Coronavirus (COVID-19): Information about volunteering
Keep up-to-date with the latest information, read our page on Coronavirus.
Why volunteer
We have hundreds of volunteers in our trust, including members of the public, service users and carers.
The trust operates nine community hospitals, plus health clinics and health centres across Kent. Volunteers can offer a range of skills and experience to help the trust and complement our staff.
Contact us
01233 667810
kentchft.engagement@nhs.net
Patient and Carer Partnership Team
Trinity House
Eureka Business Park
110 / 120 Upper Pemberton
Ashford
TN25 4AZ
Please read the volunteer expectations to find out more about what happens before you apply to and start a volunteer role.
Time
- Give a minimum of six months commitment where possible.
- Volunteering is not the same as a short-term work experience activity. For work experience, please contact Verity Barton, Widening Participation Lead, at verity.barton@nhs.net or 07741 297853.
Age
- Anyone under the age of 14 cannot volunteer for KCHFT
- Volunteers between age 14 and 18 will be required to have a parent consent form signed and cannot volunteer in areas of direct patient treatment in clinical areas.
Travel
- Although we pay travel expenses, we aim to find you a placement as near to your home as possible. If the placement location is too far, we may suggest other volunteer organisations for you to contact.
Recruitment
- complete a volunteer application form
- provide two referees details – not family or in-laws
- complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (if applicable to the role)
- agree to a confidentiality and security of information statement
- attend an informal interview (virtually, via telephone or in person).
Please be aware that recruitment can take some time, depending on team capacity, response time and DBS confirmation.
Training – you will need to:
- participate in identified training, dependent on the placement area
- comply with all policies and procedures, particularly in relation to confidentiality, accident reporting, health and safety
- fulfil the duties and responsibilities set out in the volunteer role description/risk assessment.
Volunteer vacancies
- To collect patients and clients from the main door and take them to the seating area.
- To support the Urgent Treatment Centre, assisting on the
- Reception desk, welcoming patients ensuring they are waiting in the correct area, have the
correct PPE and social distancing measures are in place. - Ensuring patients are complying with infection control measure whilst in the hospital.
- This role is over seven days a week either an am or pm session.For information about any of the roles, please contact Patient and Carer Partnership Team.
01233 667810
kchft.volunteerservices@nhs.net
A number of our services are in need of a volunteer to support the completion of patient experience surveys. This will either be on site, sitting with the patient with an iPad, or volunteering from your home, directly phoning patients. The role may also involve general administration and electronic filing for the service.
Sites where volunteers are needed include:
- Ashford Health Visiting Team, Willows Children’s Centre, Brookfield Road, Ashford TN23 4EY
- Kent Continence Service, Exchange House, Hersden, Canterbury CT3 4NH
- Specialist Clinical Services, Faversham Cottage Hospital, Stone Street, Faversham ME13 8PS
This role involves sitting with vulnerable patients as they await discharge, providing refreshments and making sure patients are aware of any follow up medical appointments and arrangements. The volunteer will also need to make sure patients are updated regularly on their discharge, and help to coordinate patient transport.
Sites where volunteers are needed include:
- Edenbridge and District War Memorial Hospital, Mill Hill, Edenbridge TN8 5DA
- Faversham Cottage Hospital, Stone Street, Faversham ME13 8PS
- Hawkhurst Community Hospital, High Street, Hawkhurst TN18 4PU
- Queen Victoria Memorial Herne Bay, King Edward Avenue, Herne Bay CT6 6EB
- Sevenoaks Hospital, Hospital Road, Sevenoaks TN13 3PG
- Tonbridge Cottage Hospital, Vauxhall Lane, Marden, Tonbridge TN11 0NE
- Victoria Hospital, London Road, Deal CT14 9UA
- Westview Hospital, Plummer Lane, Tenterden TN30 6TX
- Whitstable and Tankerton Hospital, Northwood Road, Tankerton, Whitstable CT5 2HN
This role is to support patients and staff by providing an additional pair of hands to assist with non-clinical activities on the ward. The role involves helping patients to make telephone calls and write letters and spending time with patients, especially those who don’t have regular visitors.
Sites where volunteers are needed include:
- Edenbridge and District War Memorial Hospital, Mill Hill, Edenbridge TN8 5DA
- Faversham Cottage Hospital, Stone Street, Faversham ME13 8PS
- Hawkhurst Community Hospital, High Street, Hawkhurst TN18 4PU
- Queen Victoria Memorial Herne Bay, King Edward Avenue, Herne Bay CT6 6EB
- Sevenoaks Hospital, Hospital Road, Sevenoaks TN13 3PG
- Tonbridge Cottage Hospital, Vauxhall Lane, Marden, Tonbridge TN11 0NE
- Victoria Hospital, London Road, Deal CT14 9UA
- Westview Hospital, Plummer Lane, Tenterden TN30 6TX
- Whitstable and Tankerton Hospital, Northwood Road, Tankerton, Whitstable CT5 2HN
This role is to support patients to remain in contact with their family and friends using technology.
It involves supporting the use of social media and relaying communication from relatives to patients.
Sites where volunteers are needed include:
- Edenbridge and District War Memorial Hospital, Mill Hill, Edenbridge TN8 5DA
- Faversham Cottage Hospital, Stone Street, Faversham ME13 8PS
- Hawkhurst Community Hospital, High Street, Hawkhurst TN18 4PU
- Queen Victoria Memorial Herne Bay, King Edward Avenue, Herne Bay CT6 6EB
- Sevenoaks Hospital, Hospital Road, Sevenoaks TN13 3PG
- Tonbridge Cottage Hospital, Vauxhall Lane, Marden, Tonbridge TN11 0NE
- Victoria Hospital, London Road, Deal CT14 9UA
- Westview Hospital, Plummer Lane, Tenterden TN30 6TX
- Whitstable and Tankerton Hospital, Northwood Road, Tankerton, Whitstable CT5 2HN
The dusk café is an opportunity for patients with dementia and other cognitive conditions to have a chat and enjoy activities such as playing music. This helps to reduce agitation and confusion, and reduces the risk of falling and injury. The role involves spending time with patients and helping to serve meals.
Volunteers are needed to support patients in the dusk café between the hours of 5 and 9pm, Monday to Sunday at Tonbridge Cottage Hospital, Vauxhall Lane, Tonbridge TN11 0NE.
This role involves greeting parents and carers attending baby clinics and encouraging them to complete a paper survey. The volunteer will also need to monitor visitors wearing PPE and hand out face masks. Clinics run continuously throughout the year but term time volunteering can be considered.
Clinics where volunteers are needed include:
- Cranbrook Children’s Centre, Carriers Road, Cranbrook TN17 3JZ
Clinic times: every week on a Wednesday and Thursday from 9.15 to 11.15am.
- Woodlands Health Centre, Allington Rd, Paddock Wood, Tonbridge TN12 6AX
Clinic times: every week on a Wednesday and Thursday from 9.15 to 11.15am.
- Meadows Children’s Centre, Furfield Close, Maidstone, ME15 9JR
Clinic times: every Tuesday from 9.30am to 4pm. Volunteers can attend a morning or afternoon session.
- Sunshine Children’s Centre, Stagshaw Close, Maidstone ME15 6TL
Clinic times: every Thursday from 9.30am to 4pm. Volunteers can attend a morning or afternoon session.
This role involves welcoming visitors, making sure they have the correct PPE and are maintaining social distancing. It may also involve answering the telephone.
Sites where volunteers are needed include:
- Dartford East Health Centre (Pilgrims Way Surgery), Pilgrims Way, Dartford DA1 1QY
- Clinic times: every Wednesday from 9am to 12noon
- Westview Integrated Care Centre, Plummer Lane, Tenterden TN30 6TX at weekends
Mealtime volunteers can play an important role in encouraging patients to eat and drink, offering companionship to patients and spotting ways to make mealtimes easier and comfortable for patients.
The role involves assisting patients with menu choices, giving out meals and refreshments and sitting with patients during meal times. Volunteers are needed at meal times from 11.30am to 1.30pm.
Sites where volunteers are needed include:
- Edenbridge and District War Memorial Hospital, Mill Hill, Edenbridge TN8 5DA
- Faversham Cottage Hospital, Stone Street, Faversham ME13 8PS
- Hawkhurst Community Hospital, High Street, Hawkhurst TN18 4PU
- Queen Victoria Memorial Herne Bay, King Edward Avenue, Herne Bay CT6 6EB
- Sevenoaks Hospital, Hospital Road, Sevenoaks TN13 3PG
- Tonbridge Cottage Hospital, Vauxhall Lane, Marden, Tonbridge TN11 0NE
- Victoria Hospital, London Road, Deal CT14 9UA
- Whitstable and Tankerton Hospital, Northwood Road, Tankerton, Whitstable CT5 2HN
For more information about these roles, please contact the Patient and Carer Partnership Team at kentchft.engagement@nhs.net or phone 01233 667810.