QUALIFICATION CRITERIA

In order to be eligible for direct patient/family care or bereavement volunteer services, persons must be eighteen (18) years or older..

 

1.  All potential volunteers will complete a volunteer application form and submit it to the Volunteer Coordinator.

2.  A pre-screening contact interview may be scheduled and conducted at the option of the Volunteer Coordinator.

VOLUNTEER JOB DESCRIPTIONS

 

Volunteer job descriptions will be made available and discussed with volunteer trainees to determine what job areas would be most appropriate for their individual talents and skills and may include one or more of the following:

• Hospice Service Volunteer
• Patient/Family Volunteer
• Bereavement Volunteer
• Community Service Volunteer

 

Upon completion of their training, volunteers will acknowledge these positions by signing each job description, which is placed in their personnel file.

TRAINING AND EDUCATION

 

Prior to delivering volunteer services, all volunteers receive orientation and training focused on hospice concepts of care goals, and services as well as specific tasks that they will perform (see Volunteer Job Descriptions).  Training may be modified, in certain cases, where the potential volunteer has had extensive training and experience in hospice.

During or upon completion of the volunteer training, the volunteer will acknowledge their rights and responsibilities by completion of the following forms:

• Employment Application
• Health Records
• Volunteer Training Evaluation Form 

Volunteers are informed of changes in policies, goals, procedures, etc. by the Volunteer Coordinator through newsletters, meetings, flyers, and volunteer activities.  Continued education or training is offered in a systematic manner to volunteers to ensure the maintenance of appropriate skill levels.

VOLUNTEER ASSIGNMENT

 

An offer to provide volunteer services will be made to all patients/families upon admission.  If the patient/family refuses at that time, periodic assessments will be made while they are on service to see if the status or need for volunteer services have changed.

If volunteer services are desired, a Volunteer Request Form will be filled out and given to the Volunteer Coordinator.

Upon receipt of the Volunteer Request Form, a volunteer will be assigned according to the volunteer resources available.  In the assignment of a volunteer, these factors will be considered:

• client’s specific needs or requests
• geographical location
• time of volunteer’s availability
• individualized volunteer talents/skills
• needs in keeping with volunteer training
• volunteer’s option of choice

The purpose in assignment of volunteers to patients and their families is to provide a mutual environment that offers emotional support, empathy, and other supportive services as needed.  

A volunteer has the responsibility to interact with the patient/family and negotiate time availability and the specific needs required relative to the role.

A volunteer may terminate from active participation in a case after discussion with the Volunteer Coordinator.  Likewise, the Volunteer Coordinator may withdraw a volunteer from a given assignment upon request of the hospice team and/or the patient and family.

VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

 

Once assignment has been made, the volunteer will be given patient/family information and the names of the hospice interdisciplinary team members assigned.  Communication between the volunteer and other team members is of utmost importance to providing quality care and is handled in the following ways:

1.  Contact is to be maintained between the volunteer who has a patient/family assignment and the Volunteer Coordinator and/or other hospice staff.  Such contact should be a minimum of every two weeks through a visit, voice mail, or telephone call.

2.  The volunteer is to notify the Volunteer Coordinator if any concerns or issues arise.  Additional team members may also be contacted dependent upon the type of concern (i.e. pain, symptom control, abuse, etc).

DOCUMENTATION

 

In order to verify volunteer visits and to facilitate communication between the volunteer and other team members, the volunteer must document each contact made with the patient, family or hospice staff.  This documentation is completed on the Volunteer Documentation Form and is submitted to the Volunteer Coordinator on a weekly basis.  A separate documentation form is completed for each patient/family assigned to the volunteer.  This documentation is also utilized in determining the volunteer cost savings & activity level.

ANNUAL PROGRAM EVALUATION

 

In order to ensure program effectiveness, an annual volunteer program evaluation will be conducted.  Areas to be assessed are volunteer activities, volunteer educational program, and assurance that the program meets State and Federal regulatory standards.