Compassionate Neighbour Volunteer

About this role

Role Purpose

• Compassionate Neighbours is free, community-led support to combat loneliness and isolation for people living with a serious, long term or terminal illness, frailty or caring for a loved one, in your local area.
• The Compassionate Neighbour programme works by matching local people based on shared likes, experiences and interests with the aim of forging a genuine reciprocal friendship.
• Compassionate Neighbours can really make a difference. They are a network of trained volunteers who are willing to offer their time (a minimum of one hour per week), companionship and support.

Main Duties

• Once introduced to your community member, and both parties are happy to proceed, you will arrange to visit them in their own home
• Offer companionship, emotional support and a listening ear
• Provide practical support, such as making a cup of tea
• Help your community member to stay connected to their friends and the community
• Liaise with the CN Team to help direct your community member to important support services they may benefit from

Training and Development

• There are two days of initial training
• Further training opportunities at our practice development meetings
• Monthly social events
• Day to day support from the Compassionate Neighbours team

General

• This role is flexible around your schedule, ideally 1 – 2 hours per week but decided with community member
• Willing to develop a new friendship
• Good communicator including being an active listener
• Has empathy for others and is non-judgmental
• Respects diversity and others’ opinions even if they don’t agree
• Wants to make a difference in the local community
• At all times to behave in a manner befitting the role and the professional dignity of the Hospice and ensure that the Hospice is positively represented to the public and other stakeholders
• To preserve confidentiality of information acquired by virtue of the role
• Must be 18 years of age or older
• Need to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and provide two references

Essential Skills

• A helpful, friendly approach and courteous manner
• Excellent communication skills and ability to interact with others
• Ability to positively promote the ethos of the Hospice and the work it does in the community

Safeguarding and Health & Safety

• To take reasonable care of the health and safety of yourself and others.  Safeguarding and Health and Safety is delivered during the two-day training.

Values and Code of Conduct

• Adheres to Code of Conduct
• Adheres to Hospice Values and Behaviours
• Shows compassion
• Exhibits integrity
• Shows respect for others
• Teamwork
• Exhibits Hospice Culture Behaviours (I Care, I Learn, I Own, I Improve)

We are proud to be a Forces Family Friendly employer and hold the Bronze Award within the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme. We warmly welcome applications from ex‑Armed Forces personnel, reservists, veterans, and military spouses or partners.

We are committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusive practice across both employment and patient care. As a Disability Confident Leader, we encourage applications from people living with disabilities and are dedicated to providing reasonable adjustments to support colleagues and volunteers to thrive in their roles