Become a Volunteer

About this role 

High numbers of people walk through the front entrance of our hospitals on a daily basis, especially at peak times of the day. Some may require guidance to find their way around or have questions they wish to ask.

Volunteer Guides offer a friendly and helpful welcome to patients, families and visitors and guide them to where they want to go within the hospital.

This service is one of the most successful volunteering programmes within our health board.

We currently have opportunities at:

• Gartnavel General Hospital
• Inverclyde Royal Hospital
• New Victoria Ambulatory Care Hospital
• Stobhill Ambulatory Care Hospital

Key Tasks

• Actively observe patients/visitors at the hospital entrance who may need your assistance
• Be welcoming. Chat to patients and visitors and make them feel at ease
• Guide people from main entrances to where they wish to go, accompanying them if required.

Skills and experience required

• Communicate with staff and visitors in a friendly, sensitive, caring and calm manner
• Observe boundaries and work confidentially
• Have a willingness to undertake training and comply with policies and procedures
• Use your own initiative appropriately and contribute to the overall efforts of the team
• Work independently with minimal supervision.

What we can offer you

• A rewarding volunteer role
• Full training 
• Great experience for your CV
• The opportunity to meet new people
• The opportunity to volunteer in a hospital setting.

Time requirements

This varies across the sites. In general, we ask volunteers to commit to at least one session (3 hours) per week:

Monday to Friday between, 9.00am 5.00pm.

About this role 

Our Ward Volunteers provide friendship and conversation for patients: some may be elderly; others may not have any visitors as they are far from home.  The aim is to enhance their experience in hospital and potentially avoid them becoming frustrated, which can stem from prolonged periods of time where stimulation is lacking.

The role is a busy one which will require an organised and friendly approach.

We currently have opportunities at:

• Gartnavel General Hospital
• Glasgow Royal Infirmary
• Inverclyde Royal Hospital
• Lightburn Hospital
• New Victoria Hospital
• Royal Alexandra Hospital
• Stobhill Ambulatory Care Hospital
• Vale of Leven Hospital

Key Tasks

• Be welcoming by chatting to patients and making them feel at ease
• As a helping hand to hospital staff, assist in distributing food at lunch and dinner times
• Offer companionship to patients, chatting with them at the bedside and keeping them company while they eat.

Skills and experience required

• Communicate confidently in a friendly, sensitive, caring and calm manner
• Have good organization skills and an ability to prioritise and manage busy periods of activity
• Observe boundaries and work confidentially
• Have a willingness to undertake training and comply with policies and procedures, particularly around infection control and social distancing regulations
• Use your own initiative appropriately and contribute to the overall efforts of the team
• Work independently, but respond to guidance when appropriate.

What we can offer you

• A rewarding volunteer role
• Full training 
• Great experience for your CV
• The opportunity to meet new people and volunteer in a hospital setting.

Time requirements

This varies across the sites but in general, we ask volunteers to commit to at least one session, of 4 hours, per week.

Potential Volunteers will be risk assessed in accordance with volunteering guidance. All potential volunteers must complete the NHS Recruitment process, which includes appropriate clearance from Disclosure Scotland, and satisfactory health & reference checks.

Allied health professionals (AHPs) use their unique skills and knowledge to improve people’s lives. This role would suit someone studying to be an Allied Health Professional or a retired Allied Health Professional. You must enjoy interacting with people and feel comfortable in a ward or clinical environment.

Our rehabilitation volunteers help provide a positive hospital experience to our patients.

About this role 

This role is about engaging with patients to:

• Help reduce boredom
• Improve wellbeing
• Help patients work towards their goals
• Support the patient throughout their hospital stay.

On admission, patients are usually unwell and can be distressed. It is very rewarding to support patients through these stressful periods and work with them to enable them to return home. This includes helping patients gain independence with tasks that they may have struggled with previously.

We currently have opportunities at:

• Inverclyde Royal Hospital
• Gartnavel General Hospital
• Glasgow Royal Infirmary
• Lightburn Hospital
• Royal Alexandra Hospital
• Stobhill Ambulatory Care Hospital.

Key tasks and duties

Specific examples of what our volunteers do:

• Assist and support the work of Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist, Speech & Language – depending on ward.
• Encourage fluids and snacks post physio
• Provide one to one companionship with patients as required
• Support patients to practise doing things that will help them to be more independent when they return home ie. assist with mealtime and serving refreshments and practice activities that matter to the patient
• Other duties may include: Assist and support AHP running exercise classes and activities for patients.

Time requirements

Monday to Friday, 10.00am – 3.00pm. (slots will depend on hospital site)

Volunteers must commit to at least one three hour slot each week for at least 9-12 months.

Note:

Volunteers will not be involved in any personal care roles. All of the above tasks may include group work or individual one to one sessions to be held in patient lounge areas, bedded bay areas or in patient-side rooms.

About this role 

In response to the pandemic, NHSGGC created staff Rest & Recuperation Hubs to support staff wellbeing. The hubs provide a staff-only area with complimentary snacks, hot drinks and a place to eat. It also provides an ‘Active Space’ with games and a ‘Quiet Space’ for relaxation and reflection. 

The role is a busy one which requires an organised and friendly approach. 

We currently have opportunities at:

• Royal Alexandra Hospital
• Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

Key tasks

• Support the effective running of the Hubs and provide a warm welcome to staff and visitors making use of the space
• Serve complimentary refreshments within the Hub
• Manage stock, such as newspaper and snacks, to ensure an adequate supply at different times of the day
• Work with staff to provide a safe, clean and comfortable environment for all those attending the Hubs.

Skills and experience required

• Communicate confidently in a friendly, sensitive, caring and calm manner
• Have a good level of organizational skill and an ability to prioritise and manage busy periods of activity
• Observe boundaries and work confidentially
• Have a willingness to undertake training and comply with policies and procedures, particularly around infection control and social distancing regulations
• Use own initiative appropriately and contribute to the overall efforts of the team
• Work independently, but respond to guidance when appropriate.

About this role 

The GRI Museum celebrates the contribution that the GRI has made to medicine, surgery and nursing throughout the world. It was officially opened on 31 May 2022.

Volunteer Role: Key Tasks and Duties

• Supervising visitors to the museum
• Answering questions about the exhibits (we have a volunteer booklet with information about all the exhibits to support)
• Opening and closing the museum – we have a Standard Operating Procedure outlining how to do this.

Skills and experience required

No specific skills or experience required, other than a friendly and welcoming manner and ability to interact with people from all walks of life.

What we can offer you

A chance to share the history of the Glasgow Royal Infirmary in a wonderful setting and meet lots of interesting people from all over the world.

Time requirements

We would ask volunteers to commit to a 2 hour session in the museum.

• Tuesdays 11am – 1pm
• Tuesdays 1pm – 3pm
• Wednesdays 11am – 1pm
• Wednesdays 1pm – 3pm
• Thursdays 11am – 1pm
• Thursdays 1pm – 3pm
• Fridays 11am – 1pm
• Fridays 1pm – 3pm.

Shifts would be varied depending on the availability of other volunteers. We are also keen in the future to open on a Saturday.

About this role

The role of the Volunteer Visitor is to support anyone, whatever their world view, faith, lifestyle choice, religious beliefs, philosophy or none. The Spiritual Care Service support is private and confidential and non-judgmental. The purpose of the Volunteer Visitor is to be available for anyone who either self-refers or is referred to the service by either qualified or student Allied Health Professionals, Nurses, Doctors or members of their network, i.e. family / friends. The Lead Healthcare Chaplain oversees the Spiritual Care Service and each chaplain within their hospital site will supervise the Volunteer Visitors attached to the hospital where they volunteer. This meets with NHS Scotland’s Spiritual & Religious Care guidelines.

We currently have opportunities at:

• QEUH

Volunteer Role: Key Tasks and Duties

• The Spiritual Care Service offers a safe space to talk about worries, difficulties or changes that a patient or loved ones might be going through.
• Communication is key which includes the Volunteer Visitor will introduce themselves to Hospital staff and patients, family and visitors they meet.
• Spiritual Care Service is person-centred and available to anyone to access and receive spiritual and/or religious care and support. All the main hospital sites have a sanctuary which includes ablutions facilities.
• A Volunteer Visitor is a neutral person able to offer anyone an opportunity to talk, listen without judging and provide appropriate comfort and support as well as know when to refer someone on to a health professional.
• A Volunteer Visitor will communicate openly with the Healthcare Chaplain in the hospital when appropriate, in a person’s best interest.

Skills and experience required

• Open, friendly, polite, people-person able to communicate clearly, especially with distressed, anxious or worried patients, families and visitors of all faiths and cultural groups and those with no specific belief.
• Comfortable and knowledgeable with spiritual and religious care and aware of other support services available within NHS GGC and community.
• Desire and commitment to the role of the Volunteer Visitor.
• Reliability and excellent time keeping skills are essential.

What we can offer you

• A rewarding volunteer role
• Great experience for your CV
• The opportunity to meet new people
• The opportunity to volunteer in a hospital setting

Support

Volunteer Visitors will operate from an Acute hospital site under the supervision of the healthcare chaplains on duty. There will always be a spiritual care member of staff to guide volunteers. The Strategic Lead for Volunteering and staff are available for other generic volunteer information

Time Requirements

We ask that volunteers are able to commit to one session per week. Times to be agreed with Healthcare Chaplain.

About this role 

The Larkfield Unit is home to stroke services, the neurorehabilitation service and medicine for the elderly wards for Inverclyde. The Rainbow Garden within the unit has become a favourite with patients, their families, visitors and staff members alike.

We are looking for volunteers to help maintain the tranquil Rainbow garden space alongside the dedicated staff volunteer team at the IRH.

Volunteer Role: Key Tasks and Duties

1. To build a rapport with staff, and other volunteers
2. To help plant and maintain the Rainbow garden space, in agreement with the wishes of patients and staff, and in a safe and responsible manner
3. Assist in planting, painting and tidying tasks in the garden

Skills and experience required

• Some gardening skills and experience would be helpful, but not necessary
• To be able to be flexible and adaptable to patients, staff and other volunteers in an acute health setting
• To have a practical understanding of confidentiality
• Able to take part in physical outdoor activity
• Good communication skills, both verbal and non-verbal and as an active listener.
• A relaxed but motivated manner.
• A commitment to the importance of the outdoors and nature in supporting mental health and wellbeing

What we can offer you

• A rewarding volunteer role
• Great experience for your CV
• The opportunity to meet new people
• The opportunity to volunteer in a hospital setting and in a tranquil outdoor space

Time requirements

Wednesday evening 5pm – 7pm & occasional Sundays

About this role 

Music has been found to have a beneficial and therapeutic effect in these environments. Our ward based volunteers help to provide a positive hospital experience to patients. This volunteer role is about providing valuable musical therapy, to help provide a welcome distraction for our patients and to generally support their hospital stay.

Volunteer Role: Key Tasks and Duties

1. Provide musical entertainment within the rehabilitation unit, making use of the ward keyboard, or on any suitable instrument that you are able to bring to play.
2. Be welcoming by chatting to patients and make them feel at ease.
3. Work with the activity coordinator on a planned calendar of musical events for the ward

Skills and experience required

• Ability to perform a range of music on either a keyboard or an instrument of your own
• Ability to communicate confidently in a friendly, sensitive, caring and calm manner
• An ability to observe boundaries and work confidentially
• Willingness to undertake training and comply with policies and procedures, particularly around infection control
• Ability to use own initiative appropriately and contribute to the overall efforts of the team
• Ability to work independently, but to respond to guidance when appropriate

What we can offer you

• A rewarding volunteer role
• Great experience for your CV
• The opportunity to meet new people
• The opportunity to volunteer in a hospital setting and in a tranquil outdoor space

Time requirements

Monday to Friday, between the hours of;

10am – 4pm

About this role 

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a Team who are committed to contributing to and enhancing the experience of our patients and their families who visit the Royal Alexandra Hospital. The front Support & Information Service is at the entrance of the hospital which is a busy environment, especially at peak times of the day.

We currently have opportunities at:

• Royal Alexandra Hospital

Key Tasks

The role will include diverse tasks including but not limited to:

• Organizing and stocking brochure stand
• Organizing and dating emergency food parcels
• Dropping off materials to wards and communicating with them about services we offer
• Help manage storage of materials and leaflets
• Actively observe for patients / visitors in the hospital entrance who may appear in need of assistance.
• Promote the Support & Information Services across the hospital.
• To speak to patient /visitors/ carers/people visiting the hospital and signpost onwards to services and the SIS.
• To assist with information management within the SIS.

Skills and experience required

• Communicate with patients, staff and visitors in a friendly, sensitive, caring and calm manner
• Observe boundaries and work confidentially
• Have a willingness to undertake training and comply with policies and procedures
• Use your own initiative appropriately and contribute to the overall efforts of the team
• Work independently with minimal supervision.

What we can offer you

• A rewarding volunteer role
• Full training 
• Great experience for your CV
• The opportunity to meet new people
• The opportunity to volunteer in a hospital setting.

Time requirements

We ask that volunteers are able to commit to at least one session (2 – 2.5 hours) per week for a minimum of 6 months.

There are a range of shift options, as follows:

Wednesday to Friday

10:00 am – 12:00

12:30 am – 14:30

14:30 – 16:30