Pets As Therapy (PAT) Volunteer (Hillingdon)

ABOUT US

Central and North West London (CNWL) Trust has almost 9,000 staff providing integrated healthcare to a third of London's population, Milton Keynes and areas beyond.

Volunteers play an essential role in helping CNWL to achieve its mission on working closely with our many partners to ensure that our combined efforts are focused on achieving the best possible outcomes for the people we serve. Pets As Therapy Volunteers are dedicated pet owners who give up their spare time to help others, visiting all types of establishments.

Volunteering relationships: Service users, visitors and Staff.

IMPORTANT NOTE: To be considered for this role, you need to be a "pet dog owner", already registered with a known charity organisation such as Pets As Therapy or Canine Concern.

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are seeking a PAT Dog Volunteer to provide an opportunity for patients and staff to meet a registered PAT dog and to engage in one to one contact in a safe environment on Oak Tree Ward, an Older Adult In-Patient Mental Health Ward at the Woodlands Centre. PAT Volunteers will be accompanied by a member of staff at all times during their visits.

Patients can become isolated and miss their sense of "normality" in hospital environments. Pets as Therapy (PAT) dogs are a way to re-connect with the outside world, providing some familiarity, routine, and some warm welcomed distractions. PAT provide patients with a sense of autonomy and motivation, in addition to improving their emotional stability and socialisation. The psychological benefits of PAT include decreased levels of anxiety, depression and loneliness, as well as increased social interaction and improved communication abilities. PAT dog interactions are so important for stimulation, providing comfort, company, and for enhancing mental health & wellbeing, not just for the patients but for ward staff.

COMMITMENT AND LOCATION

Expectation - a minimum commitment of one visit per month, (although you are welcome to do more visits) for 1 hour, from 11:00 – 12:00, on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.

Location: Woodlands Centre, Oak Tree Ward, Hillingdon Hospital, Pield Heath Road, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB8 3NN

KEY TASKS

• Provide companionship and friendship to our patients;
• Help tackle loneliness
• Enhance the lives of patients experiencing mental and physical health conditions and illnesses, on Oak Tree Ward
• Supporting individual patients, or small groups of patients, who have been identified by the Therapist or group coordinator
• Supporting in providing goal orientated therapeutic activity with the support and guidance from healthcare professionals on Oaktree ward

KEY TRAITS, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Registered with a known charity such as Pets As Therapy or Canine Concern
• Reliability: to be someone we can rely on - consistent and dependable
• Resilience: you will volunteer with vulnerable people who may disclose experiences of a sensitive nature
• Warm, empathetic, friendly, compassionate, patient, tolerant and considerate
• Good conversational and listening skills, with a caring nature
• An understanding of individual’s needs, taking into consideration cultural and religious beliefs and values
• Committed to the values and policies of the Trust, including Data Protection and Equal Opportunities

WHAT IS IN THERE FOR YOU?

• Enhance lives in our communities by providing companionship and friendship Improve the lives of people experiencing mental and physical health conditions and illnesses, through animal-assisted interventions as part of a holistic approach to treatment
• The opportunity to help patients within the NHS, in a time of growing pressure
• Full support and a range of relevant training
• Local induction and orientation
• A reference for future volunteering or employment, following completion of at least 60 hours of volunteering
• Following our expenses policy, reimbursement of agreed expenses