Vacancy Details

Opportunity image

Come and join our amazing team as a a Care Home Buddy Volunteer, you will enhance volunteering within the residential care home, to befriend one or more of the home’s residents, including those with a range of health conditions, frailty, and in some cases dementia.

Research has found that social interaction combats loneliness and isolation, and is important for health and wellbeing. This is an invaluable whereby you will stimulate conversation by sitting and chatting to the person, building a relationship and encouraging them to take part in activities to enhance their experience within the care home.

This role also aims to help improve their connection with friends, family and eventually their local community, possibly through means of using digital inclusion (such as video calling & use of technology). You will be part of the daily life of the Care Home but will also be supported by the Volunteering Team at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust.

Why we want you

A new project has been set up to support the recruitment, coordinating and development of volunteers for care homes in our local area. The project is part of the Enhanced Health in Care Homes work in Torbay and South Devon. Experience of having volunteers in a care home was an incredibly positive one, and of great benefit to the home and residents. Under the supervision of a designated staff member within the care home you would provide support to residents in a variety of areas building relationships and encouraging social interaction.

What you will be doing
  • Provide companionship / Social interaction (one to one)
  • Support social activities to include one to one support to residents to help engagement in social activities
  • Assist with digital Inclusion
  • As a meal time companion you will deliver meals to residents rooms and in the dining room . Sit with resident at meal time to encourage them to eat
  • Assist during morning and afternoon tea rounds
The skills you need
  • Good interpersonal and communication skills
  • A genuine interest in people
  • Proactive and assertive
  • Have a positive outlook and being non-judgemental
What’s in it for you
  • Meet new people
  • Be part of an amazing team
  • Gain new skills or use existing ones
  • Help your community
Disclaimer

Following your successful application, you will be invited to an interview and you may be asked some questions in relation to our current Infection, Prevention & Control guidance – this may impact on which roles we can place you in. Most roles are subject to a DBS check and two satisfactory references being provided.

Other information

Minimum age 17