Ward Helper Volunteer

*Only apply if you are able to do long term volunteering (6 months minimum), able to provide references and are over 16. More information will be given during induction.

The ward helper role provides patient contact and a good insight into and experience of working in a hospital. The main volunteer tasks are focussing on three areas in the patient experience pathway:

• Patient Wellbeing – supporting patient engagement/chatting/ward introduction list/tv set up support/activities
• Physical recovery – supporting meal times/moving where appropriate /physio exercise support
• Patient Flow – supporting the patient discharge from the ward/the admissions of new patients/admission screening tool support/pharmacy collections/laboratory samples

The role provides the ward with an extra pair of hands, assisting with non-clinical tasks such as chatting to patients, supporting patients during meal times, making drinks and running errands like pharmacy runs for staff and patients or supporting patients getting ready for discharge.

• You will also support the re-conditioning activities on the ward, which will be led by the clinical team, to avoid de-conditioning of patients. This involves keeping the patient active and encourage activities like taking the patients to the day room or an outing to the garden or the café in the hospital.

Research has demonstrated that patients recover quicker and can go home earlier if they eat and drink well during their hospital stay. Mealtimes are therefore a core part of our care as well as being an important source of comfort to our patients. As a Ward Helper, you will have a key role to play during ward mealtimes on our adult inpatient wards. Your role will be to work alongside our clinical colleagues to support patients; ensuring they are ready to eat and helping them to eat by creating a pleasant and relaxing environment for patients to enjoy their meals.

Patient Wellbeing: 

• Introduce yourself to patients and explain your role
• Engage/chat patients with limited visitors
• Provide refreshments like coffee and tea and ensure water jugs are filled
• (check with nurses if patient is monitored on fluid intake before filling the jug)
• Sit and chat or listen to patient stories
• Help patients contact loved ones and introduce them to the ward guide 
• Assist with TV/radio setup and engage in activities (games, reading, etc.)(puzzle & colouring books, playing cards are available for single use outside the volunteering hub)
• Manage stocks, PPE, and linen
• Support dementia patients with reminiscence activities (under nurse guidance)
• Offer face cloths, hair brushing, or nail filing
  
• Liaise with staff for patient feedback and escalate concerns 

Physical Recovery: 

• Encourage and support patients to stay active
• Assist with light mobility, escort to the day room, garden, or café (under nurse guidance)
• Help patients with exercises (under nurse guidance)
• Encourage patients to sit in chairs for meals and assist with positioning trays and cutler
• Help patients wash hands before meals, open food packages, and cut food

Patient Flow (tasks under nurse instructions): 

• Collect pharmacy items and take samples to the lab 
  
• Complete admission screening checklists with new patients
  
• Escort patients to different departments for tests
  
• Support patients with packing and escorting to the discharge lounge
  
• Assist patients/visitors with completing The Friends and Family questionnaire

Boundaries (what you won’t be doing):

• You will not be acting as a member of the catering team. Your role is to support the quality of the mealtime by supporting patients as per the guidance at the end of this role description. Catering staff are responsible for delivery of the meal to the patient bedside and the clearing up after
• No clinical care of patients
• No personal care (e.g. toileting or getting patients changed). Refer a patient to the clinical team if they need assistance with using the toilet
• No lifting of heavy equipment
• No lifting or moving patients; ask the nursing team to do this
• Do not adjust patient beds; ask nursing team to do this
• Not entering side rooms
• You will not feed patients who have known dysphagia (swallowing difficulties) - patients will be identified by the presence of a ‘Speech and Language Therapy Swallowing Recommendations’ sign
• You will not feed patients who require a red tray for their meals

Once you have applied, please attend one of these information session, info below. This is to find out about volunteering in a hospital setting and the recruitment process. The next one will take place on  Thursday 23 April 2026 at 4pm

Late attendees will not be accepted*. Click here to join meeting:  How to become a volunteer at West Middlesex University Hospital — Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

What skills do I need?

As a volunteer you will embody the Trust’s values:

• Putting patients first
• Responsive to, and supportive of, patients and staff
• Open, welcoming and honest
• Unfailingly kind, treating everyone with respect, compassion and dignity
• Determined to develop our skills and continuously improve the quality of care

Skills and other requirements:

• Sign in and out of shifts using the My Impact app
• Report to the Nurse in Charge on arrival to the ward
• Be self-motivated; with an ability to think on your feet and work independently
• Operate within the boundaries of this role for your own safety
• Be punctual and dependable and have a professional and friendly demeanour
• Be resilient – you will see patients in the hospital who will be distressed and in pain – some people can find this distressing
• Follow Trust infection and prevention guidelines. This includes not volunteering when you are sick, practicing good hand hygiene, being bare below the elbow in clinical areas, and wearing any PPE if required.
• If you are not sure of a task or of using PPE, Please ask  for help at any time.
• You but be 16+

When do I need to be available?

	Morning	Afternoon	Evening
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday

Details

• Time commitment is for at least one shift per week – same shift weekly • Shift are from 11.30am to 2.30pm on weekdays and weekends • Shift are from 17.00 to 19.00pm on weekdays and weekends

Where does this role take place?