Each role advertised will have its own Microsoft Form's link providing initial longlisting questions which will help determine suitability for the role advertised. Those successful, will be invited to an informal interview. If the online form is not accessible to you, please ring us on 01484 355815, alternatively email chftvolunteering@cht.nhs.uk

Once we have received your initial expression of interest, we will review all forms after the closing date to ensure we have the right fit. Once determined, we shall establish contact to successful applicants inviting you to an informal interview. Non successful applicants will also be notified.

We do get a large number of applicants interested in volunteering; therefore, we cannot guarantee all applications will be successful in gaining an interview. If you have not heard from us within 2 weeks of the closing date, we would encourage you to keep an eye out for future volunteering opportunities. 

After informal interviews, you will be notified of your result. Successful applicants will be provided with four Microsoft Form links, these are:

1. Application
2. Occupational Health
3. Equality, diversity and inclusion
4. Declaration

Information from these forms will be applied to Trac to carry out recruitment checks. 

To ensure we have a safe environment for our volunteers, patients, visitors, and staff, it's fundamentally important we carry out recruitment checks for every volunteer at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust in line with our Recruitment and Selection Group Policy. 

Checks will include:

1. DBS check - to the level the role requires
2. Signing up to the DBS Update Service
3. Identity check
4. Occupational health check 
5. References x2

Recruitment can take 6 to 12 weeks; this ultimately depends on the responsiveness of the candidate completing the actions required and the DBS Services completing their checks. 

References provided should cover a 12-month period and not be completed by a family member.

At Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, we pride ourselves on providing a thorough volunteer induction training package, which all volunteers must complete. The training package is provided by NHS England as an e-learning package which incorporates mandatory and statutory training, volunteers will have 3 months in which to complete this. Induction covers a variety of modules, including:

• Roles and responsibilites of a volunteer (updated COVID-19)
• Communications for volunteers
• Data securitiy awareness for volunteers
• Conflict resolution for volunteers
• Equality, Diversity and Human Rights for volunteers
• Safeguarding adults for volunteers
• Safeguarding children for volunteers
• Preventing radicalisation (basic awareness) for volunteers
• Mental Health awareness for volunteers
• Health, safety and infection prevention and control for volunteers (updated COVID-19)
• Fire safety for volunteers

There are 4 additional optional modules depending on volunteer role, optional modules may be required:

• Child sex exploitation for volunteers (optional)
• Fluids and nutrition for volunteers (optional)
• Resuscitation (basic life support) for volunteers (updated COVID-19) (optional)
• Moving and assisting for volunteers (optional)

This is to ensure that all volunteers joining our organisation have the correct level of information to safely carry out their role. 

Applicants need to be 17+ years old.

Why we want you:

Being a volunteer at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust (CHFT) gives you the opportunity to enhance the experience of our patients and their families and support staff who care for them. 

There are many benefits to being a volunteer at CHFT. People often say they volunteer because they've benefited from a service and want to put something back. Some people say that volunteering has been a positive experience which helped them to develop skills that were useful in gaining employment. Others enjoy social networking and make friends or say it is rewarding to see how the time they donate makes a difference both to patients and staff. 

The role of a Meet and Greet Volunteer is to support patients, visitors, carers, and staff when entering CHFT premises, by being friendly, approachable and professional in providing support and directions on how to navigate through the hospital to get to the desired location. 

Hospitals can be a daunting place and overwhelming at times, patients, visitors, carers, new staff, and/or external partners may enter our premises in a rush and a state of heightened anxiety due to not knowing where to go. Meet and Geet volunteers are invaluable in relieving these stresses and anxieties and will when required, escort individuals all the way to their desired location if necessary. 

As a Meet and Greet volunteer, we expect you to be the embodiment of our Values and Behaviours. Demonstrating One Culture of Care. We aim to care for ourselves and each other in the same way we care for our patients. We aim to be kind and compassionate at all times. We know that taking care of ourselves and each other is key to our ability to provide compassionate care to our patients. This applies to us all. It's not just something that leaders do to and for their team, it's what each of us do to and for each other.

Compassion isn't just something we can switch on or off. It's the personality trait we share which led us all to volunteer for the NHS. It's the thing about us here at CHFT that makes us unique, that makes people who visit us or choose to work/volunteer for us say that it's 'lovely' or 'it feels like a family'. It's the thing that we all say about our colleagues and volunteers - that they are the reason we can carry on, faced with anything that is thrown at us. It not only defines who we are and how we work now, but it also describes how we want to continue to be. It can and should be our compass for every action that we take. 

Benefits include:

• Helping to make a difference.
• Training to be able to fulfil the role.
• Putting a smile on someone's face. 
• Feeling valued.
• Developing personal and social skills.
• Gaining confidence and self-esteem.
• Increasing health and wellbeing. 
• Feeling part of a team.
• Finding quality time away from work or a busy life. 
• Uniform.
• Identification.
• Option to be included within memberships.
• Free parking when on shift. 
• Travel reimbursement (exceptions do apply).

What you will be doing:

• Being a role model for our CHFT values and behaviours, as you are the first impression when staff, visitors, patients, carers, volunteers, and external partners enter our premises.
• Providing support and direction to staff, patients, visitors, carers, new volunteers, in the navigation around the hospital. 
• Supporting patients to check in at the patient portal kiosk.
• Retrieving wheelchairs from wards, units, lifts, car park and returning them to the main entrances. 
• Referring enquires beyond your scope to the main security/reception.
• Recording your daily activities.
• Returning equipment to the relevant departments. 
• Updating the Volunteering Services Lead of any direction signage around the hospital that is outdated/incorrect. 

Please do not carry out any moving or handling of patients without the instruction and supervision/aid of a qualified member of staff. 

Volunteers are not permitted to carry out any clinical duties. 

What skills you need:

• Passionate and motivated about making a difference.
• Relate to people in a polite, friendly, and courteous manner. 
• Professional approach.
• Good communication skills.
• Ability to respect confidentiality. 
• Punctual and reliable. 
• Well presented, with a friendly and approachable manner.
• Able to demonstrate empathy, compassion and one culture of care.
• Ability to manage own time effectively.
• Compliance with the Trusts Volunteer Policy and Infection Control Measures. 
• A commitment to uphold the Trust values - Putting People First, Go See, Work Together Get Results and Must Dos. 
• A commitment to uphold to Trusts Equality and Diversity Policy.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team. 
• Able to commit reliably to agreed volunteering attendance.
• Willingness to undertake any training deemed appropriate for this role. 

Political opinion and bad language are not permitted. 

What's in it for you:

• All training is provided by Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust. 
• Excellent volunteer support.
• NHS ID provided. 
• Gain new skills and experience.

Disclaimer:

Volunteers cannot be involved in the following: 

• Clinical or medical treatments of any kind.
• Psychological interventions. 
• Clinical advice.
• Moving and handling of patients. 
• Personal care activities including toileting and bathing.
• Escorting patients off hospital premises. 
• Lifting or handling heavy equipment. 
• Undertaking any role outside of their volunteer role without checking first with the Volunteering Services Lead. 

If a patient/visitor raises concerns about their treatment clinical or otherwise, whilst an in-patient or visiting the hospital, as a Meet and Greet volunteer, you should direct this to the Volunteering Services Lead. If the patient/visitor refuses this, then please refer them to the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS).

Volunteers are reminded of the importance of confidentiality at all times. They must under no circumstances discuss patients' affairs with any person other than the relevant staff. If a patient or carer discloses information relevant of their condition, the volunteer should direct the patient or carer to speak to the supervisor in charge.

Please note: the work of volunteers will complement and not supplement that of paid employees of the Trust. 

Complete this microsoft form to apply.

Application will close on Monday 25th November.

As a Ward Helper Volunteer, we expect you to be the embodiment of our Values and Behaviours. Demonstrating Once Culture of Care. We aim to care for ourselves and each other in the same way we care for our patients. We aim to be kind, and compassionate at all time. We know that taking care of ourselves and each other is key to our ability to provide compassionate care to our patients. 

Hospitals can be a daunting place, sometimes overwhelming and very isolating with many of our patients not receiving visitors. We actively encourage our Ward Helpers Volunteers to verbally engage with our patients to support well-being and recovery. Sitting and spending one-to-one quality time with a patient can be the highlight of their day. 

What you will be doing as part of this role:

• Supporting and encouraging patients with nutrition and hydration, offering support to serve meals, refreshments, and snacks. Encouraging and promoting patients to eat, e.g. helping to ensure the food is cut up, opened and accessible. Volunteers are not permitted to physically feed patients. 
• Keep patient and staff water jugs filled and replenished and provide tea/coffee, this supporting the 7 drinks a day. 
• Befriending and supporting patients - engaging, talking, reading, interacting with patients to promote their well-being, recovery, safety, and comfort on the ward. This can include interactive games - board games, puzzles, crosswords, cards, and supporting them with their individual activities, where appropriate. 
• Respond to patient buzzers when pressed, idenfity whether you can resolve the patients' needs or whether you need to alert a clinical member of staff. 
• Cleaning, restocking and replenishment of equipment, inclusive of - PPE, stationary, linens and other clinical and non-clinical supplies. 
• 2 hourly touch-point cleaning, this can be completed at the start and at the end of your shift. 
• Supporting the completion of FFT forms (Friends and Family Test).
• Pharmacy collections, to assist in preventing delayed treatment or discharge. 

The role of a Meet and Greet Volunteer is to support patients, visitors, carers, and staff when entering CHFT premises, by being friendly, approachable and professional in providing support and directions on how to navigate through the hospital to get to their desired location. 

Hospitals can be a daunting place and overwhelming at times, patients, visitors, carers and new staff, external partners, may enter our premises in a rush and a state of heightened anxiety dure to not knowing where to go. Meet and Greet Volunteers are invaluable in relieving these stresses and anxieties, and when required, will escort you all the way to your desired location if necessary. 

As a Meet and Greet Volunteer, we expect you to be the embodiment of our Values and Behaviours. Demonstrating One Culture of Care. We aim to care for ourselves and each other in the same way we care for our patients. We aim to be kind, and compassionate at all times. We know that taking care of ourselves and each other is key to our ability to provide compassionate care to our patients. 

We have opportunities for Meet and Greet Volunteers at Calderdale Royal Hospital, Huddersfield Royal Infirmary and Acre Mills. With reconfiguration developing, there will be opportunities in the future within our community locations too. 

What you will be doing:

• Being a role model for our CHFT values and behaviours, as you are the first impression of CHFT when someone steps through the doors. 
• Providing support and direction to everyone who steps through the doors. 
• Supporting patients checking in at the patient portal kiosk. 
• Retrieving wheelchairs from wards, units, lifts, car parks and returning them to the main entrances. 
• Referring enquiries beyond your scope to the main security/reception desk. 
• Recording your daily activities for data impact measuring.
• Returning equipment to the relevant departments. 
• Updating the volunteering manager if any direction signage around the hospital has become outdated/incorrect.
• Supporting temporary diversions (this can be due to hospital parking, entrance/exit closures etc).

At CHFT, we welcome volunteers from registered organisations such as; Pet as Therapy and Therapy Dogs Nationwide. This particular role of volunteer truly makes a difference to the health and well-being of patients and staff. 

At CHFT, we aim to ensure staff and patients all have access to our registered dogs, as everyone deserves the companionship of a friendly pet as their love and affection is pure and guaranteed to put a smile on anyones face.

Benefits of Pets as Therapy include:

• Making you happier, lessening depression, and imporving your outlook on life. 
• Decreasing loneliness and isolation by giving companionship.
• Reducing boredom. 
• Reducing anxiety because of its calming effects.
• Helping children to learn empathic and nuturing skills.
• Improving the relationships between you and your healthcare provider. 
• Increasing physical activity.
• Boosting confidence and improving self-esteem.
• Supporting wellbeing and recovery.

To register with us, you will need to provide the following documentation:

• Certificate of Registration (renewed/in-date).
• Last 12 months vaccination history.
• PAT7 form (Pets as Therapy).

All PAT and Therapy Dogs Nationwide Volunteers will be subject to CHFT Volunteering recruitment checks, which includes an enhanced DBS Barring check Adults and Children, and registering to the DBS Update Service.

If you are interesed in registering your dog and putting them through training and assessment, please contact: 

Therapy Dogs Nationwide: 

enquiries@tdn.org.uk 

07840 994009

Therapy Dogs Nationwide, 103 Home Fram Road, Wirral, CH49 7LG

Pets as Therapy:

reception@petsastherapy.org 

01865 671440

Pets as Therapy, Hampden House, Monument Business Park, Warpsgrove Lane, Chalgrove, Oxfordshire, OX44 7RW

If you are already registered, please contact us directly:

chftvolunteering@cht.nhs.uk

The role of a Pharmacy Volunteer is to support the department in its wider support of patients and staff. The Pharmacy department conduct their own in-house induction and training, the initiative aims to:

• Reduce the number of times clinical team members are called away from their duties. 
• Speed up the delivery of urgent items for in-patients.
• Assist patient flow by delivering urgent discharge medication.
• Speed up the return and delivery of medicaion to the dispensary.
• Reduce waste. 

Volunteers handling Medicines and working near unsealed/locked medications - all tasks are performed under supervision by a competent Pharmacy Assistant or Pharmacy Professional. This meets the General Pharmaceutical Council Guidance. 

CHFT Pharmacy Volunteers are able to carry out the following 'handling medicine' duties and other responsibilities under supervision:

1. Assist Dispensary Assistant in counting reurned medications - Pharmacy Assistant.
2. Assist with putting away Pharmacy Stock in the dispensary - Pharmacy Assistant, Pharmacy Technicians, Responsible Pharmacist and Dispensary Line Manager.
3. Cleaning of computer equipment. 
4. Assist Dispensary Line Manager with stock checks - Dispensary Line Manager.
5. Assist with the 'Podding' of medication using the Pneumatic tube system - Pharmacy Assistant, Pharmacy Technicians, Responsible Pharmacist and Dispensary Line Manager - no handling of medication. 
6. Assist with collecting month end data and archiving and instructed by Dispendary Manager - no handling of medication. 
7. Top up Sundry items as instructed - no handling of medication. 
8. Assist in delivering sealed bags of medication to the wards - including refrigerator items. Supervision is at each point, no handling of medication and bags remain sealed/similar to Taxi transfers. Volunteers do not deliver Controlled Drugs. 

We have radio stations at both Calderdale Royal Hospital and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary. 

Both stations are run entirely by volunteers, who give a few hours a week, either presenting or producing, providing music and information to listeners. 

The radio stations play a variety of music, played to suit a wide range of listeners and it is important to always remember the stations are representing an NHS organisation, conversing, dealing with, and being observed by patients, visitors, and staff members. Professional, respectable, and sensible behaviour must be displayed at all times. 

Whilst each radio station has their own specific training in place, as an NHS CHFT Volunteer, it is mandatory to follow all Trust Volunteer recruitment and induction policies to be able to volunteer within Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust. This will be provided by the Volunteering Services Team.

A professional approach should be maintained at all times. Political opinion and bad language is not permitted. 

What you will be doing:

• Presenting a radio programme, playing a variety of music, and sharing information to listeners. 
• Support behind the scenes - engineers and technicians helping to keep the station on air or fixing equipment. 
• Organise the catalogue of music/CDs.
• Help keep the studio clean and tidy. 
• Representing the radio at events. 
• Help with fundraising events. 

What skills you need:

• Passionate about radio and music.
• Relate to people in a polite, friendly, and courteous manner. 
• Good communication skills.
• Ability to respect confidentiality.
• Punctual and reliable.
• Well-presented, with a friendly and approachable manner. 
• Able to demonstrate empathy, compassion, and One Culture of Care. 
• Willingness to be flexible and to follow the guidance of the Supervisor. 
• Ability to manage own time effectively.
• Compliance with the Trusts Volunteer Policy and the Volunteer Handbook.
• A commitment to uphold the Trusts values - Putting People First, Go See, Work Together to Get Results, Most Dos. 
• A commitment to uphold the Trusts Equality and Diversity Policy.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team. 

Do you want to do something AMAZING and help your local hospital charity? Whether it's manning a cheering point, handing out goody bags, searching for new grants we can apply for or hosting a tombola stall at a community event. All our volunteers play a vital role in making amazing things happen.

Once recruited, it's very easy to get hooked in participating. For some people, it's the excitement of events, meeting new people and making new friends, for others, it's developing new skills to support personal and professional goals.

What you will be doing:

• Help set up and clear down at an event.
• Support participants as they take part in events - marshalling, tail walking, lead walking etc. 
• Cheering or handing out refreshments at events. 
• Assist with check in at the start of an event and handing out finisher packs at the end. 
• Attend community events with a fundraising stall, such as selling raffle tickets or Christmas cards, running a book/cake stall or tombola etc. 
• Helping with admin - photocopying, filing, writing letters, making calls, looking into grants the charity can apply for etc. 
• Publicise fundraising events and activities within the local community. 
• Where appropriate, attend Fundraising Steering Group meetings. 

What skills you need?:

• Great communication and interpersonal skills.
• Flexible and willing to volunteer outdoors. 
• Enthusiastic about supporting CHFT Charity. 
• Willing to work as part of a team. 
• If you have specific skills and experience which would benefit you and the Charity Team - such as: event management / leading teams, then please let us know when you apply. 

The role of the Chaplaincy Volunteer is to support the Chaplaincy team to provide pastoral, spiritual, and religious care to patients, families and staff at Calderdale Royal Hospital and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.

Pastoral, spiritual, and religious care are part of the provision of healthcare in the hospitals. Chaplaincy Volunteers are 'patient facing' and provide regulated activity to care for patients in a non-clinical capacity under the direction and supervision of healthcare professionals. 

Pastoral care involves active listening and may include giving advice and guidance on emotional and spiritual well-being. In addition, religious advice and guidance on emotional and spiritual well-being. In addition, religious advice may be given, supporting patients to express, practice and live by the values of their faith, supporting holistic health and well-being. 

"Chaplaincy is a vital part of NHS care for patients, for their families and carers, and for NHS staff. Chaplaincy services are offered fairly and equally to everyone without discrimination" - NHS England, 2023. 

Chaplaincy Volunteers are specially trained to provide pastoral care with a commitment to working in hospitals a minimum of one day a week. 

What you will be doing as a Chaplaincy Volunteer: 

• Visiting in-patients and providing pastoral and spiritual care as required identifying whether any patients wish to receive prayers and referring appropriately for a Chaplain to deliver. 
• General engagement, providing companionship and communication, offering empathetic listening to patients, and identifying those who may be isolated or lonely. 
• Supporting and helping at services of worship and celebration. Seasonal and memorial services and chaplaincy promotional activities. 
• Monitoring usage and replenishing the Faith Resource Packs supplied to each ward/service area. 
• Providing pastoral and spiritual support to families and significant others. 

The End-of-Life Companion Volunteers are specially trained within the Chaplaincy service. Their role involved accompanying patients in their last days of life, also offering support for their families and significant others. 

Requests for an EOL companion volunteer are usually made by the ward staff caring for the patient who may or may not have family and friends to be with them. When a referral is received, companions are contacted via the companions 'WhatsApp' group and visits arrranged as appropriate during the service operating times of Monday to Friday between the hours of 10am to 3pm.

The assigned EOL companion will be expected to accompany the dying person at the bedside, providing appropriate person-centred support. 

The EOL companion will not perform any clinical care or moving and handling of the patient but may assist in personal care with supporting nutrition and hydration, prompting reminders, accessing their food, and cutting up of food into smaller manageable pieces. EOL companions are not allowed to physically feed patients.