Volunteer - Companion - Dumfries and Galloway Community
Volunteer - Companion - Dumfries and Galloway Community
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Job Description
Marie Curie is looking for caring everyday people to join our Community Companion team. Youll be part of something truly meaningful offering support to people in their final stages of life and to the loved ones around them.
You dont need to be a healthcare expert orhave all the answers. You just need to be a good listener show up with kindness and be willing to offer your time.
Whats a Companion Volunteer
Being there for someone when it matters most. Thismight be visiting someone in their home offering a chat and a cup of tea swapping stories and talking about whats happening locally or just being a calm presence.
You willnever be asked to do anything youre uncomfortable with and you willreceivetraining and support from the Marie Curie team to support you in your Companion also meet a team of likeminded volunteers who are all in it for the same reason: to help othersand feel connected to something bigger.
What we need you to do
As a volunteer these are some of the tasks that you may be asked to carry out in your role this list is not exhaustive but all tasks will be within the boundaries of the role of Community Companion
- Providing onetoone companionship and support. E.g. offering a listening ear engaging in everyday conversation doing activities or hobbies together.
- Spending time with patients who have been identified as nearing the end of their life and providing support for them and their loved ones.
- Allow family friends or carers to have a short break while you spend time with their loved one.
- Signpost families friends and carers to other services as appropriate
- Support us with the evaluation of the service including writing a brief report on each visit
- Keep staff informed of any changes or significant happenings in connection with the patient either in person or by telephone
- Attend individual support sessions group support and development sessions as required
- Carry out planned visits as agreed with you as a volunteer. These could be in a variety of settings for example on a ward in a familys home in a care home or taking a patient out for a short break in the community
- Driving a patient to prearranged medical appointments or taking short trips out.
- Helping with small daily tasks e.g. making tea or accessing the internet and signposting to relevant local support services or finding out information as requested.
- Represent the Companions service positively to those using the service
N.B This is only an outline as support will vary according to individual needs. Companions do not provide nursing or personal care or offer counselling or advice
What skills or experience do you need
- A friendly and sensitive nature a good listener
- Patience empathy selfawareness and emotional stability
- Excellent listening skills and an ability to build a rapport with others
- Commitment and reliability able to keep appointments
- An understanding of the importance of confidentiality
- Willing to be flexible to the needs of the individual
- Mature perspective on life and death
- Willingness to learn participate in training and operate within the boundaries of the role
- Respect for individuals regardless of their race gender culture religion disability sexual orientation and marital status
What we can offer you
- An excellent opportunity to build on your existing skills or gain new skills in a charity environment through induction training and ongoing support.
- Meet and engage with new people staff volunteers patients and families
- Paid outofpocket expenses in line with the Marie Curie Policy including mileage etc
- An opportunity to be part of a dynamic team at Marie Curie who make a real difference to people at the end of life.
What we ask of you
- To provide two references from nonfamily members and other relevant documents related to the role this role will require a disclosure check
- To provide the details of one or more lone worker Buddies in line with our lone working procedure and to keep to all Marie Curie policies and guidelines
- To complete an induction training and participate in support opportunities related to your role
- To ensure you make us aware of any issues or concerns you may have in your volunteering role as soon as you can.
- To make us aware of any changes in your personal circumstances that may impact you and your ability to carry out your volunteer role.
Marie Curie is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of patients and their families and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Marie Curie will treat all volunteers fairly and with respect. We will not discriminate on the basis of disability ethnicity marital status pregnancy or maternity sex (i.e. gender) sexual orientation religion or faith or gender reassignment. We will not discriminate on the basis of age unless the responsibilities of a role require us to do so in order to safeguard our volunteers and/or service users.
For more information or if you have any questions regarding this volunteer role please contact
Employment Type
Part-Time
