All applicants in the winter volunteer recruitment session are required to attend a general orientation session. Orientation sessions will be held on January 13, 2010 and February 18, 2010 from 5 pm to 8 pm. If you are unable to attend either of these sessions, we ask that you submit your application in the spring.

Shifts: Monday to Friday, 9 am - 12 pm, 12 pm - 3 pm, 4 pm - 6 pm

Volunteers work directly with patients on various units. They are responsible for the following duties:

• Friendly visiting - conversation, reading, card games, music therapy, etc.
• Meal time assistance - helping to set up meal tray, showing patient what is available to eat, encouraging meal consumption, etc.
• Water delivery - providing water to patients if needed

Specific skills and/or attributes needed:

• High level of comfort working with patients in a hospital environment
• Friendly, approachable and outgoing personality
• Able to take initiative and work with minimal supervision

Shifts: Monday to Friday, 8 am – 10 am, 11 am to 1 pm and 4 pm – 6 pm

Volunteers work directly with patients on the Cardiology and Orthopaedics Units helping with feeding during breakfast, lunch and dinner. Detailed training is provided to all volunteers to ensure the experience is beneficial for volunteer and patients.

Specific skills and/or attributes needed:

• High level of comfort working with patients in a hospital environment
• High level of maturity and patience
• Ability to use good judgment and communicate with unit staff effectively

All Silver Spoon volunteer applicants are required to attend a training session.  This is in addition to the general orientation. The Silver Spoon training sessions are scheduled for January 19, 2010 and February 16, 2010 from 4 pm to 6 pm.

Emergency Centre and Urgent Care Centre

Shifts: Monday to Friday, 9 am – 12:30 pm, 12:30 – 4 pm, 4 pm – 7 pm, and

7 pm –10 pm

 

Volunteers work with staff to support patients who are being treated in the Emergency Centre at Mississauga and the Urgent Care Centre at West Toronto. The role includes the following responsibilities:

• Communicate general information between nursing staff, patients and family members (what room the patient is in, can they have visitors, etc)
• Escort family members to patient rooms
• Provide meals and/or water to patients on the approval of nursing staff
• Provide mobile telephone for calls, magazines, etc.
• Assist nursing staff with other related tasks

 

Specific skills and/or attributes:

• High level of comfort working with patients in a hospital environment
• Able to work with people who are under a high degree of stress
• Comfortable being on feet for long periods of time
• Take initiative and work well with minimal supervision

Shifts: Monday to Friday, 9 am - 12:30 pm and 12:30 pm – 4 pm

 

Volunteers provide needed support in transporting patients within the hospital and directing visitors. These two services operate independently of each other but will overlap on occasion to ensure the highest level of services.

 

Volunteer responsibilities include:

• Directing visitors and patients within the hospital
• Transporting patients within hospital unit by wheelchair and to discharge doors
• Returning wheelchairs to rally points (main doors, patient transport area, etc)
• Acting as floaters for both areas when necessary

 

Specific skills and/or attributes:

• Comfortable being on feet for long periods of time
• Strong customer service skills
• Ability to be flexible and adapt to changing needs
• Be able to work as part of a team  

Shifts: Monday to Friday, 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and 12:30 pm – 4 pm

 

Volunteers work with various units to provide additional administrative task support.

 

Volunteer responsibilities include:

• Filing
• Data entry
• Reminder phone calls to patients regarding appointments
• Faxing
• Other related tasks

 

Specific skills and/or attributes:

• Excellent customer service skills
• Able to work on repetitive tasks
• Organized and efficient
• Reliable and punctual