Focused discussion |How can volunteers support patient safety?

12 September 2024

Can you help?

A guest at this discussion session is looking for some communication training (preferably free) for their volunteers. If you use or know of any, please use this Forum to share information and any useful links. Thank you!

Training for volunteers

Helpful tips and information shared by the network members who attended this discussion

Examples of volunteer roles that enhance patient safety

Community First Responders

These are volunteers out in our communities called to select emergencies so they can attend to the patient whilst waiting for an ambulance (if needed) to get there. They have a direct line to clinicians who can give advice to make sure that the patient is getting the right level of care and escalate the category of the call if necessary.

Some ambulance services are looking at extra training for the responders so that they can attend to a patient who has had a fall but not necessarily injured.

One-to-one visiting companion for patients

The patient may have a cognitive impairment and be at risk of falling. The volunteers will do activities with them to minimise the risk of a fall.

Befriending volunteers

Sometimes patients are displaced throughout hospitals. For example, you may have someone with dementia and the only bed available is on a diabetes ward. Volunteers are extremely valuable in these situations as they can sit with the patient and help them to acclimatise and make sure that they don’t wander off. They can also raise any causes for concern to the appropriate staff.

For more role descriptions take a look at the Volunteer Role Library

Should DBS Checks be regular or enhanced?

The type of DBS checks a volunteer may require can be confusing and the criteria seems to vary from organisation to organisation.

One network member highly recommended inviting a representative from the DBS service to come along to a meeting to explain how the different levels worked and answer any questions.

If you are an NHS organisation keep a look out for NHS England webinars on DBS. You may also be able to access a recording of a past webinar on the topic.

Risk Assessments

Carry out an individual risk assessment for each volunteer role description.

When developing a new role work with your infection prevention, safeguarding and patient experience teams regarding safety.

Examples of risk assessments and much more can be found in the Resources Library

Safety Challenge

Staff asking volunteers to do something that they have not been trained to do, or a task that falls outside of the remit of a volunteer role.

Monitoring patient safety

Surveys are often done by the Patient Experience Team with volunteers encouraging the patients to fill them in.

Ask for an invitation to Patient Experience Team Meetings or ask to see the feedback from the surveys.

Training for volunteers

Make sure that all volunteers have the appropriate training and include safeguarding.

When setting up new roles, think clearly about how to ensure that volunteers are aware of patient safety, safeguarding and infection prevention.

Make sure that the volunteers understand the importance of patient safety and the role they will play.

Top Tips for a good shift

Some organisations have created a start-of-shift and end-of-shift checklist which is clearly visible in an area where the volunteers will go before starting and ending their shift. These help to remind volunteers of a variety of things including hand hygiene.

Worth a mention - volunteers who work in unpredictable situations out in the community.

Around the country there are a number of organisations who have incredible teams of volunteers patrolling the streets at night to help and care for people in need.

Street Angels

SOS Buses

You may also be interested in the notes from two previous discussions on patient safety