Volunteering at our Trust
Volunteers help to improve and enhance the patient experience, complementing the work of employed staff across the hospital and making a positive difference.
About volunteering
Volunteering at Gloucestershire Hospitals gives you the chance to support your local health service by offering safe and compassionate care and support to our patients. Our volunteers come from all walks of life and we aim to represent the diversity of our communities. Our volunteers are passionate about improving patient experience and are part of the Gloucestershire Hospitals team.
We are developing our volunteer base and we aim to increase the number of volunteers we work with. We recognise the positive impact volunteering makes on our patients and our Trust.
Those who volunteer have said it's helped improve their self-confidence and motivation. They feel they are making a valuable contribution to their community and this has a positive impact on their own physical and mental wellbeing.
In return for their time and dedication, we provide our volunteers with opportunities to build skills, meet new people and truly make a difference.
Current vacancies
We recruit up to 20 volunteers in each recruitment window; the below are roles we are currently looking to fill:
Gloucester
- Same Day Emergency Care (Tues, Fri – must be available Mon or Thurs initially for shadowing sessions)
- Ward 7A&B (Weds, Thurs 10am – 1pm. Must be available Fri AM initially for shadowing sessions)
- Discharge Lounge (Tues, Thurs afternoons – must be available Mon or Weds initially for shadowing sessions)
- Welcome desk and wayfinding (we need people who can support on an ad hoc basis; if accepted you would undertake shadowing sessions to learn the role and then be part of our pool to support with holiday and illness absence)
- Therapy Outpatient Department (various) – requires proactive and confident individuals to offer people direction to the right area and help to use self check in kiosk
Cheltenham
- College Road Welcome Desk (Weds, 8am – 12pm and 12pm – 4pm. Must be available on another weekday initially to shadow)
- St Luke’s Welcome Desk (Fri, 8am – 12pm. Must be available on another weekday initially to shadow)
- Same Day Emergency Care (Weds AM – must be available on another weekday initially for shadowing sessions)
- Welcome desk and wayfinding (we need people who can support on an ad hoc basis; if accepted you would undertake shadowing sessions to learn the role and then be part of our pool to support with holiday and illness absence)
- East Block Outpatients Reception (Fri morning)
- Rendcomb Ward (Mon, Thurs, Fri 8.30 – 12. Must be available on Wednesday initially for shadowing sessions)
- Tivoli Ward (Mon, Fri 1pm – 5pm. Must be available on Tuesday initially for shadowing sessions)
- Urology Outpatients (Alstone Clinic) - We are trialling having volunteers in this area to support both department staff and patients (helping to signpost and sign in where applicable). Most weekdays available, preferably mornings (8.45 – 12)
Please see our how to apply page for the most up to date information about volunteering opportunities
How to apply
More information on how to apply and the application process is available here.
What are we looking for in a volunteer?
We can offer you a great opportunity to give something back to your local community. However, hospitals can be very challenging environments. They are busy places that care for sick and critically ill patients and their families which at times could be distressing.
Therefore, to be a volunteer you need to be able to commit to the role fully and we need to ensure you are resilient and able to face the challenges that the hospital environment might present. There is a wide variety of roles as a volunteer so we believe we can match you to the right type of role for you.
Volunteers need to be
- Friendly and approachable
- Caring and good listeners
- Comfortable approaching people to offer help
- Able to work independently and use initiative after an initial training period
- Emotionally mature and able to stay calm in difficult situations
- Adaptable
- Able to offer a regular weekly commitment of 3-4 hours for a minimum period of at least six months.
- Dependable
Volunteer responsibilities
Each role has a specific list of duties that the volunteer can undertake, however, all volunteers should also:
- Be polite, courteous and respectful to others
- Wear the Trust volunteer ID badge and uniform appropriately
- Adhere to the volunteer agreement
- Promote a positive image of the hospital, staff and voluntary services
- Uphold the values of the Trust
Twiddlemitts
We appreciate anyone who can make and/ or check Twiddlemitts, which are used to support patients with dementia or learning difficulties.
- We are particularly short of people who can check those made by others to ensure they are safe (removing items as required) as well as adding items to those that could benefit from extra Twiddles.
Twiddlemitt instructions
If planning to bring Twiddlemitts into either hospital, please contact Voluntary Services beforehand so we can direct you to the right place and so we know they are on the way.
You can do this by emailing us – ghn.tr.voluntaryservices@nhs.net
Or by calling us: 0300 422 6698/ 0300 422 6690
Contact us
If you have any questions or require further information on completing the online application form, please contact the Voluntary Services team.
Voluntary Services Department
Gloucestershire Royal Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Great Western Road
Gloucester, GL1 3NN
Telephone: 0300 422 6648 or 3451
Are you looking for work experience?
Volunteering is not the same as work experience. If you are interested in work experience or career opportunities find out more on our recruitment website.