Gentle Movement and Activity Volunteer

This is a new and developing volunteer role aiming to support patients not losing their mobility whilst in hospital. Elderly patients lose 2-5 % of their muscle strength daily with bed rest in hospital. 10 days bed rest is equivalent to 10 years muscle ageing in the elderly.
There is a big National drive around getting our elderly patients out of bed and moving and within ESHT we have a local drive called eat, sleep move repeat. The focus is on doing what we can to maintain their function in hospital to maximise their quality of life on discharge home to a place of choice.
Gentle Movement and activity Volunteers are essential to helping our elderly patients maintain their strength and function through exercise and cognitive stimulation whilst in hospital. Volunteers will be connecting with patients in our elderly care and medical wards on both the Conquest and Eastbourne sites. The multidisciplinary team will prescribe specific exercises and activities tailored to patients which the volunteers will practise with the individual patient or groups of patients, · Report to ward clerk and liaise with the ward team to gather a list of patients to see each shift.
· Promoting patient safety whilst in hospital through regular movement, cognitive stimulation, nutrition, and hydration.
· Approaching patients and encouraging them to take up Gentle Movement sessions.
· Following a prescribed prone or chair-based exercise programme via 121 bedside sessions. Demonstrating exercises for patients and encouraging them to take part
· Using exercise equipment as indicated by therapy staff e,g. Theraband and small hand weights
· Facilitating suitable activities such as art, music, board games etc as appropriate for patients., + The healthcare provider of first choice for the people of East Sussex.
Our mission is to:
+ Deliver better health outcomes and an excellent experience for everyone we provide with healthcare services.
Our strategic objectives are to:
+ Improve quality and clinical outcomes by ensuring that safe patient care is our highest priority.
+ Play a leading role in local partnerships to meet the needs of our local population and improve and enhance patients' experiences.
+ Use our resources efficiently and effectively for the benefit of our patients and their care to ensure our services are clinically, operationally and financially sustainable.
Our aims are that all services delivered by the Trust are:
+ Safe
+ Effective
+ Caring
+ Responsive and
+ Well led

Gentle Movement and Activity Volunteer

We are proud to provide 'Outstanding' care and be a great place to work.
East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust provides safe, compassionate and high quality hospital and community care to the half a million people living in East Sussex and those who visit our local area.
We are one of the largest organisations in East Sussex with an annual income of £568 million and we are the only integrated provider of acute and community care in Sussex.
Our extensive health services are provided by over 7,000 dedicated members of staff working from two acute hospitals in Hastings and Eastbourne, three community hospitals in Bexhill, Rye and Uckfield, over 100 community sites across East Sussex, and in people's own homes.
In 2020 the Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated us as 'Good' overall, and 'Outstanding' for being Caring and Effective. The Conquest Hospital in Hastings and our Community Services were rated 'Outstanding' and Eastbourne DGH was rated 'Good' Our two acute hospitals have Emergency Departments and provide 24 hour a day care, offering a comprehensive range of surgical, medical, outpatient and maternity services, supported by a full range of diagnostic and therapy services.
In the summer of 2020, the Trust launched its ambitious 'Building for our Future' (BFF) programme. This once in a lifetime programme aims to redevelop and expand our hospitals at Eastbourne, Hastings and Bexhill, transforming the environment in which we provide care for generations to come.

Volunteering with the NHS is an excellent opportunity to help your community and a rewarding way to dedicate your time to a cause you care about.
Volunteering gives a sense of satisfaction gained from helping others;
+ You can use your own life or work experience and knowledge to support patients and our staff.
+ You will also meet new people,
+ learn lots of different skills
+ gain experience of what it would be like to work in the NHS.
+ boost your own self-esteem and wellbeing
We train and support our volunteers so they can play a meaningful and valuable role within the trust.
Whatever your reason for wanting to volunteer we'd love to hear from you.