Spiritual Care Team Volunteer - Taunton

Where you will be based: We have opportunities available at both our Hospice Hubs (Taunton and Yeovil)

Day/ Time: Thursday mornings - Taunton. Tuesday morning - Yeovil

Frequency: Weekly

About you

If you have good listening and other interpersonal skills, and are looking to learn and to develop yourself and your skills as a human spiritual being we would love to talk to you about this role and about the work of St Margaret’s.

 What we offer

• The opportunity to make a real difference
• A comprehensive training and development package
• Additional training if appropriate to the role
• Opportunity to broaden skills, knowledge and expertise, working amongst a diverse range of professionals
• Enhancement to your CV
• Reimbursement of travelling expenses for some training
• Clinical supervision and day to day support from the Spiritual Care Coordinator
• Regular update opportunities including newsletters and events
• Team meetings 6 times a year (1-2 hours + 1 full day pa)
• Comprehensive induction and ongoing training (either face to face or virtual), which includes essential completion of appropriate training tracker modules and attendance at St Margaret’s 3-day spiritual care course.

Time commitment

• The commitment of a Spiritual Care Team Volunteer is discussed and agreed prior to commencement of the role.
• You are required to attend induction, update and skills training, and team meetings. This is an essential part of the commitment required to join the Spiritual Care Team. 

Role requirements

• For this role we are required to complete an Enhanced with Adults barred list level DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check. 

Brief description of main tasks and activities

The Spiritual Care Team Volunteer is responsible for enhancing the care given to patients and those important to them by the multidisciplinary team of staff. As an integral member of the Spiritual Care Team the volunteer works alongside paid clinical staff to ensure the best possible service and care for the patient and those close to them.  

The team as a whole operates within a whole-hospice context which recognises

• the potential of every member of staff and volunteer as a spiritual carer
• the breadth of St Margaret’s care for patients in the Sunflower day centres on Taunton and Yeovil hubs, on the in-patient unit on Taunton hub and in homes across the County
• the use of the two Sanctuary rooms and other spiritual care facilities by other teams

Volunteers support the Spiritual Care Coordinator in the provision of spiritual care for patients at home via phone or video call and within the hospice buildings. With the agreement of the Spiritual Care Coordinator and after appropriate training they visit patients at home. Spiritual Care receives patients on referral by other members of the hospice multidisciplinary team. All referrals are recorded by the Central Referral Centre.

We are looking for someone with the following gifts and skills:

• Personal gifts as a human and spiritual being 
• Understanding of, and commitment to, St Margaret’s philosophy of spiritual care
• High standard of listening and other interpersonal skills
• Willingness and appropriate personal skills to be alongside patients with a life limiting illness and those important to them
• Openness to provide the space in which personal stories may evolve and be heard
• Willingness to be open to change
• High degree of discretion and total confidentiality
• Understanding of, and commitment to, the boundaries of the role of spiritual care within the holistic care provided by the whole multidisciplinary team
• Computer literate
• Creativity and enthusiasm
• An openness to new learning

Additional Information

• Spiritual Care at St Margaret’s is part of the Clinical Directorate and spiritual care volunteers are required to adhere to clinical risk assessments and regulations.