hours per week for a period of at least six months
Personal development:
You will gain experience of working in a busy hospital environment and frontline patient care. Your support will make a real difference to our mums. You will develop communication and team-working skills. You will also have the opportunity to receive accredited training and also comprehensive pre-placement training.
For the full document please download the attached PDF