Patient Mealtime Volunteer

• NHS Borders (HQ)

• VO106240

Mealtime Volunteers support ward staff during patient mealtimes by helping to prepare eating areas, ensure patients have the right cutlery, drinks and menu choices, and provide friendly social interaction. They may assist with tasks such as opening packaging, clearing trays, noting likes and dislikes, completing bedside food charts, and informing nursing staff if a patient is struggling or how much fluid has been consumed.
OUTLINE OF ROLE:
Volunteers will assist members of staff in providing patients with support and assistance at mealtimes in the acute hospital wards. The volunteering hours for this role would be from 11.30am - 1.30pm / 16.30pm-18.00pm.
Volunteers will never be expected to feed patients or provide personal care to patients.
MAIN DUTIES:
• Prepare area for meals, wiping down of tables & removing clutter, either at patient’s bed or communal table if preferred as discussed with trained staff.
• Encourage patients to wash their hands / offering hand wipes to patients (advised by Nurse in Charge)
• Make sure there are appropriate cutlery and cups given to patients for eating
• Assist members of staff in serving of meals (ensuring they put on a blue apron which is on the top of the food trolley).
• Assist members of staff ensuring patients have a fresh drink available
• Assist members of staff to support the completion of menu cards being aware of any dietary needs as discussed with the staff
• Assist in opening condiments, containers, sandwich wrappers
• If any patient is struggling with meal inform member of staff
• Assist member of staff with collection of meal trays when finished and cleaning of area
• Seek alternative meal choice if required (advised by Nurse in Charge)
• Socialising with patients and encourage them to talk about food. Note likes and dislikes
• Complete bedside food charts only
• Inform Registered Nurse how much fluid the patient has consumed

Experience required

SKILLS & QUALITIES REQUIRED:
• Be interested, caring and sensitive to others needs
• Good communication and listening skills
• Be good natured, patient and have a calming approach and influence
• Knowing the limits of the role and expectations
• Be able to work as a team and take direction from the Nurse in Charge and other team members
• Be able to maintain confidentiality and respect patients disclosing information including sensitive issues recognising when to raise these with the SCN /Nurse in charge
• A genuine interest in working with people who may have periods of confusion or have other disabilities recognising specialist needs in discussion with the Nurse in Charge
• An awareness of dementia and how to cope with patients behaviours
• A mature and positive outlook
• A genuine interest in meeting new people
• Reliable, motivated and takes pride in their role

Travel details

Borders General Hospital
Address: Huntlyburn Terrace, Melrose, TD6 9BS
Main switchboard: 01896 826000
Travelling by car
The hospital is just outside Melrose, directly off the A6091.
From the East (e.g. A68)
• Take the A68 towards Jedburgh.
• At the junction with the A6091, follow signs for Melrose / Galashiels.
• Continue on the A6091 for approximately 3 miles.
• The hospital is signposted on the left.
From Galashiels or the A7
• Follow signs for Hawick (A7).
• At Kingsknowes Roundabout

Travel expenses

A volunteer should not be out of pocket for expenses they incur from volunteering. As a guide, a volunteer can claim the following types of expense:
• Travelling to and from your place of volunteering (agreed with the Volunteer Lead prior to commencing volunteering)
• Parking fees (this does not include fines or charges obtained as a result of not adhering to parking regulations, within or out with NHS Borders)
• Travel in the course of volunteering
• Entrance fees e.g., when helping with patient outings
• Subsistence allowance, e.g., refreshment costs where the volunteering has been in excess of five hours (unless other arrangements agreed in advance)
NHS Borders encourages the use of environmentally friendly travel, for example, walking, cycling and public transport where appropriate.
To claim agreed out of pocket expenses a claim form should be complete and any receipts attached. The Volunteer Lead will provide you with the appropriate form and information on where to return this. Please note that expenses will only be paid within the boundaries of NHS Borders. You must submit your travel expenses claim form each month. Any expenses not claimed after 3 months will be paid at the discretion of our Finance Department.

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