Youth volunteer applicant information

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 youth volunteers?

Volunteers are involved in many areas of our services, such as meeting and greeting our patients and visitors, navigating patients around the hospitals, assisting with inpatients surveys, providing companionship, art therapy and music therapy to our dementia patients,  physiotherapy and learning more about our estates teams.

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.

Who can become a volunteer?

As with most things we have to follow a few rules:

  • You must be between 16 and 18 years of age

  • Be willing to commit to a minimum of three hours at least once a week for 8 weeks, 4pm- 6pm Monday – Thursday or Saturday morning 10am-1pm

  • You will need to have completed an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

  • 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 Health Risk Assessment

  • Complete online mandatory training modules

  • Sign confidentiality agreement.

Submit a youth volunteer application form

For further details please contact Mandy Carliell, Head of Volunteers and Public Services.

What to expect from us as a youth volunteer

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.

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 (bus, train, mileage) 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.

We will provide relevant training in order for you to provide appropriate help in your volunteering activities.

Submit a youth volunteer application form

Useful contacts

For further details please contact Mandy Carliell, Head of Volunteers and Public Services.

You can also contact ekh-tr.volunteers@nhs.net.

What happens next?

Once we have received your completed application form and health risk assessment, you will be invited to an online group interview. You will be asked to send scanned 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 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.  

  1. The three identity documents must include at least one of these:

    • Passport

    • Birth certificate

    • Photo Driving Licence

    • Adoption certificate

  2. 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)

    • Letter from head teacher or college principal

    • Parents benefit letter stating student’s name 

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.

For further details please contact Mandy Carliell, Head of Volunteers and Public Services.

Further information

Youth volunteer application form