VOLUNTEER HANDBOOK
Cover photo: Athelstan House
Hello and welcome from Dan Hayes, Chief Executive Officer at OSJCT Welcome!
I’m delighted to welcome you to The Orders of St. John Care Trust (OSJCT).
Thank you for joining our fantastic team of volunteers. We know what a huge difference volunteering makes to the lives of those that live and work with us, so we really can’t thank you enough for giving your time and sharing your skills to support us.
Whatever has inspired you to join us, we want to make sure you feel valued, supported and proud to be part of OSJCT throughout your time with us.
This volunteer handbook provides you with the essential information you need to support you in your volunteer role. You will have already spoken to or met your Volunteer Manager at your induction and they are on hand if you require more detailed information at any point now or in the future.
However long you spend with us, I hope you enjoy the experience. It’s great to have you as part of our team.
Thank you, again, for your time and dedication to OSJCT.
Dan Hayes Chief Executive Officer, OSJCT
A little bit about us
The history of OSJCT
OSJCT is sponsored by The Sovereign and Hospitaller Order of Malta and The Venerable Order of St John of Jerusalem. These two Orders together bring a history of over one thousand years of providing care, relief of poverty and service. Today they provide the Trustees for our organisation.
OSJCT is a not-for-profit organisation providing high quality care and support services for over 3,500 residents, employing over 4,000 employees and with the support of hundreds of volunteers. We primarily provide care in Lincolnshire, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire and West Sussex. Further information about our history can be found at www.osjct.co.uk
Charitable Aims
Our six key objectives are:
to deliver individual high-quality care in an unobtrusive way respecting privacy and dignity
to provide a homely environment in which residents feel comfortable and free to entertain their family and friends
to consult with residents and fully involve them in decisions about their care and lifestyle
to ensure that residents and day care visitors enjoy a fulfilling life in an atmosphere of warmth and understanding
to provide care services that are person centric and reflect diverse cultural values
to train employees in order to enable personal development and achievement of individual potential, and ensure delivery of the highest standards of care.
Our values
We have five values that are at the heart of everything we do. These are qualities we show every day, in providing excellent support to our residents and tenants, or in supporting volunteers and employees to do roles well.
Dedicated to Caring
We will deliver the highest quality of care by taking pride in our work and being dedicated and committed to everything we do.
We will review what we do, share ideas, knowledge and experience within our homes and throughout OSJCT to continuously improve the quality of care we provide.
Empowering Individuals
Securing Our Future
We will ensure OSJCT continues to care to the highest standards well into the future by investing wisely in our teams and homes.
We will build responsive and flexible services that meet the changing needs and expectations of those who buy and commission them.
We will give all volunteers and employees the opportunity, training and support to develop themselves to achieve their maximum potential and provide the best support to our residents.
We will, where possible, give each resident the opportunity and encouragement to do and experience the things that they wish to in order to continue a normal and fulfilling life.
Respecting Each Other
We will treat residents, service users, volunteers and employees alike with the respect, dignity and trust with which we would expect to be treated ourselves. We will respect others’ views, beliefs, knowledge and experience, allowing individuals to have a voice and encourage positive contribution from all.
We will consider the financial implications of our decisions to ensure that OSJCT maintains a sound financial position.
Promoting Communities
We will actively build and maintain relationships with colleagues, residents, family and friends within the home and wider community.
We will create an inclusive environment in which relationships can flourish, all things are possible / and where everyone can feel at home and part of a family.
We will ensure our homes are a focal point within the local community.
We ask that our volunteers conduct themselves in line with our values every time they volunteer or represent OSJCT.
Volunteering at OSJCT Ways to
get involved
We’re lucky to already have hundreds of volunteers giving their time freely across the whole Trust. We recognise that people become volunteers for a variety of reasons. They may want to give back for the care a loved one has received or meet new people. Whatever your reason, you will be making an enormous difference to the lives of those living and working with us.
It’s not usual for volunteers to change the way that they support us over time. For example, someone may join as a befriender then become involved with arts & crafts.
We provide the appropriate training for each role, whether this is at induction stage or once you’ve started. This can either be delivered by e-learning or in the form of a training day.
It’s worth noting that if your role evolves over time and you find yourself assisting at mealtimes or serving food or drinks to our residents, you will need to first complete our Food Hygiene elearning. This can be accessed via Assemble.
Ways you can get involved...
Did you know that we have more than fifteen different volunteer roles? To name a few, these include...
Activities Assistant
Befriender
Tea Trolley Assistant
Minibus driver
Gardener
Therapy Pets
Arts & Crafts
Volunteering is a partnership
We’re better together
An essential part of our work is keeping our residents, volunteers, and employees safe from harm. As you’d expect, this means we have strict guidelines and high expectations about how we all conduct ourselves.
Like any good partnership, it is important to outline what each party can expect from the other so we can build a mutually rewarding relationship. We outline these in our Volunteering Commitments. (see page ??)
I describe my volunteer role as a privilege. I enjoy it so much; you learn such a lot about some amazing people. Where they have been, what they have done. I enjoy joining in with the activities they do. I don’t volunteer to be seen to be “doing good”, I volunteer because I want to. I enjoy the interaction with both staff and residents. I get the nice bits, the chat, the fun and laughter.
Volunteer at Monkscroft Care Centre
Willowcroft
Our commitment to you
Volunteers are important to us, and we aim to create an enjoyable, safe, and supportive environment.
We
will...
Respect your rights and dignity.
Treat you fairly, regardless of age, gender, ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation, or any other difference.
Provide you with access to an induction, training, and other development opportunities.
Communicate key developments and changes that relate to your volunteering promptly and clearly.
Recognise and thank you by updating you on how your volunteering has made a difference.
Provide you with ongoing support through regular volunteer meetings or discussions (the format will depend on your role).
Ask for your feedback and suggestions on how we can improve things. Offer you opportunities to network with other volunteers across OSJCT.
We are committed to supporting you in your role
Your commitment to us
For your safety, please adhere to these commitments.
We ask that you...
Treat everyone with respect and conduct yourself in a way that doesn’t discriminate or exclude anyone.
Carry out your volunteer role to the best of your ability and complete any essential training for your role.
Maintain confidentiality – this is so important, as you will be volunteering with vulnerable people or hearing potentially sensitive organisational information.
Record your volunteering regularly on Assemble, we ask this because as a notfor-profit organisation we are required to evidence the impact volunteering has on those we support.
Volunteer within our safe working practices and adhere to policies and guidelines including health and safety, safeguarding, security, data protection and others relevant to your role.
Let your key contact at the home know as early as possible if you are unable to attend your volunteering as arranged.
If you decide to pause or stop volunteering, please make your Volunteer Manager aware.
Deal with any conflicts or difficulties in a calm and professional manner. You should raise concerns as soon as possible.
Never attend your volunteering if you are feeling unwell or whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
These commitments don't represent a legally binding contract. These are things we know are important in making sure that volunteering benefits us both.
Boundaries for volunteers
There are certain things that volunteers must not do. We call these role boundaries and ask that all volunteers adhere to them.
Please speak to your Home or Volunteer Manager before making any decision outside the scope of your role. This is for your own protection as well as that of our residents.
You must not provide personal care for residents. This includes help with dressing or visiting the bathroom.
Mealtimes are a social occasion, and volunteers often provide companionship and encouragement for our residents. When supporting at mealtimes volunteers must not assist residents to eat or drink.
You must not support residents to stand up, sit down or move residents in wheelchairs unless you are over 18 and have completed our mandatory moving and handling training. (this training must be refreshed annually) You must not use hoisting equipment in any circumstances.
You should not attempt to give first aid.
You must not transport residents in your own car.
You should not give or accept gifts directly to or from residents, relatives, or employees. All gifts offered must be declared to the Home Manager. Please do not speak with the media unless asked to do so by the Home Manager.
If you are befriending residents in their rooms, doors must remain open, and you should always remain between the resident and the door.
You should not exchange personal details such as addresses or phone numbers with any residents or their family / friends.
If a resident asks you to shop on their behalf, please check with a member of the team before purchasing anything. All shopping must have a supporting receipt and reimbursement must be accepted in front of a team member.
The practical parts & policies
Volunteering protocols
Assemble for volunte Assemble is OSJCT’s volunteering website. When you apply to volunteer with us, your Assemble profile is set up as part of the application. You’ll receive an email with instructions on how to log in and how to navigate Assemble when we have completed our checks and invite you to start your volunteering.
It’s important that you record your volunteering on Assemble after each visit. Whether you have popped in for 15 minutes or spent a full day in the home, it all matters Please record it under the ‘activities’ tab; we’ll send you our Easy Guide on how to do this but if you have any difficulties, just ask your Volunteer Manager and they’ll be happy to help.
The website is designed specifically for volunteers. Log in to read the latest news from across the Trust, read volunteer policies, find out about events, access resources and other volunteer opportunities. Through Assemble you can also contact other volunteers in your home or scheme as well as your Volunteer Manager. You can update your personal details, including skills and interests, and emergency contacts, at any time.
The Assemble website address is https://volunteer.osjct.co.uk or you can access it via the Volunteering Page on the OSJCT website. Alternatively, you can log into Assemble through a phone app. Simply search for Assemble for Volunteers in either Google Play or app Store, it’s free to download. Or simply scan the QR code just here. (insert QR code)
App Store, it’s free to download. Or simply scan the QR code just here.
Your Volunteer Manager may also send out invites to local and online events through Assemble so don’t forget to check-in regularly.
'Easy Guides' on how to use Assemble and the app are available in the Document Hub.
What to wear
We will provide you with a volunteer polo shirt and name badge and we ask that you wear both each time you visit. It helps our teams, residents, relatives and visiting professionals identify you as a member of the team.
If you are a volunteer gardener, please ensure that you are wearing appropriate protective footwear. If you volunteer inside the home, we ask that you wear closed toe shoes for safety reasons.
Other than that, we recommend that you wear clothes that you are comfortable in, and which are appropriate for the activities you are conducting as part of your volunteering. Trousers, knee length shorts or skirts are all acceptable. Shorter shorts, miniskirts, sportswear or revealing clothing are not appropriate for volunteering.
Volunteer policies
Social Media Use
Lots of us use social media as a way of staying connected with people, OSJCT included. We encourage you to actively share posts featured on the OSJCT Facebook or TikTok pages.
Expenses
Sometimes social care can provoke heated and emotional discussions on social media. A social media post of this nature could impact on OSJCT’s reputation and relationship with others. Please treat posts about OSJCT and your volunteering role with due caution. If you engage in such discussions on social media, you should state that your views do not represent those of OSJCT and that you are speaking on your own behalf.
Volunteers must not use personal mobile phones to take and share photos of our homes or residents on social media. If you are taking photos on behalf of the home, please use an OSJCT iPad.
Photos are not permitted
To protect our residents, you are not permitted to take photos of our residents or homes on your personal devices.
Please respect that not all of our residents are able to give photo consent.
We believe that no one should be out of pocket for volunteering with us, we are happy to reimburse reasonable out-ofpocket expenses such as travel costs.
Keep hold of your receipts as you’ll need them to make a claim. The expenses policy can be found on Assemble and claims must be submitted within three months of the incurring the expense.
There are limitations to the expenses policy but if you need any clarification, please contact your Volunteer Manager.
Smoking
Our buildings and enclosed gardens are ‘no-smoking’ zones. No-smoking signs are displayed at the entrances to all of our buildings. When we refer to ‘smoking’, this applies to anything that can be smoked including, but not limited to, cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, vapes, pipes, cigars, and herbal cigarettes.
Our designated smoking areas are situated away from the entrances. Please ensure you dispose of cigarette butts appropriately in the receptacles provided.
Data protection and confidentiality
You must treat all information as confidential. This means that you must not repeat or disclose any confidential or personal information you acquire, during or after volunteering with us. The only exception to this is if you felt there was a safeguarding concern then you must tell us your concern.
Problem solving & complaints
Dealing with problems
For most people, volunteering with OSJCT is an enjoyable and rewarding experience, but occasionally problems can happen. It could be an issue with another volunteer, a resident, or a difficulty you have in conducting your role.
Wherever possible, we try to resolve problems locally and informally. If it’s not possible to resolve a problem informally, or if the problems is of a serious nature, then we use a formal process to investigate and decide what to do about it. The volunteer problem solving policy and procedure is in the Document Hub on Assemble.
Safeguarding
Definition of Safeguarding:
‘Protecting a person’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect.’
As mentioned in your induction, our residents are considered as vulnerable adults and therefore protected by the Safeguarding Act.
This means if a resident discloses something to you that concerns you, you must share this information with the Home Manager or a senior staff member immediately as a potential safeguarding concern.
Having a safe working and living environment is essential to all of us. All employees and volunteers have a duty to
raise concerns immediately so that we can investigate and take action when needed.
Should you find it difficult to raise a concern with the Home Manager or a senior team member, you can report concerns anonymously using our Whistleblowing helpline and email.
Full details of our Whistleblowing Policy are in the Document Hub on Assemble.
When it’s time to move on...
When you decide to stop volunteering, please contact your Volunteer Manager to let them know. It not only gives us the opportunity to say one last thank you but also ensures that we update Assemble and don’t keep contacting you when you have moved on.
For security reasons, please return your name badge and volunteer polo shirt to the home where you volunteer so we can make sure we dispose of them securely.
We encourage volunteers to share their feedback and suggestions with us at any time. Additionally, when you leave your role, we will invite you to tell us about your volunteering with us; what you enjoyed and what we could've done to make it a better experience for you. You can do this by completing our short online survey, or by speaking with your Volunteer Manager.
The fun part
Volunteer events & recognition
Volunteer Events and Awards
As an OSJCT volunteer, you’ll hear us say thank you a lot and in a variety of different ways.
Each year, we host a volunteer appreciation event, it’s usually during National Volunteers’ Week in early June. This event is all about you! It’s an opportunity for volunteers to come together and celebrate all they have achieved during the year and to share ideas with other volunteers. We’ll also share the latest news from across the Trust.
Similarly, we have an annual Employee Awards event which includes a volunteer category. We’ll share information about this via the News section on Assemble, usually around springtime.
Milestones
We also like to celebrate your volunteering milestones with you and will present you with a certificate recognising your achievements.
Health, safety and security Health and safety
OSJCT is required by law to comply with health and safety legislation, and we believe that high standards in health, safety and welfare are essential.
We have already talked about the Safeguarding Act as part of your induction and how it protects the safety and wellbeing of our residents. In addition, everyone has a personal responsibility to act in the best interest of their own safety and that of others.
As a volunteer we ask that you: Challenge the ‘walk past’ culture. If you see something you can sort out safely yourself such as a spillage, trailing cable or other obstruction please do so immediately. Alternatively, report it to a nearby member of staff.
Report all accidents or near misses to your Key Contact immediately. Be aware of hazards such as food trollies and wheelchairs whilst being vigilant and aware of your surroundings.
Use equipment including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) correctly and follow any training and instruction provided. We will provide the appropriate equipment and PPE, as needed for your role. If you are volunteering in the garden, you will need to provide your own suitable outdoor clothing and protective footwear.
Because we are working with vulnerable adults, everyday household items such as dishwasher tablets or washing up liquid must not be accessible to residents. If you notice any cleaning products left out, please remove them immediately or notify a member of staff.
COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) e-learning module is available to all volunteers. If your role is in the kitchen or supporting our housekeeping team, you will need to complete it as part of your role specific training. You can access the e-learning module via the training section of Assemble.
Your wellbeing
Your physical wellbeing
If you need to lift or carry anything whilst volunteering, please follow basic safe-lifting techniques and always ask for help or advice if you unsure about your ability. If in doubt, please ask for support from a member of the home team.
Lifting and handling heavy loads incorrectly can damage your back, and persistent bad lifting can cause severe and prolonged strain.
Your emotional wellbeing
Caring for people living with advanced dementia or complex health conditions can be both challenging and rewarding. We appreciate that some of the things you see and experience in our homes may have an emotional impact on you.
As you spend time getting to know our residents it’s inevitable that you will become quite fond of each other over time. Whilst aging is natural, it often this means that our residents health declines or they reach the end of their lives –caring for people is what we do and making their lives as comfortable as possible is our privilege. When we know a resident is nearing the end of their life, we will do our best to shield you, but you may become aware that something is happening and you may find this upsetting.
When a resident dies, coming to terms with the loss will feel different for each of us. You may feel that you need emotional support, please reach out to us if this is you. You can talk to the Home Manager or call your Volunteer Manager. We have resources and to support with bereavement or we can signpost you to professional support organisations.
Grief is personal and complex. To help us make sense of grief, it is widely accepted that we think about it in five stages – denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. The stages are often talked about as if they happen in order, moving from one stage to the next but the reality is we bounce back and forth between the distinct stages, it has no time restraints, and some people may never reach acceptance.
Not everyone feels able to continue volunteering after this kind of bereavement, if this is how you are feeling, we understand. We’ll be sad to you go and we will be here should you change your mind in the future.
What ever is right for you, we’ll support your decision.
Home security & fire safety
Security of the Home
Our homes are secure for the safety of our residents. It’s important that we manage who comes and goes in our homes and as part of our security measures, volunteers are not permitted to have the entry and exit door codes to the home.This means that a team member will need to let you in and out each time.
When the door has been released for you to come in (or leave), please check that no one is trying to tailgate you into the home. If there is another visitor behind you, let a member of the team know. We appreciate that this can be awkward particularly when it’s a visiting health professional or someone’s family member however it is for the safety of our residents and teams.
Residents living with dementia may ask you to open the door for them so that they can leave. Under no circumstances should you do this. If you are not sure who the person asking you to hold open the door is, please find a member of the team to help. It’s sometimes hard to tell the difference between residents, visitors and employees, so please don’t worry about offending someone by not letting them out of the building immediately, better to check than accidentally let a resident leave the home.
Please don’t be offended if a team member asks who you are before letting
you into the home.
It may be that they are a new team member and don’t immediately recognise you as a volunteer, we ask all our team members to be vigilant when allowing access to our homes. Wearing your name badge and polo shirt or lanyard helps us to identify you as a volunteer.
Could you tell a resident from a visitor?
Your personal safety
For your own safety, please ensure you always sign in the visitor’s book when you arrive to volunteer and sign out when you leave.
The signing in book is also our fire register and tells us who is in the building in the event of a fire alarm sounding.
Volunteering resources Supporting information
We appreciate that our volunteers already have a wealth of knowledge and experience that they bring with them, but we don't assume that you will be confident in our environment from day one! For this reason, we have a host of volunteer resources available to support you.
All volunteer resources can either be found on Assemble in the Document Hub or Training sections. If you can’t find something you need, please contact your Volunteer Manager, they’ll be happy to help.
Below are some of the resources available to you.
Resources available specifically on dementia:
Tips on Communication
Introduction to Dementia (e-learning completed as part of induction)
Understanding Distress Reactions
Reminiscence activities to do with residents living with dementia.
Music & Dementia
Information on Sundowning; what it is and what causes it.
How to run a reminiscence activity
A selection of activities to do with residents (themed around notable days)
Poetry
Quizzes
Art therapy
Crosswords
Optional E-learning modules
Food Hygiene – Level 2 (mandatory if you are in a role serving food/drink to residents)
Dysphagia
Modern Slavery Awareness
Health & Safety Overview
COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health)
Parkinson’s Disease
Oliver McGowan Training
In-home training (must be refreshed annually)
Moving & Handling
Fire Safety
We regularly add new resources so if you need something else, just ask!
Getting the most from your volunteering
We appreciate that this may be your first visit to a care home and the environment may be unfamiliar. With this in mind, we have put together guidance to help you over any first-time nerves.
Keep in mind what you are trying to achieve as this will help you when you don't feel you are making a difference.
Every time you volunteer you are: helping a resident (or residents) feel more connected to a community which helps to prevent or reduce isolation. you are encouraging social inclusion. you will be providing companionship by listening and sharing experiences with each other. you may even give a resident something to look forward to each week.
you'll be helping to improve their health and wellbeing as well as helping yours.
Feelings of isolation and loneliness are common, and this can also lead to depression which may have an impact on their general health.
You can achieve all these things by: being positive asking open questions listening getting to know the person as an individual - their likes & dislikes, what's important to them (and more) encouraging choice keeping within boundaries maintaining confidentiality (but knowing when to share a potential safeguarding concerns)
Do you ever stop to think about the language you use or how you say something... By changing the way we phrase things, we can sound more positive.
Try these simple switches next time...
can't complain weather's horrid today no problem why not? things are good thanks weather's been better absolutely sounds like a plan
Meeting our residents
When you meet a resident for the first time, it can feel a little awkward until you know a little about each other. There may be topics to avoid - if we know about them, we'll share that with you. Here's a few topic ideas to get you started...
where you work / have worked family relationships pets (past or present) holidays & travel hobbies & interests
Where possible please avoid discussing: your religious beliefs your political views
Things to consider:
Resident’s living with dementia may tell you elaborate stories you know not be true – it’s called confabulation, and it could be their way of trying to improve their selfesteem. You don’t need to correct or question the validity of what they say. Focus on what matters to both of you: that you are enjoying chatting together.
Communicate your enjoyment through the tone of your voice and facial expression and don’t worry if sometimes it feels like you’re doing all the talking.
Don’t be afraid of periods of silence; it’s a key part in effective communication and can often allow the other person to collect their thoughts before talking. If a resident is rude to you, it may be because their inhibitions / filters have been affected by their dementia - try to remember it's not personal even though it may feel like it. If it makes you feel uncomfortable, let us know. Even when a resident does not appear to be responsive or engaged, they will often talk about your visit later or day - so please don't feel that what you are doing is not helping - it is!
Volunteer at Chestnut Court
I never take it personally if a resident is rude to me. I try to engage the person in conversation or some kind of distraction to allieviate the situation.
When people are upset or angry it may be best to leave them alone or seek help from a staff member.
Difficult conversations & situations
What happens if a resident becomes upset, anxious, or angry when you are with them?
We all have good days and bad days. We can worry about things that may not seem important to others and for those living with dementia or mental health problems, they are often facing additional challenges too.
If a resident shares how they are
feeling, the most important thing is to listen and not dismiss their emotions. Rather than straightaway trying to distract a person from feeling low, acknowledge how they are feeling before gently introducing a different topic of conversation when you feel it’s appropriate.
Volunteer at Edwardstow Court
On the whole with almost all situations, I think it’s important to acknowledge what the resident is trying to say as ignoring it and immediately trying to distract could make them angry or frustrated. Once you’ve acknowledged their feelings or view point, then distraction is usually the best plan. It helps if you know a little about the person; e.g. do they like the garden, a game, music etc, just get them busy. If all else fails, remember you are a volunteer and you should always seek the help from a carer.
Engage with the person using active listening techniques.
Ask questions to get more information instead of assuming you understand what they mean. Validate their feelings
e.g. “That sounds difficult. I’m sorry to hear that.” this shows empathy and interest.
Respond using open questions (without being pushy) and express your concern. The most helpful way to manage the situation is with calmness and acceptance.
Don’t try to dispel fears with 'rational' or 'logical' arguments. Comparing their feelings to someone else’s troubles or saying things like, “But things could be so much worse,” tends not to help.
If you are concerned that it is more than the difficulties of everyday life, it is important that you bring this to the attention of a team member as they may need to ensure that further advice and services are sought.
Managing difficult questions
The questions people living with dementia ask, can challenge us. You may recognise some of these from your own experiences:
When is dad coming to visit? (when their father is sadly long gone)
Will I be going home soon? see separate information sheet?
You seem nice to me... but who are you? (to their partner / children)
Who are those little people by the window? (person could be living anywhere)
It’s important to recognise how hard this balancing act can be, particularly if the person’s realities / beliefs fluctuate – for example, they are time-shifted only some of the time.
When someone with dementia unknowingly invents a story – this is called confabulation – it may be a coping strategy to support their selfesteem or make sense of the world around them.
Truths and lies
Responding to difficult questions from a person with dementia
Words can be helpful and uplifting, but also hurtful and frustrating depending on the situation.
Every situation is different and may need a different response. Our guidance is:
try to understand and acknowledge the persons feelings
show empathy by being curious about others lives and interests
seek to reduce distress and promote wellbeing or happiness
If only there was a simple answer to this! Ask yourself the following questions:
Is it ever acceptable to tell a lie to someone living with dementia?
Should you always tell the truth?
When might it be acceptable to tell a lie (if at all)?
There is a lot to explain on this topic so we have prepared a separate information sheet that you can find in the document hub on Assemble.
And finally...
Thank you on behalf of everyone here at OSJCT for supporting us and our residents through volunteering. You really do make the difference!
It can be hard to explain the importance of volunteers in our homes but please don’t ever underestimate the impact of spending time with a resident has. Helping them to do something they want to do but can’t quite manage or helping to reduce their feeling of loneliness can only be a good thing.
We’d
love to hear from you...
Once you have settled into your volunteering, we'd love to hear your feedback. It really helps us to develop our volunteer programs and deliver an even more fulfilling experience in the future.
Let us know how your volunteering is going and if you need anything from us by dropping us an email to: volunteer@osjct.co.uk
how is your volunteering experience with us?
have you been made to feel welcome? is the home as you expected or different? did you feel prepared before you started? what is the best part? what skills have you gained through your volunteering? what could we change to make your volunteering even better?
Thank you
