Volunteer Cornwall are working with the NHS and partners, including Age UK and the Red Cross, to recruit and train volunteers to support people recently discharged through their ‘Welcome Home’ service. This move is to help our local hospitals which have been struggling with unprecedented demand on their services over the winter.

Most people discharged from hospital will have friends, neighbours or family who can help them with basic tasks like shopping and make sure they are visited daily etc but for some, there is no-one to provide this regular contact and that is where ‘Welcome Home’ volunteers come in.

Funded by NHS Kernow for 12 months, Welcome Home is about ensuring people recently discharged from hospital have the help and support they need to manage. This goes beyond just getting them back home and settled but looks at the social networks around them – have they got friends, family or neighbours they can rely on for help and support or do they need volunteers or paid services bringing in to support them? And are they aware of and in touch with support groups or other community-based resources (such as Memory Cafés, Coffee Mornings, Arts & Crafts groups etc) which provide such a vital service in combating loneliness and isolation?

Speaking to Roseland Online, Colum Taylor of Volunteer Cornwall said “I am wanting to promote a project we are running at Volunteer Cornwall called Welcome Home. The aim of Welcome Home is to prevent readmissions to hospital by having volunteers visit people who have recently been discharged from hospital and signposting them to services which can support them. For example, if a person is worried about loneliness we may refer them to Age UK befrienders. We have helped 115 people since the start of the year. We are always on the lookout for more volunteers and are making a deliberate push for more in the Roseland area.”

Specific responsibilities:

• Tasks vary according to individual need but may include:
  • Undertake timely visits to the person in their home
  • Identify individual needs and potential risks
  • Complete a basic checklist and return to Volunteer Cornwall
  • Prioritise needs and risks then refer on appropriately

Personal qualities most suited to this role:

• Good communication skills essential
• Understanding of confidentiality
• Understanding of and empathy with the needs of older people
• Patience and sensitivity
• Reliability
• Requirement to undertake induction training, work to guidelines and policies on Health & Safety, confidentiality, equal opportunities etc.

How much time is involved:

Flexible as agreed with Welcome Home Volunteer Co-ordinator. We will probably ask you to do an average of 1 visit per week.  You can stop volunteering at any time but please do let us know as soon as possible.

Expenses and Insurance:

We will cover agreed out-of-pocket expenses for volunteers (eg travel costs).  We will also insure you for the time you are volunteering with us.

Volunteer Cornwall have produced a short leaflet.  To find our more, give them a ring on 01872 266987 or email mariannew@volunteercornwall.org.uk.