About the role

What will I be doing?

As a Mealtime Volunteer, you’ll help to provide valuable support for patients by offering refreshments, supporting mealtimes, as well as providing patients with companionship, which will have a positive impact on their wellbeing and experience while in hospital receiving treatment.

Some of the main activities of the role include:

• Support the ward staff to provide meals to patients
• Take time to chat and be a companion to patients when delivering their meals
• Keep patients company while they have their meal, as appropriate
• Encourage patients to eat their meals and take a drink
• Report any issues or feedback as required to the ward staff
• Ensure patients have a clean space to eat their meal
• Make hot and cold drinks for patients to go with their meal, as required
• Provide condiments to patients on request
• Open food packaging for patients as required
• Help to cut up food items etc to make them easier to eat
• Where appropriate, carry out feedback surveys with patients
• Support other non-clinical tasks for the ward, as requested by the ward staff

What skills will I need?

We’re looking for volunteers who are friendly, caring and passionate about supporting patients and staff at our hospitals. You’ll also find the following skills and qualities are particularly useful in this role:

• A friendly, positive and approachable manner
• Knowledge of the hospital layout or an interest to learn
• Ability to be empathetic, patient and calm in difficult situations if they arise
• Working well within a diverse team
• Ability to follow instructions and be flexible
• Acting on your own initiative within set boundaries
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to volunteer on your feet for several hours at a time

What support will I get?

This fun and fulfilling volunteer role will give you the opportunity to make a positive impact on our patients during their time in hospital as well as developing your own skills.

At every step we’ll provide lots of support to help you in your volunteer role. You’ll have a member of hospital staff as your main contact as well as extra support from the volunteering team at your hospital. We’ll give you the chance to take part in additional training to further develop your skills and we’ll say thank you for all your fantastic efforts through our volunteering awards and regular newsletter. We’ll also reimburse you for your travel and food and drink costs during your volunteer shift.

How to apply

Before you can start volunteering with us, there are a few important steps.
Take a look at the graphic below to see each stage of your volunteering journey.

One more thing to remember. You’ll need to complete a DBS check to volunteer with us. Click the button below to find all the information you need.

When you’re ready to apply, click the ‘Apply Now’ button below to get started.