Themes:
- Recruiting staff into the NHS
- Volunteers in the Accident and Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit, Out Patients Department, PALS Desk, Volunteers Office and on the General Wards.
- Providing opportunities for volunteers with disabilities.
- Synergising a flourishing Work Experience Programme with the Volunteer Department Scheme.
Health Awareness and Promotion
Aintree University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (AUHNHSFT) is an acute hospital based on two sites and drawing patients from three local authorities; Sefton, Knowsley and Liverpool. There are currently 700+ volunteers drawn from all over Merseyside. The volunteers range in age from 16 – 85 and are approximately 60% female and 40% men. 119 volunteers at Aintree have some form of disability.
Recruiting Staff into the NHS
Aintree is an area of high unemployment and works closely with the Employment Service and Connexions to encourage people into volunteering, with the expectation that a significant proportion of these volunteers will use their experience to find paid employment within the Trust or the wider community. The Volunteer Service runs initial interviews for groups each month, where information about volunteering within the hospital is made available through presentations, a video clip from a feature on BBC’s Look North West and discussions with staff. Volunteers then complete an application form, the volunteer service takes up references to screen potential volunteers, and then interviews individuals to decide where they would be best placed in the hospital. An Induction Day is then arranged covering all mandatory training ensuring that the Trust policies and procedures are followed. A volunteer is expected to make a minimum commitment of four hours per week, preferably at the same time and day each week before they are accepted as a volunteer at Aintree Hospitals.
Once a volunteer has worked 100 hours in a reliable and committed manner they can receive help from the Volunteer Management Team to complete their UCASfor Nursing and Midwifery Admission. They receive coaching in interview techniques. The Volunteer Scheme and the School of Health Studies work together to recruit for nurse training and in five years 680 volunteers have been accepted on to nurse training within Aintree Hospitals. In addition 361volunteers have found paid employment within the Trust in various roles.
Volunteers in Accident & Emergency
There are a regular group of volunteers who work in the A & E Department, particularly with people waiting with major injuries. These volunteers ascertain from staff who is able to drink and in turn offer tea to patients and relatives waiting with them. The volunteers will make phone calls on behalf of patients – perhaps to ask a neighbour to collect a child from school or let the dog out, and will inform staff if they think a patient’s care is being affected. The volunteers pay particular attention to people who are waiting on their own. The staff direct volunteer activity at all times.
Volunteers with Disabilities
Almost 15% of the volunteers at Aintree have some form of disability and the volunteer scheme has successfully received ESF (European Social Fund) funding to appoint two Development Managers. Aintree is currently in receipt of Lottery Funding which will allow a further growth of these roles over the next 4 years.
The Disability Development Manager: has implemented a programme that allows volunteers with disabilities to take on a number of roles, which include:
Contributing to health promotion work within the hospital by ensuring that leaflets and other information are available.
That stands and notice boards are replenished as necessary.
Assist in the public events on site at Aintree, such as; Stroke Awareness Day, Men’s Health Week, Bowel Cancer awareness, pamper days etc.
Fundraising.
The Work Experience Manager: Has developed links with 96 schools across Merseyside and has almost 500 students aged 15-16 per year coming into the Trust for a structured two week work experience placement. This is particularly relevant to students who wish to enter the NHS as a career. It also grows a workforce for the Volunteer Department as many as 70% return to the Trust as volunteers when they are aged 16. They have been able to make an informed choice about their future career the necessary courses required to achieve it.
