Community Companion Volunteer (Various Locations across B&NES Somerset, Somerset and Wiltshire)
Here at Dorothy House we have fantastic opportunities to join our Community Companion Team in the following locations:
- Melksham
- Warminster
- Bradford on Avon
- Trowbridge
- Malmesbury
- Chippenham
- Corsham
- Bath
- Coleford
- Midsomer Norton
- Radstock
- Shepton Mallet
If you are not based in one of these locations but are happy to travel we would be delighted to welcome your application.
We are currently seeking Community Companion Volunteers to offer one to one support and companionship, visiting patients at home to improve social contact and help them with practical tasks where appropriate. However you may choose to provide support in the other areas listed below as and when help is required:
- Sitting with patients in their own homes to give short periods of respite to family and carers.
- Offering regular telephone support to patients or family members.
- Bereavement walking groups.
- Providing transport to patients and families using your car to accompany them to appointments or activities.
- Helping run open access drop-in groups and groups set up to support bereaved relatives through welcoming, listening and supporting the attendees.
- Supporting patients and families with one off requests to avoid crisis situations e.g. shopping, light housework, gardening, dog walking and one off appointments.
- Being prepared to listen and talk with patients and their families and support individuals spiritually, recognising when to signpost to more specialist support either in the community or through Dorothy House spiritual support team.
The service is developing so additional and new roles may become available.
You will be asked to take patients out of their home using your car, to support this you will need to have an Occupational Health Check and be asked to provide some documentation relating to your car.
The upper age limit for new volunteers who will be transporting patients is 75, current drivers continue to age 80.
You will be required to attend training over 2 days, dates to be notified.
You will need to attend an informal interview at a mutually convenient time. Volunteers will usually be matched with one patient at a time and matches will take into account shared interests, location etc.
You will not be expected to carry out a patient’s personal hygiene requirements.
You must not undertake any medical care, such as administering drugs or changing dressings.
The skills you need:
- To be able to actively listen without feeling a need to ‘fix it’.
- To be comfortable and grounded in your own life, especially if you have personal experience of loss, bereavement and grief.
- To be emotionally resilient and aware of own support needs.
- To be empathetic, transparent and non-judgemental in your approach.
- To have an ability to encourage and motivate individuals.
- To be able to take your own initiative but also recognise and work within the boundaries defined during training.
- To be courteous, friendly, sense of humour and be approachable.
- To be adaptable around the needs of those we seek to support.
- To be able to work in a diverse and an ever changing community.
Disclaimer This role will require a DBS check.
Driving roles - you will be using your own car and will need to provide evidence that it has up to date Tax, MOT and insurance and ensure that your insurance policy covers you for volunteer driving (most insurers will make this change for no additional charge)
Applications are welcomed from all sections of the community. If you think you have the skills and experience required to join us as a Community Companion, then please apply now!