Volunteers


able to offer people emotional wellbeing support and the opportunity to have a friendly phone call as part of their care package. Having someone to chat to can mean a lot to the adults we work with; it’s about knowing someone cares and is interested in them. “I would recommend the programme to other social care providers, it’s quick and easy to use.” Amongst the 30,000+ volunteers responding to requests for support is Andrew Marks from Bristol. Andrew volunteers with the NHS and Care Volunteer Responders, making friendly phone calls to lonely and isolated individuals. Andrew said: “As a volunteer, you get to speak with people from all walks of life and hear some great life stories about where they have been and what they have achieved. I’ve been fortunate to have had some really great conversations and even shared a good laugh along the way. “It’s a real privilege to learn people’s stories. I always find it a great honour when they share personal stories with me, things they might normally only tell family members. It’s a humbling experience to be trusted with these cherished memories and reflections.” Andrew’s support extends to individuals


receiving care, whether in their own homes or care facilities. He takes pride in offering reassurance and understands the value of lifting the spirits of those he chats with. “I’m always glad and hopeful that when the call comes to an end, I’ve been able to reassure them and give them a little extra boost, reminding them they are not forgotten,” he said. “It can mean a lot, especially for those who are isolated or living in care without family or friends nearby. “The kind ‘thank you for calling’, makes it all the more worthwhile. It’s a great feeling knowing you have helped make someone’s day just that little bit brighter.” Personal testimonies reveal the profound impact of volunteer phone calls on the lives of those in receipt of care. David Fielden receives regular phone calls as part of the programme.


He said: “I can’t express how grateful I am for the volunteer phone calls I receive. Being largely housebound and living with a chronic illness can make you feel so isolated and it’s easy to fall into a state of loneliness. These phone calls have truly become the high point of my day. Without [them], my days would be much more difficult and lonelier. I am forever grateful to the


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The benefits of working with volunteers include increased morale and job satisfaction


volunteers who selflessly give their time to make a difference in the lives of others.”


Requesting support


We are eager to support the care sector and are encouraging care homes to make full use of the programme, particularly as we enter the colder months, which can be especially difficult for many older and vulnerable people.


The NHS and Care Volunteer Responders


programme is available seven days a week and comes with comprehensive support and assurance. There is a helpline, safeguarding team, and problem solving team available between 8am – 8pm every day. Regional Relationship Managers are available in each region to answer questions about the programme, the volunteer support available and how to make a referral. ID checks are carried out for all


volunteers, with DBS checks being completed for the necessary volunteering activities. Volunteers also receive a Getting You Started Guide to help them feel confident in their roles and facts sheets with helpful advice, training and guidance to aid them in offering the best possible support. Volunteers also have access to the trained safeguarding team 12 hours a day. It is incredibly straightforward to request


volunteer support and I urge anyone interested in exploring this additional service to visit Request Support Services | NHS and Care Volunteer Responders (nhscarevolunteerresponders.org) or call our Support Team on 0808 196 3382 to find out more information or to make a referral. Referrals can be made in minutes with support able to be arranged and monitored online, enabling fast real time deployment. Once a referral has been made, they can be easily updated and managed through the booking portal if necessary. Services open for referral include:


n Check In and Chat: Short-term telephone support to people who need a chat and some encouragement to improve their mental health and wellbeing. This service is available for up to 18 weeks, but people can re-refer themselves or the referrer can make a repeat referral after the first period ends.


n Check In and Chat Plus: Regular telephone www.thecarehomeenvironment.com February 2024


calls for more vulnerable people – three calls a week over a six-week period from the same volunteer. This service is also available for self-referral.


n Pick-Up and Deliver: Volunteers to transport medication or small items of medical equipment to people’s homes and care homes, from NHS sites or between sites.


n Community Response: Collection and delivery of essential shopping and prescriptions to people with a current health need. This service is accessible for up to six weeks and is also available for self-referral.


Care colleagues can refer residents to more than one Volunteer Responder service. In this way they can make a suitable package of support.


Further services are being piloted and will be launched later in the year.


n


Samantha Ward OBE


Sam is deputy CEO and director of services for Royal Voluntary Service, one of the country’s largest volunteering organisations. Alongside her strategic and support department responsibilities as deputy CEO, she is responsible for the delivery of the charity’s complete services portfolio. This includes vital health and community programmes, the charity’s retail estate, and overseeing the NHS and Care Volunteer Responders scheme. Her role also includes oversight of the charity’s Services Welfare activities, a legacy service which provides much needed help to young personnel in the UK’s Armed Forces.


Since joining the charity in 2000, Sam has had a number of roles from community development, operations management, and change programmes.


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