NHS and Care Volunteer Responders

                                                                                   

Click here to read the toolkit.

Background

NHS and Care Volunteer Responders is a flexible volunteering programme supporting the NHS and adult social care in England. The programme is delivered by Royal Voluntary Service (RVS) with GoodSAM on behalf of NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care. The scheme is built on a digital platform and links an available pool of over 35,000 volunteers to local live tasks through the GoodSAM app.

Volunteer Responders are available to help discharge teams, virtual ward teams, Primary Care and wider NHS services. They are also able to support social care providers across all eligible residential and domiciliary settings. The programme makes it easier for people to volunteer and simpler for health and care professionals to access support.

What the programme offers

• A pool of volunteers readily available
• Extra volunteer capacity to support local activities related to health and care
• A range of volunteer roles to meet needs locally
• Volunteering support 7 days a week, underpinned by wrap-around support and assurance
• Safeguarding, problem solving teams and helplines running 8am-8pm
• Volunteers are ID checked, have role guidance, hold DBS checks when required and their expenses are paid by the programme
• A diverse volunteer team, representative of the communities they support
• Assurance checks for new providers outside the NHS and local authorities
• An evolving programme, adapting to changing needs, complementary to existing scheme

 

Volunteer Services available now

• Check In and Chat: Telephone support to people who need a chat and some encouragement to improve their mental health and wellbeing for up to 18 weeks. This is also available for self-referral. ➢ Check In and Chat Plus: Regular telephone calls for people who would benefit from speaking to the same volunteer for a period of six weeks. This is also available for self-referral.
• Pick-Up and Deliver: Volunteers to transport medication or small items of medical equipment to people’s homes from NHS sites and equipment between sites.
• Community Response: Collection and delivery of essential shopping and prescriptions to people at home. This is also available for self-referral.

 

Feedback

Samantha Aylott, Specialist Advisor for Adult Social Care at Essex County Council

“It’s immensely helpful to be able to offer people emotional wellbeing support and the opportunity to have a friendly phone call as part of their care package. Having someone to chat to can mean a lot to the adults we work with; it’s about knowing someone cares and is interested in them.

“I would recommend the programme to other social care providers, it’s quick and easy to use.”

 

Find out more

To find out more about the programme, and the support Volunteer Responders can provide, contact your Regional Relationship Manager:

East of England
Leanne Jenkins
email: leanne.jenkins@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk

London
Sarah Smith
email: sarah.a.smith@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk

East Midlands
Ellen Woodward
email: ellen.woodward@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk

West Midlands
Jen Williams
email: jen.williams@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk

North East & Yorkshire
Kerry Evans
email: kerry.evans@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk

North West
Liam Ryan
email: liam.ryan@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk

South East
email: rrm@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk

South West
Angela Sims
email: angela.sims@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk

If you would like to make a referral call 0808 196 3382 and speak to our contact centre, or
visit nhscarevolunteerresponders.org/referral for more information