Mealtime companion: Role description

Tags: Guidance, Template

14th December 2022

Heart

0 Likes

RS13831 pp

Thank you to Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust for sharing this role description.

About this role:

At Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust we have a simple vision – Safe and Compassionate Care Every Time. Volunteers help to enhance the patient experience and complement the work of paid members of staff.

Volunteers ensuring that patients get adequate nutrition and hydration is important in assisting their recovery. As a mealtime companion you will play an important part in the patient’s recovery. This role will not involve physically assisting the patient to eat or drink.

Commitment: A minimum of one 2-hour shift per week either at lunch time or in the evening.

What are the key tasks?

  • Take the food tray to the patient, if required.
  • Ensure that food and drink is suitably accessible.
  • Ensure that the patient is comfortable and sitting up.
  • Provide discreet encouragement to eat and drink.
  • Provide companionship with dignity and respect.
  • Remove dirty tray etc. once the patient has finished their meal.
  • Support the patient to wipe their hands and mouth, if appropriate.
  • Ensure the patient is left with fresh drinking water.
  • Seek help from ward staff, if required.

What skills, knowledge and experience are helpful in this role?

  • Motivated and enthusiastic
  • Ability to work as part of a team
  • Flexible
  • Organised
  • Friendly and approachable
  • Good communication skills
  • Good interpersonal skills and able to interact with a diverse range of people
  • Would understand and apply CARE values
  • Maintain confidentiality

Essential requirement/commitment:

  • Volunteers must be a minimum of 16 years of age
  • All Volunteers will require a DBS check.
  • Participation in the training relevant to your role and confidential discussion of any reasonable adjustments required to meet your needs.

What will we provide and what you can expect from this opportunity?

  • Join an enthusiastic volunteering team of people who want to make a difference, just like you.
  • Supervision and support from a dedicated member of staff.
  • Learn new skills and develop existing skills.
  • Contribute to your personal development and confidence.
  • You will be making an important contribution to your local community throughout your volunteering journey at the hospital.
  • Annual refresher training.
  • The opportunity to demonstrate a wide range of attributes and commitment.
  • A reference to support job or university applications – please kindly note that this is only provided after our minimum commitment has been met.

For the full document please download the attached PDF.

You may also be interested in:

Image courtesy of Centre of Ageing Better