Volunteer Services

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We currently do not accept applications from 16-18 year old people. Thank you for your understanding.

With effect from August 2023 the RNOH have reintroduced
Observerships and Work Experience.

These are not the same as volunteering. Volunteering requires a minimum weekly commitment of 2/3 hours for 9 months.

If you are interested in work experience please email rnoh.workexperience@nhs.net

It is strongly recommended that you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 if you are intending to become a volunteer at our hospital.

What can I do?

Lots! Here's a short video showing some of our "fellows in yellow" (as we affectionately call them) in action, but the scope of support they give is ever growing. The video was shot before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Diane Young is the Volunteer Lead at RNOH
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Here’s what Diane has to say about volunteering at the Trust.

“We are a small but perfectly formed team with a passion for promoting excellence in volunteering at the Trust. We are committed to offering you the best volunteering experience possible. Volunteers enhance both the patient experience and also support the staff. You will be able to use your wealth of knowledge and experience and also gain new skills and insight whilst “giving back” to the NHS

Our volunteers repeatedly tell us they love working at RNOH and we are proud of them all and the extraordinary role they play in our hospital.“

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RNOH Volunteer Services is
fully funded by The RNOH Charity

Diane Young is (Patient) Involvement and Volunteer Lead. Her role is to oversee and to develop Volunteer Services across the RNOH NHS Trust. This includes liaison with external organisations and to create fulfilling roles and opportunities to meet the needs of volunteers and the Trust.

Meg Davitt is our Volunteer Co-ordinator who looks after recruitment, volunteer compliance, training and the general activities of our volunteer team.

Asmita Patel works two half days per week as Volunteer Services Assistant.

Keith Reeve has been involved in RNOH since1968. With a love for anything technical, as a volunteer Keith leads our award winning Patient & Visitor Buggy Service and Radio Brockley. A man of many skills!

Davina Kerstein is another of our department volunteers. With her "can do, will do" attitude she has become the back bone of our team and is an award winning volunteer. We don’t know what we would do without her!

Anita Burton is our other department volunteer. Her knowledge of HR processes and general administration is invaluable to us.

How long does it take to apply?

We aim to respond to your initial enquiry within 48 hours.

All volunteers must go through the necessary checks (DBS check), references, Occupational Health screening and training, and this can take some time to complete. How long this takes can very on a number of factors, so it is not possible to state a specific time.

It is strongly recommended that you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 if you are intending to become a volunteer at our hospital.

If you feel unwell, or test positive for COVID-19, please do not attend site but do let Volunteering Services know you cannot attend.

Do you take everyone?

We will always try to find a role for an applicant, but in some cases we might not have something suitable. While we appreciate all offers of help that we receive, not all roles are suitable for everybody wishing to volunteer.

Some roles require particular skills or personalities, whilst others may have a limited number of places available.

Do volunteers receive training?

Yes, following your successful interview, references, DBS and Occupational Health clearance you will undertake an induction as part of our recruitment process. The Volunteer Services team are always on hand to guide you and give you feedback. You are never left on you own!

Can I arrange work experience, placements or shadowing a doctor at the RNOH?

Volunteer Services do not organise work experience, shadowing or healthcare placements.

I am free over the summer holidays - can I volunteer for this period only?

No. We ask you to commit to a minimum of 9-months for a volunteering role. This is because preparation to become a volunteer is intensive and recruiting volunteers for any less time commitment would be cost inefficient to the RNOH.

Do you take volunteers younger than 18?

We have suspended applications from 16-18 year old applicants as we currently have no available roles in the evenings or at weekends. Thank you for your understanding.

For more information, please contact us at:

Volunteer Services Office

Email: rnoh.volunteering@nhs.net
Tel: 020 8909 5394

Lots of new volunteering roles, including:

Fund raising roles:-

This is an exciting opportunity to join with the volunteer services and charity team to lead and develop ideas to promote the fundraising initiatives and ideas. We need hands-on people with experience, ideas and enthusiasm with a can do attitude. Fulfilling activity, fun and lots of coffee (and maybe biscuits) guaranteed! This is a new role for us so we are open ideas.

Mealtime and support roles:-

We have a variety of roles during the day and evening for volunteers to support our patients with hydration and nutrition. These task range from delivering meals and chatting with patients over dinnertime, to supporting with feeding for patients recovering from arm/shoulder surgery.

This volunteer role is deal for those who “want to give back” and support people but who need a reason to be on the ward!

Patient Group:-

Come and join our Patient Group, which acts as the Trust’s critical friend in ward visits, reading and checking patient information from a patient’s perspective, and undertaking site visits. You don’t have to be a patient but your opinion really matters!

Prosthetics and Orthotics administration:-

We are looking for three administrators to support these busy departments where patients are measured and fitted with orthoses, like support devices like back and leg braces, and prosthetic limbs. Hospitals are not just doctors and nurses but a huge network of posts to make it all work, including the technicians and administration staff – come and find out more!

Histopathology Lab;

Working with the team in the laboratory, we need methodical and meticulous volunteers to support the histopathology the in the filing and cold storage of slides. The team in the lab are super friendly and you can even listen to your favourite music or podcasts whilst you do this activity!

Please contact:

Email: rnoh.volunteering@nhs.net
Tel: 020 8909 5394

Click here to apply for a volunteering role with us

“Volunteer services have been fantastic in keeping us informed. The newsletters are a breath of fresh air. We felt connected during lockdown. The service has been so supportive and knowing you are there is good”. Patti

“Thank you so much for the whole experience – it has been wonderful and I feel very privileged to have had this opportunity. I have learnt so much and it has opened my eyes to how a hospital works and the many roles and people involved.” AJ

“It is always a privilege and a pleasure to volunteer at RNOH” Barbara

“I had tears in my eyes just now when I just opened my thank you card”. Suda

“No need to thank me I enjoy and find it fulfilling that I am able to volunteer to help RNOH whichever I can”. Ranjna