Volunteering

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Volunteer with us

If you are interested in becoming a MY Café volunteer or a Patient Safety Partner, please email midyorks.volunteer@nhs.net 

We are delighted to be welcoming more and more volunteers back to the Trust. Could you help us expand our team?

Volunteering improves the experience of our patients and colleagues and is also proven to improve your own health and wellbeing! We offer a wide range of roles including those which are patient facing and those which are more administrative. We have something to suit everyone.

At Mid Yorkshire, we currently have a team of over 270 active volunteers who help us deliver an excellent patient experience. Our Volunteers are hugely valued by both patients and colleagues, for the contribution they make with the gift of time.

Our volunteers are part of the Mid Yorkshire team and play a crucial role in enhancing the experience of patients, carers, visitors and staff. They do this by performing a wide variety of tasks throughout the Trust to complement the work of our paid staff. Volunteers are currently placed in approximately 20 wards and departments throughout the Trust.

Volunteers do not perform any clinical role, however our opportunities do enable volunteers to get some hands on experience in a hospital environment and have a huge impact on our patient services and life in hospital.

As well as the difference they make to others, our volunteers often comment on the positive impact being a volunteer has made on their own lives, helping them to meet new friends and improve their self-confidence and motivation, whilst keeping them active and feeling they have a valuable contribution to make which is greatly appreciated.

Our volunteers come from all walks of life, a variety of different cultures, ethnicities and communities and of all ages from 16.

Benefits of volunteering

Being a volunteer at the Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust gives you the opportunity to enhance the experience of our patients and their families and support the staff who care for them.

There are many benefits to being a volunteer at Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust. People often say they volunteer because they've benefited from a service and want to put something back. Some people say that volunteering has been a positive experience which helped them to develop skills that were useful in gaining employment. Others enjoy social networking and make friends or say it is rewarding to see how the time they donate makes a difference both to patients and to staff.

Other benefits include:

  • helping to make a difference
  • putting a smile on someone’s face                         
  • feeling valued
  • developing personal and social skills
  • gaining confidence and self esteem
  • experience of working in a hospital environment
  • increasing employment opportunities
  • increasing health and wellbeing
  • feeling part of a team
  • finding quality time away from work or a busy life.

Who can volunteer?

We welcome applications from people from all communities and backgrounds. We do offer volunteer placements for anyone over 16, the roles available to those age 16 and 17 are limited.

Volunteer to Career

Volunteer to Career

Are you a caring person who likes helping people? Do you want to find out if a career in healthcare is for you? Try out our Volunteer to Career pilot programme…

This is a brand-new programme which provides a direct route in to work in the healthcare sector. It’s ideal for people who are interested in a career in healthcare and would like to try out the role to see if it’s for them. No other experience or qualifications are needed.

What are the benefits?

  • This programme provides you with the skills and experience to apply for NHS jobs, including Health Care Assistant (HCA) roles.
  • When you complete the programme, you’ll receive two nationally recognised qualifications: 1. National Volunteer Certificate and 2. The Care Certificate. These qualifications put you in a great position for securing a paid role with health and / or social care settings. 

Does it cost anything?

It’s completely free of charge. You don’t have to pay for the training. You only need to volunteer your time at our Trust.

What does the programme involve?

  • You will need to go through the recruitment process to become a volunteer.
  • This is a 7 month programme with a commitment to complete 120 hours of volunteering (with a minimum commitment of 4 hours per week).
  • You will be supported each step of the way and will have a mentor who will help you learn the skills you need. 

What will the work experience involve?

This will involve simulation training once per month at our Dewsbury Hospital site where you will learn and practice clinical skills. You will also gain ‘hands on’ practical clinical experience on a hospital ward where you will have the opportunity to work with patients and our clinical teams.

Preparing you for a paid for role and future employment

We will also support you with interview and application writing skills and a career discussion. On completion of the 7 month programme, you’ll be guaranteed an interview for a Health Care Assistant Role.

This pathway could be a great opportunity for you if:

  • You are looking for a change in career.
  • You’re not sure if a career in healthcare is for you and want to try it out before applying for a paid job or course.
  • You are unemployed and do not have recent work experience or references.
  • You have been off work for a long time due to ill health, or other reasons, and need a gradual route back into work.
  • You are new to the UK and are looking for employment in healthcare.
  • You have been turned down for jobs in the NHS due to lack of the right knowledge and experience.

Who can volunteer?

We welcome volunteer from all backgrounds across the communities we serve; including members of the public and current Trust staff.

You can take part in the Volunteer to Career programme from 16 and there is no upper age limit.

Refugees and asylum seekers are fully entitled to volunteer.

Claimants of Job Seeker’s Allowance (JSA) or Universal Credit, Income Support, Incapacity Benefit and Employment and Support Allowance may volunteer without their benefits being affected, provided they receive no more money than the reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses. There is no limit on the number of hours, however job seekers must be available for and actively seeking paid work. Volunteering may count as part of your work preparation activities.

Mid Yorkshire Hospitals pays reasonable travel expenses to all volunteers, so you will not be out of pocket for your volunteering.

All volunteers are subject to background checks to ensure their suitability for volunteering.

How do I apply?

Sorry this programme is currently closed for applications.

For queries on volunteering and further information, please contact our Voluntary Services Team on 01924 543451 or midyorks.volunteer@nhs.net