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Job overview

Do you have a pet registered with Pets as Therapy?

Would you like to brighten our patient’s day and visit them with your pet?

We are looking for a friendly, and enthusiastic people and their pet to visit our patients on our mental health wards.

If you want to gain experience, improve your job prospects, or just want to give some of your time to help others, this volunteering role could be for you!

Main duties of the job

The role is intended to enhance the experience of those people using our inpatient services by them having a visit from/spending a little time with a pet.

 What the role involves:

• Give patients time with a pet
• Visit at a mutually agreed time
• Follow the set protocol attached
• Inform staff of any issues that arise during their visit.
• Discuss with staff on arrival if anyone is present that may have issues with pets visiting the ward/unit.

DBS Level for this role is:  Enhanced with adult barred list

The knowledge, skills and attributes required for the role:

• Good communication skills.
• Pet registered with Pets as Therapy
• Punctuality and reliability.
• Ability to effectively engage with service users, carers and staff

What we hope you gain from the role

• Our thanks and appreciation
• New skills and knowledge
• Satisfaction from helping others

Please note: To meet our Trust’s safeguarding obligations applicants for this volunteer role must be aged 18 or over.  

We offer opportunities in other services for people aged 16 and 17, please contact the volunteer service to discuss these roles.

Working for our organisation

Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust

We are proud to provide high quality mental health and learning disability services, both inpatient and in the community across five boroughs of Greater Manchester - Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport and Tameside and Glossop.

Our vision is for a happier and more hopeful life for everyone in our communities and our staff work hard to deliver the very best care for the people who use our services. We're really proud of our #PennineCarePeople and do everything we can to make sure we are a great place to work.

We want our volunteers to reflect the diversity of the people we support, and we encourage and welcome applications from people across all our communities.

Volunteer Recruitment

Applying to become a volunteer may seem a little daunting for some people however, the volunteer service is here to guide and support you through the process. Please contact us on 0161 716 3365 or email [email protected] if you would like support to complete the online application form

Please be aware that due to the robust process, recruitment can sometimes take a few weeks.

Throughout the process you will have informal meetings with us and the service where you will be volunteering. In addition to this we will require you to:

• Complete an identity (ID) check
• Complete a Disclosure and Barring Service* (DBS) check,
• Complete an Occupational health assessment
• Give details for two references
• Complete relevant training.

*Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

DBS checks for volunteers are free and the level of check is dependent on the role you are undertaking.

We encourage applicants to join the DBS Update Service which is also free for volunteers. You can find information on the DBS Update Service here: www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

We look forward to you joining us and making a difference.