St Barnabas Hospice is looking for volunteers to deliver supportive services to palliative patients in the community.
St Barnabas Hospice is appealing for volunteers from the Grantham, Sleaford and Bourne area to spare some of their time to help patients with a palliative diagnosis to self-manage their conditions at home, and to promote their wellbeing.
The Palliative Empowerment Living Team (PELT) programme launched in November 2016 at St Barnabas Grantham; the team of health professionals and volunteers support palliative patients at home, to live life to the full.
The charity aims to support patients who may struggle with anxiety, stress and depression, pain, reduced mobility, breathlessness, fatigue and reduced nutrition. They help through exercise, relaxation technique, massage and Tai Chi, to name but a few.
PELT’s trained volunteers visit patients for one hour, once a week, for the duration of an eight-week programme. Volunteers support patients to carry out exercise programmes and rehabilitation exercises, therapies, and encourage positive behaviours. In doing so, volunteers aim to increase patient confidence, and promote wellbeing and independence.
All volunteers follow an intensive training programme, and are supported and supervised by the PELT Team Leader and the PELT Facilitator. They are also subject to an advanced DBS check.
Sarah Melinn, PELT Facilitator, said:
“St Barnabas is committed to helping patients live their lives as fully as possible through various techniques. Volunteers will visit patients in their home and really make a positive impact to the end of their life.”
The key duties of the role will include companionship and emotional support, respite for carers, and practical support.
Judy McLaughlin, Clinical Team Lead, said:
“This role is about preserving life enjoyment and dignity through human kindness, and will be very rewarding and fulfilling. The volunteers will gain valuable skills around caring, and ultimately we hope our volunteers will enjoy the time they spend with the patients.”
For further information about volunteering for this role, please contact Judy McLaughlin or Sarah Melinn on 01476 513545 or email PELT@stbarnabas.co.uk