Volunteering

What is volunteering

A volunteer is someone who gives their time freely and without pay to support staff and improve patient experience. Volunteers do not replace paid members of staff and therefore do not complete the same tasks as a paid member of staff. They do not enter into employment contracts however there is a mutually beneficial agreement between the volunteer and the organisation. Volunteers encompass a large span of roles and responsibilities within the hospital setting – carrying out activities with patients, providing social company, providing administrative assistance to teams etc.

Unlike work experience which tends to fulfil specific learning/observation requirements of the individual, volunteering is most often used to benefit others. Work experience is often a shadowing opportunity with a set learning or exposure objective. Whereas volunteering tends to be more long term with the focus on giving something back. Both work experience and volunteering will develop your skills and strengths. With volunteering you will have flexibility to select your preferred times/shifts and role

Why volunteer?

Benefits for patients and service users

Research has found that social contact improves patient recovery times – patient companions sit and talk to patients who may have limited social interaction opportunities or visitors

Top tips – getting involved

Consider how much time you have to get involved and look for opportunities which match the time you have available..
If you are getting involved in a formal role and also work, check with your employer whether you are entitled to paid time off.
Think about your reasons for getting involved and what you hope to achieve.
Ask questions about what will be expected of you and what support you will get if you are getting involved in a more formal role

Benefits for individuals

Volunteering your time and skills helps make a big difference to patients’ experience. It can also have great benefits for the volunteer too, by letting you

give something back to your local community

feel valued and part of a team
learn and develop new skills, knowledge and experience
enhance your CV and employment prospects
meet new people and make friends
do something different and have fun
make a positive difference that benefits others
increase your self-confidence
remain active and alert

Volunteering guidance for staff

All employees can take up ten days (ideally in half day measures), paid time (or equivalent hours) per year to volunteer across health and social care. Volunteering leave provides employees with time to volunteer in health, social care and for organisations including charities who need volunteers, regularly engage volunteers, have volunteering roles and have clear volunteering policies.

Employees can choose who they spend their volunteering time with, within the parameters outlined above, and to organise their own volunteering placements/roles and agree these with their line manager. The volunteering scheme is an opportunity to connect with patients and local communities and for that reason paid time to volunteer is limited to opportunities where the employee lives or works. Preferably, any voluntary organisation that employees volunteers should be one that operates in the area covered by the employing ICB to help build our relationships with local health, social care and voluntary sector organisations. Employees can volunteer where they live, but preferably with an organisation that operates in the area covered by the ICB.

Travel and subsistence costs associated with volunteering should be agreed with the organisation for which the employee is volunteering. The ICB will not reimburse expenses from any volunteering activity.

Volunteering opportunities within Hertfordshire and west Essex

Many organisations and charities need help from volunteers. This is a great way to support and get involved in your community.

Volunteering can be a one-off, like a hospital garden makeover or fundraising. Others can last for months or even years, like running a hospital radio show, helping with administration in a hospice or taking part in advisory groups

volunteering opportunities 2024

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