FAQ

Will I be able to volunteer immediately?

Unfortunately not, there are a number of pre-employment checks that we must do which can take several weeks to complete. You will not be able to volunteer until this process has been completed.

As part of the recruitment process, this Trust, in line with all NHS Trusts is required to seek Disclosure and Barring Services clearance (DBS) on all members of staff and those volunteering their services who, in the course of their normal duties, have access with children and/or vulnerable adults.

You will also be required to complete a work health assessment from the Occupational Health Department whose aim it is to promote and maintain the health of all people. Before health clearance is given for volunteering you may be contacted by the Occupational Health team and may need to be seen by an Occupational Health Advisor or physician. You may be asked to have a vaccination/s if required.

During Covid-19 you will also be asked to complete a Work Health Assessment

Will I be interviewed?

You will be contacted via telephone for an informal interview. This will give us a chance to get a better understanding of what kind of volunteering work you would like to do. We recruit into specific vacant volunteer roles, so this conversation will help us establish if there are any suitable roles for you at the moment.

If there are no suitable vacancies for me, what happens next?

If there are no suitable vacancies for you, we will keep you on our database and contact you in the future when a role becomes available which is a good match for your skills/availability.

Are there any age limitations for volunteers?

Volunteers must be aged 16 or over. To work in some acute areas, Volunteers need to be aged 18 or over. There is no upper age limit.

I would like to shadow staff whilst volunteering. Is this possible?

It is not possible to shadow staff but it may be possible to arrange this separately. You will not be asked to provide any clinical care to patients as a volunteer or if you shadow staff.

Will I get paid Expenses?

Yes, volunteers can claim back any out of pocket expenses they have encountered.

What should I do if I have any concerns during my volunteering about myself or any aspect of the service?

Please speak to your designated department manager, the Volunteer Co-ordinator on ext 8503 or a Freedom to Speak Up Guardian on 0151 640 7766, Ext 7396 or email wih-tr.RaisingConcerns@nhs.net.

How will I know what I'm doing? 

Your department Manager or the Volunteer Co-ordinator will undertake an annual appraisal with you where you will discuss what’s going well, what’s going less well and how you can address this. This is also an opportunity to discuss any additional training needs you may have or any support you may need.

Can I change my volunteering placement or role once allocated?

Once you have spent some time in an area of the Trust, you may want to move to another area or a different volunteer role. Please discuss this with the Volunteer Co-ordinator who will look into this on your behalf and make the necessary arrangements. 

What happens if I terminate my Volunteering role? 

Whilst we want you to volunteer as long as possible as a valued member of the team, we do recognise that you may want to terminate your role with the Trust. Please inform your department manager of your intention to leave and/or the Volunteer Co-ordinator as soon as possible. You will be invited to complete a short exit questionnaire so that we can understand if there is anything we need to do differently for future volunteers. 

What is the National Volunteer Certificate?

The National Volunteer standards were developed by Volunteer Service Managers to provide a framework for induction education for volunteers. The aim is to enable volunteers to develop in their volunteering role. For further information please visit:

https:/volunteerlearning.community/what-are-the-national-volunteer-standards/