Volunteer Tea Trolley Assistant (The Lakes Care Centre, South Cerney, Cirencester)

Many of our homes have a kitchen or café where our residents can make their own drinks but everyone knows things always taste better if someone else makes it for you!

Our volunteer Tea Trolley Assistants visit people in their rooms and around the home to ensure they are never wanting of a drink or something to nibble. As we get older keeping hydrated becomes even more important. Our homes have fruit and treat bowls dotted around so people can help themselves to whatever they fancy but we also have treats on the trolley too.

Our Tea Trolley Assistants are so much more than ‘Trolley Dollies’. They play in crucial role in supporting our carers to keep our residents feeling well. As well as making a cracking cuppa, our Tea Trolley Assistants are a friendly ear too, taking the time to chat as they do their round.

Listening to our Care Team is a vital part of this supporting role. The Care Team guide our Tea Trolley Assistants, explaining who would benefit most from a bit of encouragement to eat and drink. Our Tea Trolley Assistants understand that some people, like everyone, enjoy their tea in a special way. If you’ve used a china cup and saucer all your life it just won’t taste the same from a mug! They listen to the Care Team and are very aware of people’s individual preferences and needs.

You’ll build up relationships with people so ideally, we’d like a regular, longer term commitment of a couple of hours a week. Days and times are flexible; talk to us and we’ll see what suits us both.

Role Boundaries The following boundaries apply to all volunteer roles at the Trust: The following boundaries apply to all volunteer roles at the Trust: • All volunteers over 16 years old will require DBS clearance (Criminal Records check) and the Trust will cover the cost. • Volunteers aged between 14 and 16 years old can’t go into residents’ rooms on their own. • There are certain things only carers can do. Volunteers can’t provide personal care for residents. This involves help with dressing, visiting the toilet or eating. • Volunteers can’t support residents in moving, rising or sitting or move residents in wheelchairs until they have completed mandatory moving and handling and wheelchair training. • Volunteers must not hoist a resident • Volunteers should not attempt to give first aid unless qualified to do so. • Volunteers can’t transport residents in their own car. • Volunteers should not give or accept gifts to or from residents, relatives or employees. All gifts offered should be declared to the Home Manager. • Our communications team are responsible for all our media postings. Volunteers should not contact or speak to the media unless asked to by their manager nor should they post anything on social networking sites. • Volunteers should ask their manager before making any decision outside the scope of their role that could affect OSJCT, residents, employees or other volunteers. • Volunteers are not expected to handle complaints or safeguarding issues. They should talk to their manager in the first instance. For this role specifically • Volunteers must follow all health and safety guidance relating to food hygiene.