Rachel House Housekeeping Volunteer

The aim of this role is to work within a team to keep the hospice clean, tidy and welcoming. The Hospice should be a home from home for children and families who come to the hospice for rest and relaxation.

What activities will I be involved in?

Supporting the Housekeeping Team with general housekeeping duties, particularly within our office spaces and meeting rooms. Tasks can include:

• Light housework
• Vacuuming
• Assisting in the cleaning of low level windows

At times there may also be the opportunity to support the team with specific tasks such as:

• General cleaning of bathrooms
• Laundry
• Cleaning of rooms
• Tidying the art room, computer rooms and play areas
• Toy cleaners work specifically within the Activities Team keeping toys clean and hygienic

What skills and abilities will I need to have?

• An enjoyment of housework
• A willingness and ability for a more energetic role
• An outgoing and friendly personality
• Patience, empathy, tact and understanding
• An ability to represent CHAS enthusiastically and appropriately
• An ability to relate to people of all ages
• Good communication skills
• Adhere to rules around GDPR and a strong understanding of confidentiality
• Shared values with the organisation

How much time should I offer?

Ideally we are looking for support in the afternoons at the weekend. However, if your availability is out with these times please get in touch and we can discuss with the Volunteer Manager.

Where is the opportunity based?

Rachel House Hospice in Kinross

What ongoing learning/support/guidance will I receive?

It’s important to us that you feel happy, safe and confident in your role. As a CHAS volunteer you will be invited to complete a short core learning package that is tailored to your role prior to your first day.

Additionally, once you have started volunteering, we will also let you know about upcoming training dates that will be relevant to your role. Further Child Protection training (either online or face to face, approximately 3 hours in length) is mandatory for this role, to be completed within the first year of volunteering with us. There will also be opportunities to attend additional training such as Fire Evacuation (if you are based within a hospice).

Your Volunteer Manager will provide ongoing support and guidance to you in your role. We have also partnered with the Skills Network to offer all our volunteers the chance to develop new skills and explore further learning opportunities.

What are the benefits to me?

• Learning new skills
• Using your existing skills
• Getting more involved and making a real difference to the families of children with a life-shortening condition
• Adding to your CV
• Meeting new people
• Having fun!

What are the benefits to the children and families supported by CHAS?

• Children and families will receive a homely welcome and a clean, tidy environment to help them feel relaxed in the hospice.
• Children we support are clinically vulnerable so having a clean, safe environment is crucial to their care

What else should I know?

This role is for those aged 16+ and requires membership of the PVG scheme (children only). There is a simple form to complete and we will assist you with this. You may already have a PVG form – if so you will only need to complete an update form. The process won’t cost you anything and having a criminal record will not automatically exclude you from volunteering. We will assess each applicant on an individual basis.

We will pay your out of pocket expenses in line with the CHAS volunteer expenses policy.

CHAS is committed to providing a quality volunteering experience to all volunteers free from discrimination and prejudice. Ensuring that CHAS is an equal, diverse, and inclusive organisation will improve the quality of care we provide, help us reach more families and children, and maximise a wide variety of knowledge, experience and expertise.

We welcome volunteer applications from those who are refugees, asylum seekers, benefit claimants and those with a disability. We can provide more information on if you are allowed to volunteer and what adjustments we can put in place to ensure your volunteering experience is a positive one.