Volunteer Roles Our Mission Our mission is to give the people of Kent a voice. We listen to people talk about Kent s health and social care services. Then we tell the people who buy these services what people think. We want to improve services for others. 1
We need volunteers to help with all our work from: Visiting services and talking to patients Visiting community groups Helping us to make decisions about our priorities. All our volunteers are given training so they can do the volunteering role. A role is the unpaid work that we want a volunteer to do. We welcome all types of people. It doesn t matter about their age, gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, marital status, or disability providing they have the skills and experience to do the role. 2
Administration support What you have to do Help our administration. This could include: Arranging meetings Contacting venues Supporting our events Taking meeting notes Some of these tasks could be done from home. Other tasks need to be done at our Ashford office. 3
Skills and experience You need to be able to: Work well in a team Work on your own Prioritise and keep to deadlines Organise things and have skills in administration Speak well on the telephone and be good at talking with people Use: Microsoft Word The internet Email 4
Other office roles We also have some roles which would suit volunteers who require additional support. These would be based at the Ashford office The skills you need You must be: Friendly Reliable Willing to listen and learn Able to follow instructions How much time? To be discussed. When do we need you? Some roles need you to keep regular times. Other roles depend on what work we are doing. 5
External representative and influencer You might have to travel to anywhere in Kent. What you have to do This role is to represent Healthwatch Kent at meetings, groups or events. You would have to write a short report of the issues which come up. The meetings may be about health or social care. They may also be about: Mental health Adult safeguarding Children and young people Patient transport 6
They may take place with providers, commissioners or other groups of professionals. You may also go and talk to various groups to: Explain the role of Healthwatch Kent Listen to peoples experiences of health and social care services You will have all the training and information you need to do this role. What hours? This role has flexible hours. 7
Skills and experience You must be able to: Speak up at meetings to make services better Work with all sorts of people from different backgrounds Write easy to read notes about what went on at a meeting. Support is available if needed Understand your role and the roles of the other people Listen Explain what Healthwatch Kent thinks about things Work in a team Deal with confidential information in the right way 8
Reader/Researcher You would work from home. What you have to do You would help Healthwatch Kent to stay up to date with things that are happening in health and social care. You will read information about national, health and social care issues. You will be asked to write short pieces about what is in this information. You may have to read: Papers and reports from meetings of the Clinical Commissioning Group or Health trusts Newsletters from a voluntary groups Local newspapers 9
Skills and experience You must be able to: Read and understand information Write and communicate clearly Write a short note of what is in a document. Work out what needs to be done first Do your work in time Work on your own as well as part of a team You must also: Be interested in improving NHS and social services in Kent 18 years old. You can be 16 years old but you would have to have permission from your parents 10
Enter and View Volunteer You could travel to anywhere in Kent or visit your local services. What you have to do You would have to: Visit services to talk to patients and social care users about their experience of that service Talk with staff and families You would always work as part of a team. This role needs extra training and a Disclosure and Barring Check (DBS) Enter and View visits could be to GPs, dentists, hospitals, pharmacies or care homes among others. 11
The team will then write a report which will be used to help improve the service. Skills and experience You must: Value and respecting other people whoever they are Act professionally and keep things confidential Have an interest in improving NHS and social services in Kent You must be able to: Work on your own as well as part of a team Listen and get on well with people Write reports or work with the team to write reports 12
How to apply You can find out how to apply in our: Application Process Application Form For more information For more information please contact Theresa: Email: Theresa@healthwatchkent.co.uk Phone/Text: 07702 911 142 13