Volunteering: ‘We are here for you’

We are open for applications from 9am on the 1st September 2016.

To complete the following application, you will be required to supply the following information:

• National Insurance Number – if you have any queries regarding this, please click here.
• Two Signed References – Reference forms will be available within the application. Name, Address, Contact number and Email Address from each referee will be needed at a later date.

You will also be required to complete mandatory fields throughout the application. Please apply here.

If you need any further information or support then please get in touch with us via:volunteer.services@mft.nhs.uk, or phone 0161 276 5190.

Volunteering at the Manchester Foundation Trust

We understand the unique quality that volunteering brings to the NHS and we respect and appreciate the support of our dedicated community of volunteers and voluntary organisations. Volunteers make a personal difference in helping support our teams through value-centred care to our patients and visitors. Through the dedication of your time and efforts you enhance the service the Trust provides and help to make it a welcoming and friendly environment.

What kind of volunteering is taking place?

There are a variety of voluntary roles and our volunteering family is growing by the day. Volunteers provide support all around the main hospital sites as well as in other locations where we provide services. Roles include:

• Meeting and Greeting
• Eco Bus
• Critical Care
• Macmillan
• Paediatric A & E
• Family Nurse Partnership
• X-Ray
• Pharmacy
• Library
• Interpretation and Translation

There are more volunteer roles being developed every day and if you think you have something to offer then we’d like to hear about it.

Why volunteer?

Volunteering provides a chance for you to develop new and exciting skills, meet like-minded individuals and enhances your knowledge of the healthcare environment. Not only will you benefit from your time as volunteers it is fundamental to improving the experiences of patients, visitors and staff at the Trust.

Whether you are looking to gain local experience in a healthcare environment or simply ‘give a little back’ to your community, our volunteers service will work with you to find a volunteer role that suits your skills and experiences. We are here for you!

How do I get involved?

There are a number of steps involved in becoming a volunteer at CMFT.

Stage one: Becoming a Volunteer

We would like to encourage people from a variety of backgrounds, ages and levels of experience to join our volunteer community and will aim to find a role that best suits you and your individual needs. Before you can start in a voluntary role there is a registration process which involves a number of different steps:

1. Complete an application form

You can complete an application form online at http://bttr.im/eafgo

This will ask you to let us know a bit about you, your reasons for wanting to volunteer as well as your previous experience and specific skills.

2. Interview & Training & Induction Day

If your application is successful we will invite you to an interview and training day in order to work out whether you will suitable for the role.

This day is broken down into two sections. The morning is about getting to know you and for you to get to know us! The morning will be designed around group interviews and fun exercises to make sure you are aware of the unique role you will be providing for our Trust. It will also help us align the benefits and achievements you want to get out of your role as a volunteer.

The morning session includes;

• Trust overview and paperwork
• The essence of Volunteering
• Our Values and Behaviours
• Getting to know you
• Getting to know us

At lunch time we will discuss your suitability for becoming a volunteer or you can decide not to continue.

In the Afternoon we will undergo Core Skills training for you to have the practical skills to get you started as a volunteer.

The core skills include training on the following;

• Equality, Diversity and Human Rights
• Fire Safety
• Health & Safety
• Infection prevention and Control
• Moving and Handling
• Safeguarding Children and Adults
• Information Governance
• Summoning help in emergencies’

Once offered the role, we would need to you partake in a series of on-line assessments to establish your learning on induction and this can be done at home or in your free time. The assessments are quick and easy to follow and you will be provided with a Volunteers Certificate for your time!

We will also ask you to fill in some important documentation including;

• Proof of photo ID
• National Insurance Number
• The collection of two character references,
• Occupational Health clearance and in some cases Disclosure and Barring Service checks (formerly CRB).

3. E-learning and Better Impact

We are a 21^st Century Trust and have our roots in innovation. As a part of your registration you will be introduced to two on-line systems that the Trust use in order to keep in contact with you and for your continued development. The first is the e-learning site, Moodle where you can undergo your assessments for Core skills and enhance your learning. The other is the Better Impact system to keep you abreast of further developments in the service and you to keep in contact with us!

4. Hospital Way-Finding

New volunteers normally start with us as Hospital Wayfinder Volunteers supporting our Welcome Desks and the Meet & Greet service. This role provides a good introduction to the volunteering at CMFT and you will have a strong team around to help you learn how things work. After 3 months your placement will be reviewed and other positions such as more clinically based placements may be offered if suitable.

We would like to encourage anyone who has an interest in volunteering to register with us; you will be guided through the process by Volunteer Services, who will work to insure that it is as quick and easy to understand as possible.

Do you have Communication Support needs?

If you feel that you might need a little more support during the recruitment process to communicate with the team then please let us know in advance so that we can ensure processes are in place to make things as painless as possible.

We have a mobile hearing loop available for all interviews, please mention this to staff during meetings if you would find it useful.

Additional Links

http://www.volunteering.org.uk/