Adult volunteer applicant information
Please complete an online adult volunteer application form
Introduction
East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust values the involvement of local people as volunteers in activities that enhance the quality of life for our patients, visitors, carers, and also support the staff in delivery high quality health care.
Your offer of voluntary help is very much appreciated and you can be assured of a warm welcome in whatever area of volunteering you choose.
What roles are there for volunteers?
Volunteers are involved in many areas of our services, such as meeting and greeting patients and visitors, navigating patients around the hospitals, ward helpers, assisting with inpatients surveys and gardeners.
The range of opportunities continually changes so we are sure to find you something you will enjoy.
We will ask all managers wishing to work with volunteers to write a short role description which will ensure that everyone understands the scope of the placement and any new safety protocols related to Covid-19.
On the application form, under section E, we ask you to identify the volunteering areas you would like to be considered for. While every effort is made to accommodate you, it is not always possible.
Who can become a volunteer?
You must be over 18 years of age
Be willing to commit to a minimum of three and a maximum of sixteen hours per week
Be willing to commit to a minimum of three months
You will need to have completed an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
You will need to provide a satisfactory reference
You will have agreed to adhere to the Trust’s policies and Code of Conduct
You must be eligible to work in the UK
You will have completed a Covid health risk assessment
Complete mandatory training modules
Sign confidentiality agreement
What to expect from us
The volunteer team will guide you through the application process, and you will also have a named person to support you in the area you are volunteering.
Useful contacts
ekh-tr.volunteers@nhs.net
For many volunteers the opportunity to help others and give something back is the main reason they join us. The Trust greatly values the contribution that volunteers make to the patient experience. We will pay agreed travel expenses but we ask volunteers to work at the closest hospital to their home.
You will be offered discount on food and beverages in our restaurants in line with our staff. A parking permit will be issued to you for use on the staff parking areas only.
We will provide relevant training in order for you to provide appropriate help in your volunteering activities. You will also receive regular news either by post or email and also be invited to social events during the year.
What happens next?
Once we have received your completed application form and health risk assessment, you will be invited to a face to face group interview. You will be asked to bring copies of the required evidence for the completion of the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
Please be advised that the Disclosure and Barring (DBS) check is now an online process.
Once your DBS check has cleared, you will be sent a link to our mandatory training modules which will include Data Security Awareness, Equality, Diversity and Human Rights, Safeguarding Adults, Safeguarding Children, Health and Safety, Fire Safety and Customer Service Training.
After completion we would ask you to forward the certificates to us for our records.
If you have any difficulties with online systems, we will provide drop-in training sessions where one of the team will be able to help.
The three identity documents must include at least one of these:
Passport
Birth Certificate
Photo Driving Licence
In addition you will need to supply TWO extra proof of address:
Driving licence (if not supplied in section one)
Bank Statement (less than 3 months old)
Landline Telephone bill (not mobile phone), Council Tax or Utility bill (less than 3 months old including name and address details)
Full details of acceptable ID documents can be found on the Government website.
May we wish you every success and enjoyment in your volunteering position.