The information below is intended to provide some basic details about voluntary roles at the Hospice, and to perhaps help you decide which area(s) you are interested in.
If you feel there is more than one area you would like to be involved, please mention this at your interview. It is not necessary to commit to any area or specific days at this stage.
Patient Services
Limes Day Unit
The newly refurbished Limes Day Unit is now back up and running Tuesday to Friday with Wednnesday afternoon and Friday being drop-in-days. Watch this space for further information.
Volunteers are involved with various non-nursing roles including serving refreshments and meals. Volunteers are also required to assist patients in diversionary therapies and act as escorts on trips out with the Limes Day Unit patients.
Volunteers will be selected following an interview with the Limes team leader.
In Patient Unit
The in patient unit opened in 2001 and is a 10 bedded unit. The IPU is open every day of the year. Volunteers are involved with various non-nursing roles including meeting/greeting visitors, serving refreshments and helping serve meals, there could also be some telephone/clerical work.
(Sessions daily 10am - 2pm and 4pm - 8pm), times can be slightly flexible.
Volunteers will be selected following an interview with the Nursing Manager.
Drivers
Volunteers are needed to make up a team willing to use their cars to pick patients up from their homes, bring them to the Hospice and return them to their homes at the end of the day. (A mileage allowance is payable).
Volunteers will be selected following an interview with the Nursing Manager.
Complementary Therapy
A team of Complementary Therapists work at the Hospice providing treatments for patients, carers and relatives. This helps with relaxation and symptom management. Anyone interested in this area would need certificates of qualifications and insurance cover and these should be brought to the interview.
Volunteers will be selected after an interview with the Nursing Manager.
Bereavement Support
We have an excellent team of volunteers who work in supporting the bereaved. Working with people in loss and grief is difficult and stressful work. Volunteers will have been at the Hospice for approximately a year and completed a 12 week training programme before working with bereaved family and friends.
Volunteers will be selected after an interview with the Family Team Leader.
Main Reception - working week
Two volunteers are needed per session, (9.00-1.00 and 1.00-5.00) Monday to Friday, to staff the Main Reception desk, which also acts as the Hospice switchboard. Included in this multi-task role is greeting patients and visitors, sale of promotional goods and preparing post for despatch.
Volunteers will be selected after an interview with the Reception Team Leader.
Main Reception - evenings and weekends
A team of volunteers is needed to cover Main Reception evenings and weekends(5.00 to 8.00pm) Monday to Friday and 9.00 to 1.00pm and 1.00 to 5.00pm Saturdays and Sundays. Role same as above.
Volunteers will be selected after an interview with the Reception Team Leader.
Apex Rooms Reception
Volunteers are needed to join the Apex Room team. The Apex Rooms are a purpose built education and conference centre. Included in this varied and interesting role is assisting with booking enquiries, meeting and greeting visitors and delegates to the conference rooms, helping with refreshments and general administration work.
Volunteers will be selected after an interview with the Education Centre Manager.
Fundraising
We receive a significant amount of funding from our local Primary Care Trust but fundraising is still a vital and continuous activity involving everyone connected with the Hospice. This is a multi-task area with help needed sending out mail shots, counting money and general administration.
Volunteers will be selected after an interview with the Fundraising Manager.
Events Team
A team of volunteers that are willing to give time during evenings and/or weekends are needed to assist the Fundraising/Retail Team in running events. For instance this could involve running the tote at a race night, acting as a marshal on the Hospice Hobble or helping run a stall at one of the many country shows.
Gardening
A team of gardeners maintain and develop the whole of the gardens surrounding the Hospice. Lawns and ornamental gardens are maintained for the use of the patients, weather permitting!
Volunteers are required Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.
Maintenance
Our Hospice maintenance team have a small number of volunteers who assist with the upkeep of the buildings, doing such things as decorating, cleaning lightfittings and general maintenance.
Volunteers will be selected following an interview with the Support Services Manager.
Catering
The Hospice kitchen is always a hive of activity providing meals for all the patients 7 days a week. They also provide refreshments and buffets for any meetings/training taking place in the Apex Rooms.
Volunteers will be selected following an interview with the Catering Team Leader.
Housekeeping
Barnsley Hospice does not use an independent Housekeeping service. All the Hospice housekeeping and laundry service is carried out by an in-house team. A small group of volunteers is needed to help out in the laundry area with the ironing and with general housekeeping roles.
Volunteers will be selected following an interview with the Housekeeping Team Leader.
General administration
This could include typing, finance and clerical work, also help with photocopying, sending out thank you letters for donations received, and filing. Anybody wishing to volunteer in this area should be computer literate and willing to be flexible as you may not know which area you will be attached to on your weekly sessions!
