Themes
- Volunteers gaining work experience
- Work placements in a hospital
‘Volunteers in Partnership' project
The Volunteers in Partnership project is funded by Job Centre Plus and the European Union to help long-term unemployed people gain skills which will help them gain employment. The project was due to end in December 2004, but has received extra funding from South Eastern London Development Corporation until March 2005. Volunteers who attend the courses are mainly recruited from disadvantaged groups. There are currently around 260 people who are registered with the department, 18 of whom currently on the programme. 90 people have taken part in the scheme, and of these, 85% are women, 90% are from black and minority ethnic backgrounds and 10% have mental health problems or some form of disability. All have been unemployed for at least 6 months and many lack the confidence to seek employment.
Work placements and accredited courses
Work placements were 3 hours a week but are now 6 hours a week and four hours of training, covering subjects such as confidence building, body language, strengths and weaknesses and how to look for, and apply for jobs, as well as giving volunteers the opportunity to practice interview techniques.
The courses are seen very much as a ‘stepping stone' towards work and many of the volunteers who attend are particularly interested in health care jobs, for example in nursing or as a health care assistant. The Voluntary Services Department work with the Human Resources Department to ensure that volunteers read the job notice boards and look at the web-site so they can apply for jobs within the hospital.
Work placements are offered to course participants. Most of these are within the hospital but the Mental Health Trust, SLAM ,will offers additional placements for the new project, Gateway Lewisham, which is starting in the New Year. SLAM also refers people to the programme.. Referrals also come through word-of-mouth, the Job Centre, the hospital's HR department, local training providers, self-referrals and through the website and hospital job bulletin. In order to take up a work placement within Lewisham Hospital, volunteers are required to be Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) checked, health checked and must produce references.
Placements include:
- Working in the shop in the Children's Outpatients Department
- Reception work
- Administration
- Assisting the nursing staff in a ward
- Ward clerk
- Helping the Friends of Lewisham hospital in their shop
- Dealing with patients and visitors at the information desk in outpatients
To date, approximately 10% of volunteers have moved into full-time employment, 20% have gone into temporary or part-time employment and 10 people have received the ASDAN certificates in Community Volunteering. (The hospital's Chief Executive attended the award ceremony). Other volunteers are working towards the European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL). More difficult to measure is the increased confidence, reliability and commitment of the participants.
Training
Induction training is given, covering topics such as health and safety, but volunteers also receive on-the-job training and are encouraged to work out a development plan to develop work goals. The Voluntary Services Manager will meet with volunteers once a month to discuss this. After the 26 week placement, volunteers attend an exit interview and evaluation meeting.
Whilst on placement, volunteers are entitled to travel and childcare expenses and lunch vouchers and can use the hospital library, restaurant and social club. The Voluntary Services Manager makes a point of visiting wards and talking to senior managers to ensure that volunteers are not being used to do jobs which clinical staff would otherwise find a drudge. As well as raising the awareness of the volunteers, this prevents volunteers being used as a free resource. Where ward placement providers have had concerns that a volunteer requires further training the VSM will arrange this as it is seen as very important that volunteers are trained and placed appropriately, however,
most clinical staff have found that the presence of a volunteer on the ward frees them up to concentrate on clinical duties, and the Trust is grateful for the work which volunteers do.
Lynette Gordon, who is currently on the VIP programme, says
‘This has been a unique opportunity for me. This is the first time that I have been a volunteer in a hospital. I have been able to gain plenty of experience to help me find a job and I enjoy being here very much'.
Further information:
Julia Allison
Voluntary Services Manager
Voluntary Services Department
University Hospitals Lewisham
Lewisham High Street
London SE13 6LH
Tel: 020 8333 3000 (main switchboard)
Email: Julia.Allison@uhl.nhs.uk
