Volunteer

You will be part of a strong, dedicated team of volunteers working alongside staff to provide holistic support to patients and their families to enhance people's experience of care. This might include:

• Providing companionship and company to patients during their stay, this might include playing cards, reading or chatting;
• Where appropriate/required escort patients/visitors to different locations throughout the hospital including way finding - assistance with manual handing/patient transfers is not expected;
• Encouraging patients to eat and provide company at mealtimes - this is a non-clinical role, you are not expected to support with feeding as this requires specialist training
  
  The gift of your time as a volunteer can make a significant difference to patients and their relatives at Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust.
There are many different reasons for volunteering with us, some of the benefits our existing volunteer workforce have cited include:
• Make a difference to patients, their families and friends;
• The potential to give something back to the local community;
• A chance to do something worthwhile and meaningful to you;
• The opportunity to work as part of a team - you'll be part of a volunteer community supported by staff and the voluntary services team throughout your volunteering journey;
• The prospect to learn new skills and share your existing expertise. In addition to mandatory training there are often opportunities to undertake additional training specific to the role., Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust ranks among the top 10 NHS Trusts nationwide and was named the second-best Trust to work for in the South East in the 2023 and 2024 NHS Staff Survey.
We are a large acute hospital trust in south-east England, providing general hospital services and specialist care to around 600,000 residents in West Kent and East Sussex. With a dedicated and diverse team of over 8,000 staff we are proud to offer specialised cancer services to over two million people through the Kent Oncology Centre. Fordcombe Hospital, near Tunbridge Wells, became part of the Trust in October 2024. Specialising in planned care, it offers two operating theatres, 28 inpatient and day-care beds, diagnostic services (X-ray, MRI, CT, and endoscopy), and consultation/treatment rooms. Looking for flexible working? We are a flexible working-friendly organisation. Whether it's adjusting your hours or exploring other flexible arrangements, we want to work with you to find the best solution for you, our patients, and the Trust. Talk to us about how we can accommodate your working needs.

Joining us includes a comprehensive benefits package:o Blue Light card eligibilityo Additional benefits such as occupational health support and some staff benefits., Depending on experience Please note that this role is a voluntary and not a paid role