Volunteer Patient Assessor role description
We are looking for volunteers with a background in holistically assessing patients to identify physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual needs. You might be a retired nurse or doctor, social worker or have any other background of assessing patients. The beauty of the assessor role is that you are a patient’s first contact with the Hospice and have an opportunity to spend quality time with people, listening to their story and working with them to find how the Hospice can best help them.
What will this role involve?
- Carrying out holistic assessments and assessment reviews before and during a patient’s use of our Hospice services
- Assessments may be carried out by phone, email, online interaction, plus face-to-face assessments at Skanda Vale Hospice or – in exceptional circumstances – at appropriate alternative locations, depending very much on the patient’s preferences and abilities
- Working with Care Delivery Team members during the entire Assessment and Care Planning process
- Upholding the person-centred ethos of Skanda Vale Hospice
What you’ll be doing
- Helping patients and their loved ones have control of their care planning and delivery
- Working with Skanda Vale Hospice and the wider multidisciplinary team
- Keeping clear, accurate and contemporaneous records and documentation as required
- Raising any concerns in relation to service provision and safeguarding
- Representing the hospice, its ethos and philosophy in a professional manner
We’d love it if you had experience
- Working directly with people, supporting them and listening to their needs
- Conducting assessments of patients
- Offering direct support to patients
- Working with people with a life-limiting condition
- Managing difficult conversations about death, dying and poor prognosis
You’ll need
- Strong communication skills, especially listening and enquiring
- Ability to facilitate and manage difficult conversations with the appropriate response
- Practical knowledge of Safeguarding; if needed the Hospice can provide necessary training for the role
- Tact and diplomacy
- Willingness to develop basic IT skills
- Willingness to undertake training as required
It would be great if you
- Speak Welsh
- Can drive
We would love you to express your
- Warmth and approachability
- Sense of humour
- Compassion and empathy.
- Awareness of own limitations and willingness to seek support when needed
- Ability to remain calm and professional in challenging situations
- Ability to work within a team and independently
Our volunteers take part in induction and training, much of which happens in the first few weeks with us. Training varies role by role and can be reduced if someone has current relevant certificates. We also have meetings to update everyone and opportunities for additional support and learning.
Location: Skanda Vale Hospice, Saron, possibly in patients’ homes if needed, predominantly in Hywel Dda (Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion) locality or working remotely.
Hours: Variable
Supported by: Lead nurse / Clinical Support Lead
Expenses: We cover volunteer expenses and personal articles required for the role, offer great food and refreshments on-site, and host fun team days.
Apply now
Before you start, make sure you have the names, numbers and email addresses of two referees (non-family members) who you’ve known for two or more years.