Companion Volunteer – Antrim Area Hospital

Marie Curie and Northern Health and Social Care Trust have joined together to offer a service to support people at the end of life.

Spending time with patients and/or their relatives, we’re looking for volunteers to provide emotional support, a listening ear, and to simply be there for patients with a palliative diagnosis and their loved ones.

WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING.

Your role will include some of, but is not restricted to, the following tasks:

• Support patients in line with agreed boundaries and procedures
• Spend time listening and talking with patients, family, friends, and carers.
• Signpost families and friends to other services, as appropriate
• Write and submit, to the Volunteer Manager, a brief report on each visit.
• Keep the Service Manager informed of any changes of significant happenings in connection with the client, either in person or by telephone
• Be an active part of the team of Marie Curie Companions and the wider team of Antrim Area Hospital’s volunteers.
• Attend regular group support and development sessions for Marie Curie Companions
• Help with other related tasks when necessary.

THE SKILLS/EXPERIENCE YOU WILL NEED.

• Caring and Compassionate.
• Excellent listening skills.
• Mature attitude to death and dying.
• Patience, empathy, self-awareness, and emotional stability.
• Respect for confidentiality.
• Willingness to learn and operate within set boundaries.
• Reliability – keep commitments and appointments.
• Respect for individuals regardless of their race, gender, culture religion, disability, sexual orientation, and marital status.

WHAT YOU CAN GAIN FROM THIS OPPORTUNITY.

• An excellent opportunity to build on your skills in a charity environment
• An induction, training, support and supervision in your role
• Agreed reasonable out-of-pocket expenses

WHAT WE ASK OF YOU.

• To provide two references from non-family members and other relevant documents related to the role
• To keep to all the charity’s policies and guidelines 
• To complete an induction and any training related to the role
• Complete mandatory training and role related renewals, as requested

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.

ABOUT US

Every day of your life matters – from the first to the last. When you volunteer for Marie Curie, you understand that better than ever. We’re a passionate, committed and diverse team of more than 4,400 staff and  6,500 volunteers, here for people living with any terminal illness, and their families. We offer expert care, guidance and support, to help them get the most from the time they have left. 

Marie Curie is committed to its values, which underpin our work.  We take stringent steps to ensure that the people who join our organisation through employment or volunteering, are suitable for their roles and are committed to safeguarding all our people from harm. This includes our staff, volunteers and all those who use or come into contact with our services. We are dedicated to creating not just a safe place to work but also a supportive and rewarding one.

Marie Curie is committed to a world where everyone can thrive and fulfil their potential. We are devoted to the social justice imperatives and organisational benefits of full diversity, inclusion and equity in the workplace, and are a Stonewall champion. We actively encourage and welcome applications from candidates of diverse cultures, perspectives and lived experiences.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early.