Volunteer Opportunities

Our volunteers are an invaluable part of the hospital team. When you volunteer with us, you help to improve patient experience through supporting staff with patient care.
We currently have the following volunteer roles available:
Ward Volunteer (08:00- 20:00 Mon - Sun)
Brew Buddy (staff wellbeing) (09:00 - 16:00 Mon- Fri)
Desk Guides (09:00 -16:00 Mon - Fri)
Important - When completing your application please include the following in the Supporting Information section
· Which role do you want to do and why?
· Why do you want to volunteer at the hospital?
PLEASE NOTE:
Please note we receive a high volume of applications each month, and only have a limited number of volunteer spaces available., All roles are based on the needs of the hospital:
Ward - Based on wards supporting staff with patient care. You will complete 4 shifts training on one of the Academy wards before been allocated to a new ward. Your duties will include:
Spending time with patients, sitting and engaging in friendly conversation.
Help and assist Hosts with hydration and nutrition.
Run errands for staff as and when required.
Restocking.
Brew Buddy - Providing hot drinks to our staff across the hospital to support their wellbeing.
Desk Guides - Based at one of our information desks, you will welcome patients and visitors to the hospital and direct as required.
Volunteers cannot replace the role of a paid employee, and this is not a work placement., Northampton General Hospital is one of the largest employers in the area and we are on an exciting journey. All of our divisions are committed to doing things better, with more efficiency as we update, modernise, and advance. We have also entered into a Group Model with neighbouring Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and become University Hospitals of Northamptonshire.
Our Excellence Values
Compassion
Accountability
Respect
Integrity
Courage
We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and help to unleash everyone's full potential. As an organisation, we value how we communicate and promote our vacancies to all communities.
We are a Defence positive trust, supporting our reservists, veterans, spouses and partners.
The Hospital Group encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups, especially those from BAME, Disabled and LGBTQ+ backgrounds as these are underrepresented in our hospitals.
We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative.
Please submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close any adverts before the closing date once we have received sufficient applications., + Spending time with patients providing a listening ear and engaging in friendly conversation as appropriate, demonstrate respect and sensitivity to all individuals.
+ Chatting / Reading to patients who may not have visitors.
+ Ensure confidentiality is maintained at all times of all details appertaining to patients, their relatives, and staff.
+ To greet patients or visitors on arrival and during their stay, providing a welcoming and relaxing atmosphere.
+ To sit alongside patients at mealtimes chatting and encouraging them to eat and drink, ensuring food and drink is within easy reach and accessible to the patient.
+ Helping the hostess to serve meals and deliver snacks to patients.
+ Make drinks for patients and ensure water jugs remain full.
+ Assist with keeping patient bed areas tidy.
+ Making drinks for visitors, including the day area. Wash and tidy kitchen area.
+ Highlight the infection control stations to all visitors and point out gel dispensers to them. Replenish gel dispensers as required.
+ To be aware of steps taken to safeguard the health and safety of patients/visitors and staff, observing all rules and regulations appertaining to their safeguard and have an up-to-date knowledge of all proceedings for dealing with this, in particular wearing aprons and gloves where appropriate and attention to hand washing/gel.
+ To engage in any other appropriate activity under the supervision and direction of the Clinical staff such as replenishing stocks
+ Undertake patient surveys in a ward environment to understand the experiences of a patient.
Brew Buddy
+ Supporting staff through providing refreshments
+ Be friendly and approachable for all colleagues and patients.
+ Assist anyone who may be lost or need help
+ Excellent communication skills
+ Take the Brew Buddy out to support staff wellbeing.
+ Manage stock levels and rotate stock.
+ Whilst carrying a radio always ensure you speak professionally over the system and never speak about patients over the radio
Desk Guides
+ To greet and welcome patients and visitors to the hospital providing a friendly and welcoming atmosphere.
+ To help patients and visitors find their way to different parts of the hospital.
+ Offer patients and visitors information and support to reach their destination, to include location of stairs, lifts, telephones, wheelchairs, and car parking machines.
+ Provide clear and accurate directions with signposting and maps to visitors.
+ Answer general enquiries as required.
+ To assist patients and visitors to book the buggy service and log requests in a timely manner.
+ Providing a courtesy 'Meet & Greet' service (wheelchair training required)
+ Answer incoming telephone calls professionally and action as appropriate.
+ Be proactive in assisting anyone who may be or looks lost within the hospital.
+ Always keep the reception desks and areas clean and tidy.
+ To ensure confidentiality is maintained at all times of all details appertaining to patients and visitors.
+ Ensure everything is packed away and keys, etc. returned at the end of the shift to the volunteer's office.
+ To engage in any other appropriate activity as required, under the supervision and guidance of the Volunteer Services.

+ To be aware of steps taken to safeguard the health and safety of patients/visitors and staff, observing all rules and regulations appertaining to their safeguard and have an up-to-date knowledge of all proceedings for dealing with this.

At Northampton General Hospital we provide general acute services and hyper-acute stroke, vascular and renal services to people living in Northamptonshire. As well as this we are an accredited cancer centre and provide cancer services to a wider population of Northamptonshire and parts of Buckinghamshire.
We are proud to be the first hospital in the UK to have obtained Pathway to Excellence® designated accreditation from the American nurses credentialing centre (ANCC).
We celebrate staff achievements and value the importance of working as one big team. That's why we talk about Team NGH. It's all about working together to provide the best possible care for our patients and supporting each other to grow and develop our skills. We are driven to helping you to be the best you can be.
We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and help to unleash everyone's full potential. As an organisation, we value how we communicate and promote our vacancies to all communities. The Hospital Group encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups, especially those from BAME, Disabled and LGBTQ+ backgrounds as these are underrepresented in our hospitals. We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative. We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from all backgrounds. This ensures everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging working for Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals.