Spiritual Care Ward Visitor

• NHS Borders (HQ)

• VO106242

Volunteers provide additional spiritual support to patients. It is primarily in listening that they can offer time and space by which the patient might be better enabled to reflect upon their own situation, their past, the challenges ahead and their own capacity to cope and find meaning and strength.
Where it is familiar to or alluded to by the patient, the spiritual support may assume a specifically religious character. The volunteer can helpfully explore or act upon that, following the promptings of the patient. It is a patient-led resource; the volunteer, like all who offer Spiritual Care, is never a proselytiser and must not assume a directive or critical role in conversations.
The role is to support patients in the midst of life-affecting change. Volunteers will not be expected to provide personal or medical care to patients.
OUTLINE OF ROLE:
Volunteers provide additional spiritual support to patients. It is primarily in listening that they can offer time and space by which the patient might be better enabled to reflect upon their own situation, their past, the challenges ahead and their own capacity to cope and find meaning and strength.
Where it is familiar to or alluded to by the patient, the spiritual support may assume a specifically religious character. The volunteer can helpfully explore or act upon that, following the promptings of the patient. It is a patient-led resource; the volunteer, like all who offer Spiritual Care, is never a proselytiser and must not assume a directive or critical role in conversations.
The role is to support patients in the midst of life-affecting change. Volunteers will not be expected to provide personal or medical care to patients.
KEY TASKS:
o Compassionate patient-centred listening, where consent has been indicated.
o To respect patients’ personal beliefs. Where those are described in spiritual or religious terms, to offer appropriate support, which may involve deferring to staff of the Spiritual Care Department and perhaps, to the wider community support that the Department itself can appropriately defer to.
o Deliver support in wards with the consent and under the direction of medical staff and the Head of Spiritual Care.

Experience required

SKILLS REQUIRED:
o A calm, compassionate and patient-centred attitude
o A listening and non-judgemental ear
o An understanding of dementia/delirium and associated impact
o A respect for the variety of formational experiences and a good knowledge of the range of religious beliefs of people
o Spiritual sensitivity e.g. knowing when to defer, what you can/cannot offer and might/might not say
o Ability to maintain patient confidentiality at all times
o Be able to work as part of a team

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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