Volunteer with Us
To effectively run a non-profit community based program like Durham Hospice takes an enormous amount of volunteer commitment. Durham Hospice is primarily made up of people who do not receive any payment for their work and who have offered to donate time and expertise to the development and maintenance of the program.
What is the role of the Volunteer?
Volunteering provides the community with valuable resources not readily available and can be a rich, rewarding experience. There are various roles that meet individual interests such as:
- Client care
- Bereavement Volunteer (additional training required)
- Administration
- Fund-raising
- Community awareness
Client Care Volunteers
Client care volunteers are people who work directly with Hospice clients and their families. These people come to us from all walks of life and with a variety of skills and knowledge to offer. All client care volunteers must attend our volunteer training course which introduces them to the concepts of palliative care and helps to prepare them for their work with hospice clients. The volunteer role depends on the wishes of the client and family in keeping with Hospice’s philosophy of being "client centered". Examples of volunteer roles with clients are doing errands, caregiver relief, providing companionship, going out for a walk, for a coffee or to the mall, providing emotional support to clients and/or their families and many other practical tasks.
Bereavement support
Durham Hospice offers bereavement support to the community through grief support groups and one on one support from volunteers.
Office Administration Volunteers*
Office volunteers play a valuable role in the Hospice office. The functions of the volunteer might include:
· Filing
· Computer work
· Photocopying
· Mailings
· Office reception
· Library organization, etc.
Fundraising Volunteer*
Fundraising volunteers work with a Board Committee on any projects or events designed to raise funds to support the work of the agency.
Community Awareness Volunteer
A community awareness volunteer will promote the hospice philosophy and Durham Hospice’s programs throughout the community. This can be achieved through distribution of Durham Hospice brochures, becoming part of the Speakers’ Bureau, and man agency display board at special events.
Board Volunteers*
Durham Hospice's twelve-member board of directors comprises a cross section of the community, individuals who have special skills in areas such as health care, social services, religion, and business. The board members, who act in a volunteer capacity, are responsible to the president of the board and attend monthly meetings. Most board members also sit on a committee and may assume other volunteer positions.
*These volunteers are not required to take Durham Hospice volunteer training course “Fundamentals of Hospice Palliative Care” but will be interviewed and required to provide a police check and references.
How do I get started?
The following are required in becoming a Durham Hospice Volunteer:
- Successful completion of the “Fundamentals of Hospice Palliative Care” course* (see Equivalency Guidelines if you have previous Hospice volunteering experience).
- Completion of the Durham Hospice orientation
- A personal interview
- References and a police security check
- Ability to maintain a regular visitation schedule with client(s)
- Compassionate, caring and empathetic attitudes toward quality of life and the dying process.
Equivalency Guidelines:
- Confirm completed hospice palliative care training within past 5 year – re-training may be required.
- Confirm content of training program taken.
- Must have been active from date of training
- Reference from previous Hospice placement
- Interview required, followed by orientation
- Volunteer handbook received and signed
- Coordinators have option to decline volunteer
Durham Hospice Volunteer Training
Fundamentals of Hospice Palliative Care
Topics
1. Introduction to Hospice Palliative Care
2. Dying-Death and Hospice Palliative Care
3. Disease Management
4. Physical Issues
5. Psychological/Spiritual Issues
6. Social/Practical Issues
7. End-of-Life Care and Death Management
8. Grief, Loss and Managing Occupational Stress
This is the outline of our training program. It is offered many times throughout the year, evenings or afternoons, in a variety of locations throughout Durham Region. Everyone who is interested in working with our clients starts by taking this course. After the last session we encourage people to apply to volunteer.
The next training course “Fundamentals of Hospice Palliative Care” is scheduled for July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 and August 13, 20 and 27 from 6:00 – 9:00 pm at the Durham Hospice office in Whitby.
Advanced registration is required.
for a copy of the Brochure click here
If you are interested in taking our training or have questions, please call Alyson at (905)430-4522 ext. 17.
