Patient Befriender - Volunteer 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.

Commitment: A minimum of one 2 or 3-hour shift per week.

What are the key tasks?

• Support the patient’s well-being and comfort.
• Spend time with patients, providing a listening ear and engaging in friendly conversation.
• Provide reassurance to help allay the patient’s anxieties.
• Engage the patient in meaningful activities, eg reading, reminiscing, playing games or puzzles, helping the patient to use technology to keep in touch with family.

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

• Patient and calm manner is essential
• Motivated and enthusiastic
• Always ensures confidentiality
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Flexible
• 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

For the full role description please download the attached PDF

You may also be interested in:

• Check in and Chatter
• Outpatient Befriender
• Outpatients volunteer
• Health promotion volunteer
• Heart & Soul listeners

Image courtesy of Centre for Aging Better