Frequently asked questions

We have volunteers from 16 to 80+. Generally our recruitment is for those aged 18 and over but each autumn we recruit young people aged 16-17 for our Team Impact programme.

You must be able to commit to 3 hours per week for a minimum of 6 months. You must be able to attend regularly and keep us informed if you can’t make it. You are expected to attend mandatory and refresher training and be professional in your role as well as adhere to Trust policies and procedures.

We do not require any specific qualifications, only a caring nature, the right attitude, willingness to learn and positive outlook. Communication is the most important skill you will use

To receive the necessary training and information to carry out your role safely. To be supported by the volunteer team and other hospital staff. To be part of a friendly network of volunteers with opportunities to socialise. To have the opportunity to improve your skills and gain experience. To have the opportunity to attend various training sessions at the Trust.

Volunteer roles exist to enhance the patient experience so volunteers help with everything from assisting people to find their way, running errands, providing companionship for patients and helping with refreshments.

Volunteers do not get involved in clinical or personal care, nor do they act as chaperones.

Volunteer roles must be distinct from paid roles so you will not be asked to do anything which a paid staff member should be doing.

We ask for a minimum of 3 hours per week (for a minimum of 6 months) and you should volunteer for no more than 12 hours per week.

Our main method of receiving applications is online but we will help you to complete this if you are struggling.

Our main method of communicating with volunteers is by email so we would strongly recommend that you have an email account. However, this is not mandatory and we do have other ways we can keep you informed.

No. We offer volunteering opportunities, not work placements. We will not sign off documentation from your college.

See the Get Involved section for more information. You will be asked to give your details and be invited to a recruitment event. You will then complete an application form and will go through a shortlisting process. If successful you will be invited for an informal chat with one of our team to discuss your availability and which role would be best for you. You will then go through our recruitment checks and mandatory training before attending our initial training session, followed by your induction.

The recruitment process includes;

• DBS check (at appropriate level for the role). If you are on the DBS Update service we can utilise this. Otherwise we will need to do our own DBS check as they are not portable.
• Reference checks – we require 2 referees who have known you for 6 months or one referee who has known you for 3 years. These are character references and you can use anyone, other than a family member.
• Occupational Health check – this is done by way of an online questionnaire. You may be required to have an appointment with an Occupational Health nurse.

If your application is successful, our team will be in touch about the documentation needed for the recruitment checks. If you want to check in advance you can see the documents required for a DBS check here.

In short you will need to provide 3 official documents, one containing your photo, one containing your address and all three must be on the list on the DBS website.

An ideal combination would be;

• Your passport, your birth certificate, your latest council tax bill

We will help you find the right combination of documents.

This will usually be at least a month after your interview but is dependent on the relevant clearances being received. It can take as little as two weeks or as long as 8 weeks and a lot of this depends on how speedily you complete the forms we send to you and how quickly your referees respond so you can help by responding to our emails in a timely manner and giving your referees a reminder to check their emails too.

You will complete the Trust’s mandatory training by way of a workbook. This covers key information such as safeguarding, health and safety and confidentiality. Elements of this training have to be repeated periodically and we will let you know when.

You will also attend a half day session before you start volunteering to learn all that you need to know about volunteering at STH. Depending on your role, you may need to have training on using a wheelchair or Catering training for those providing refreshments.

There are many other training opportunities which arise and we will let you know about these as they come up. Examples are mental health awareness training, carers training, patient feedback training.

Our STH roles require you to wear our uniform which is a polo shirt. A fleece is provided where necessary for some roles. You will wear you own trousers and shoes. We have a dress code you can refer to as clothing must be smart and shoes must not be open-toe.

If you volunteer in a clinical area you will need to be bare below the elbows which also means no jewellery and no nail varnish, long hair will also need to be tied back.

Yes, if you are approved for volunteering following an Occupational Health assessment. We will consider the environment and demands of the role, and whether any reasonable adjustments are required.

We welcome applications from asylum seekers and will consider each request fairly and according to our legal obligations.

Yes, you can discuss a change of role after you have volunteered for the initial 6 months. You can discuss this at your 6 month review meeting.

We understand that there are things which may prevent you from volunteering. The most important thing is that you stay in contact with us so we know what is happening. We can make you ‘Inactive’ for a period of time on our system. When you return you may need to update some of your mandatory training if it has lapsed.

If we cannot make contact with you for an extended period of time we may terminate your placement. If you are inactive for over a year and wish to return, you may be asked to reapply for your role.

Not directly. You should volunteer because it is something that you want to do. The experience you gain can help you when you apply for a job but it does not guarantee a job.

Yes, we will be able to provide you with a reference, as long as you have met the minimum commitment of regular volunteering for at least 6 months.