As a Mental Health Buddy your role will be very varied but will largely involve: spending time with patients, listening to them and developing a friendly relationship. To do this you may read to or with them, play games and run arts and crafts sessions. You will be a vital resource in giving the young people's parents a break and offering your support to the families. Other responsibilities may include escorting children to and from the hospital school, helping with ad hoc administrative/support tasks and tidying up the play area.
You will gain experience of working within frontline patient care. Your support will make a real difference to our patients and will help you develop communication and team-working skills.You will gain an insight into a key part of the hospital environment and will play a small but vital front-line role in supporting patients
- Self-motivated; with an ability to think on your feet and work independently (you will not receive constant supervision)
- Confident to approach patients and start conversations
- Polite, courteous and reliable
- Recognition of the importance of boundaries
- Ability to recognise when assistance is required or distance is preferred
- Relate to people in a friendly and calm manner
- Ability to emphasise
- Able to maintain complete confidentiality
- Tactful and diplomatic, especially in stressful/emotional situations
- You must follow Trust guidelines on reporting any Covid symptoms, practicing social distancing, wearing PPE (which the Trust provides), and practicing good hand hygiene
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Interested in fashion or charity retail, or simply want to become more involved in your local community, then we would love to welcome you Our charity shops contribute significant funds to the Hospice to enable it to support patients & their families
