Volunteer Healthwatch Volunteer

What will you be doing?

Healthwatch Richmond is the consumer champion for health and social care in Richmond upon Thames. We're here to make sure that providers put people at the heart of health and social care services and to help people find the information they need. Volunteering for Healthwatch is a fantastic opportunity to improve healthcare for the whole borough of Richmond upon Thames. Volunteers will have two main roles: 1) Enter & View- This involves viewing and observing healthcare facilities such as hospitals, GP practices and care homes. Volunteers interact with patients, carers and staff to gather feedback on many areas of care provision. This could include looking at accessibility, waiting times and patient experience. It is an opportunity to gain a unique insight into health and social care provision, whilst also supporting real-time projects which will be used to improve health and social care across the borough. Volunteers will be fully trained and supported to undertake this work. 2) Community Outreach- Volunteers also have the opportunity to attend outreach sessions alongside Healthwatch staff to engage with members of the public, gather their experiences of healthcare and use this feedback to contribute directly to improving health and social care. Volunteers also use this to promote the work of Healthwatch, including our information signposting service and to show members of the public that we are here to ensure all voices are heard and amplified within health and social care. Being a Healthwatch Volunteer is the perfect opportunity for anyone who wants to make a genuine difference to their community. Whether you have previously worked within health and social care, or you are keen to gain experience, as long as you are passionate about health and keen to embrace a new challenge, this role is for you.

What are we looking for?

Excellent communication skills, including experience of active listening  Strong observational and question-asking skills Strong empathy skills with the ability to engage with individuals from diverse backgrounds Ability to work well in a team as well as independently when required Strong organisational and time management skills Experience or knowledge of health and social care commissioning, provision and usage The passion to make a positive impact on the community Knowledge of the local community of Richmond upon Thames Experience or knowledge in safeguarding matters Experience in presenting views and ideas Experience of report writing or research Previous experience in outreach, community engagement or related fields

What difference will you make?

The work you will do as a volunteer will directly impact the work that we do. The feedback and observations collected by volunteers will be used by Healthwatch in our project reports, which are published with recommendations to improve the service of health and social care providers. You can read our past reports here to gain an insight in the type of work you can contribute to.  We depend on volunteers like you to ensure the voice of those living in Richmond upon Thames is heard.