Befriender Volunteer

We are seeking Befrienders to provide companionship and reassurance to adult patients on wards, particularly older patients and those with a dementia or cognitive impairment.

We ask volunteers to commit to one volunteering session per week for at least 6 months.

**We are looking for Volunteers with**:
A willingness to provide company, encourage social interaction and engage in activities with patients, including older people within a hospital/care setting.

Good social and communication skills.

Patience and understanding of the needs of patients in a hospital setting, taking direction from ward staff as required.

Providing companionship and promoting social interaction, particularly with older patients, and those with a dementia or cognitive impairment

Encouraging and engaging with patients to participate in social and recreational activities, such as reading a newspaper, listening to music, having a chat, playing cards and simple craft activities.

Proving reassurance to patients.

Completing the patients ‘All about me’ document (where applicable).

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) is one of the largest acute Trusts in the country, bringing together a combined workforce of
over 13,000 staff and over 100 different clinical services across 10 different sites, serving a core population of more than 500,000 people across South West England.
UHBW has been rated by the CQC as ‘Good’ overall and our staff are proud to deliver excellent care to the people of Bristol, Weston and beyond. As a forward thinking multi-award winning Trust and a digital exemplar committed to improving patient care, our world-leading research and innovations are having a positive local
and global impact. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the
countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer. UHBW is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of
children, young people and vulnerable adults. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a
workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients

Please refer to the role profile document attached to this vacancy.