Volunteer Nurse
Location: Skanda Vale Hospice, Saron, Llandysul, SA44 5DY.
Hours: 10 hours or 1 shift minimum per month.
Supported by: Lead Nurse / Deputy Lead Nurse
Overview
Working closely with the wider care team of nurses, carers, companions and complementary therapists, you will help deliver holistic, truly person-centred care, to enhance people’s quality of life and make their time with us a positive one.
What you’ll be doing:
- Patient Care: Offer skilled nursing care, administering medication, managing symptoms, and helping with personal care with patience, empathy and compassion.
- Assessment and Planning: Carry out thorough, holistic assessments of patients’ physical, emotional and psychosocial needs and work together with the team to develop individualised care plans.
- Communication: Build trusting relationships with patients, families and colleagues, offering information, emotional support and advocacy where needed, to ensure patients’ wishes are respected and addressed.
- Documentation: Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of patient care, ensuring confidentiality and compliance with legal and ethical standards.
- Education and Support: Offer support and advice to patients and families around symptom management, pain relief and other aspects of palliative care, empowering them to participate in decision-making and self-care.
- Collaboration: Work collaboratively with doctors, nurse practitioners, social workers, spiritual carers and other team members to support genuinely patient-centred care, ensuring seamless transitions between care settings as well as continuity of care.
- Health and Safety: Follow infection control protocols, health and safety regulations and hospice policies and procedures to maintain a safe and hygienic environment for all.
- Self-Awareness: Seek support from senior colleagues as needed to manage your emotional well-being and actively participate in individual or group reflection, debriefing, clinical supervision sessions, and other support strategies.
- Professional Development: Engage in ongoing learning opportunities to enhance your skills and knowledge in palliative care nursing.
Qualifications, skills & qualities:
- Registered Nurse (RN): Hold an RN qualification with current registration and indemnity insurance to practise without restrictions.
- Team Player: Comfortable working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team, largely composed of volunteers with a range of care experience,
- Previous Experience: A background in palliative care nursing is valued, though not essential.
- Clinical Skills: Strong clinical assessment and nursing skills, including the ability to manage complex symptoms and provide psychosocial support to patients and families.
- Communication Skills: The ability to communicate effectively and with sensitivity and respect with patients and families from diverse backgrounds.
- Compassion: Empathy, with a patient-centred approach to care and a commitment to upholding the dignity, autonomy and values of our patients and those closest to them.
- Adaptability: Able to respond well to changing circumstances, even amidst interruptions.
- Professionalism: Composure in potentially high-stress and emotionally charged situations and the ability to respond promptly to critical events.
Training & support:
- We provide comprehensive induction and training to familiarise Volunteer Nurses with hospice policies, procedures, and protocols.
- You’ll also receive ongoing support and supervision to ensure you feel confident and valued in your role and we offer a range of team development opportunities.
Volunteer accommodation:
- We offer free overnight accommodation at either Skanda Hafan Guesthouse or at Skanda Vale Ashram for volunteers travelling from further afield.
- Find out more about free accommodation for healthcare volunteers.
YOUR STEPS TO JOINING OUR TEAM
Choose how to submit your application:
- Option 1: Complete and submit the online form below.
- Option 2: Download and email the form to: volunteers@skandavalehospice.org
- Option 3: Download print and post the form to: People Team, Skanda Vale Hospice, Saron, Llandysul, SA44 5DY.
One of our team will be in touch to talk through the details.
Come and meet us for a friendly conversation / interview to ensure we’re a good fit for one another.
After we’ve run our checks we’ll invite you to an Induction Day and welcome you into the team!
Volunteering application form
All our teams take part in training so do ensure you’re happy with that before submitting your form. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide sponsorship for overseas volunteers.
Interested in volunteering?
Nicky Gilbert, our Recruitment Lead, reads every enquiry and will be in touch within a few working days.
