Marie Curie rely on Lead Volunteers to promote our Companion service and ensure it reaches those who need it. They play a vital role in raising awareness within local communities, supporting the recruitment and training of new volunteers, and helping maintain the quality and continuity of care
Acting as ambassadors for Lead Companion volunteers create connections, build trust, and sometimes step in to provide companionship themselves
To enable us to reach more people who would benefit from our support we need help to;
- Raise awareness and knowledge of the Companion service
- Ensure that people who are referred to the Companion service are appropriately assessed
- Increase our number of trained Companion volunteers and ensure they are well supported in their role.
- Demonstrate Marie Curie values; always compassionate, making things happen, leading in our field, people at our heart
- Support volunteers in training, offering 1:1 support and facilitating peer support groups
- Organise social events and engagement activities for volunteers
- Provide cover for Companion volunteers, offering companionship and emotional support, practical support and short breaks for carers
What you'll do:
- Assess terminally ill people and/or their carers either in their own home, nursing or residential care to identify their needs and determine if the Marie Curie Companion service would be appropriate for them.
- Provide cover for Companion volunteers, offering companionship and emotional support, practical support and short breaks for carers. You may be supporting your client’s family or carers before or during bereavement. This may involve offering emotional support, signposting to relevant local support services or finding out information as requested
- Driving clients to pre-arranged health or social care (eg to chemotherapy appointments or day therapy at the hospice)
- Follow all mandatory procedures that form part of the Companion service.
- Provide cover as a lone worker Buddy to support Companion volunteers, as needed
- Keeping up to date with Companion service guidance and best practice
- Liaising with existing and potential referrers to the Companion service
- Liaising with clients and their families via telephone
- Promoting the Companion volunteer role including (with training/approval) media activity
- Helping with the recruitment of new volunteers, including interviews and selection
- Keeping accurate records
- Liaising regularly with the Volunteer Coordinator and other team members
- Reporting concerns and celebrating compliments and successes
- Assisting with evaluations and development of the Companion service
- Help with other related tasks when necessary
What you’ll gain:
Full training, ongoing guidance and wellbeing support
Recognition for your time and effort
Updates on the difference you’re making
Long Service Awards
Be part of the UK’s leading end-of-life charity
Travel expenses reimbursed
Access to discounts on shopping, dining, travel and more
15% discount in-store at our Marie Curie Shops (Terms & Conditions apply)
Kindness doesn’t have to be big to be life-changing
Need more information?
