Volunteering

The process can take between six and 12 weeks before you start volunteering.

It depends on how quickly you fill in and return the necessary forms.

It also depends on how stages of the recruitment process take, such as receiving your references and police clearance.

Due to a high volume of applications we are unable to place everyone.

When we have received sufficient application forms for a role we will close recruitment. Application forms are then shortlisted to ensure you have the skills and time availability the role requires.

If you are shortlisted you will be invited for an interview with the voluntary services team and a representative of the department you will be volunteering for. 

If you are not shortlisted you will also be informed.

No, we need to ensure patient safety so there are a number of processes that need to be completed before you can start.

References

On the application form we ask you to provide us details of people who can provide a reference for you. They should not be family or friends and ideally they should know you in a professional capacity for example employer, teacher or tutor. 

Police check 

All volunteers are required to undergo a police check. We will ask you to complete a form which is sent off to the Disclosure and Baring Service (DBS).

When they have completed the police checks a certificate will be sent to your home address. We do not receive a copy of this certificate so you will need to provide us with a copy for our records. We are unable to accept DBS certificates from other organisations. 

Occupational health screening 

All volunteers will need to undergo occupational health screening.

Initially this is a form which you complete and send back to our occupational health team. Once this form is assessed, they will let you know if you are fit to volunteer, or arrange an appointment for you if you need further checks.

Yes, the sort of interview and who will be interviewing depends on the role you are considering.

We conduct group interviews for certain roles. Others will be just one person.

That depends on the role you want to do.

However, good communication skills, reliability and a positive attitude are a must.

All volunteers are required to attend a volunteer induction session. These are held at regular intervals throughout the year. 

Induction sessions run from 9.15am to 3.30pm on a weekday. You will be invited to attend an induction nearest to the date you are going to start volunteering or just after you have started. Failure to attend the induction will result in you being suspended from volunteering until you have attended. 

A local induction is also arranged with the department you will be volunteering for on your first day.

Some roles may require additional specialist training. You'll be told about this if required.

Once all your checks are through we will arrange a start date with you and the department you are volunteering for. 

On your first day a member of our voluntary services team will meet you. They will give you a ID badge and a volunteer jacket. They will go with you to the area you are volunteering to introduce you to the person who will be doing your local induction. 

You will be treated as an integral member of the department you are volunteering for but voluntary services will contact you regularly to see how the placement is going.

You can also contact us at any time if you have any questions or concerns.

We don’t take on volunteers for such a short time.

We ask for people who can volunteer for at least three to four hours, once a week for a minimum of six months. This is because recruiting volunteers takes time and has a financial impact.

We accept students over the age of 17.

Please think carefully if you would be able to fit in a continuous period of volunteering on a weekly basis with your studying as timetables for students can change.

You also need to consider when you will be available to volunteer as we only have limited opportunities available in the evenings and at weekends.

We are currently unable to take anyone under 17 as a volunteer. This is due to responsibility and legal issues.

Most of our volunteering roles require you to wear a sleeveless volunteer jacket that you wear over your own smart casual clothes. 

We provide you with this and it's your responsibility to look after it and keep it clean. 

You're asked to return the jacket when you leave your volunteer role. 

We can provide a reference for you when you have volunteered for six months.

If you require a reference before six months we will consider this on an individual basis.

Volunteering is not a work placement or work experience and you are not assessed; this is volunteering your time to benefit patients.

For work placements or work experience please email chinonso.nwannadi@gstt.nhs.uk, telephone 020 7188 8124 or visit our our work experience pages.

The Trust offers clinical insight experiences (clinical work experience) to students planning to pursue a career in healthcare. For further information, look at our work experience pages.