Companion, Healthcare, Healthcare Nursing

Overview

Being a Companion at Weston Hospice care is a fulfilling and rewarding role grounded in human connection and empathy. Companions are “friends” or “neighbours” from the Hospice who accompany our families, carers and patients throughout their time under our care. Companions are not carers, nor are they clinically trained, but they are there as a listening ear, a comfort, and a trusted person.

The time spent with people can be as simple as sitting and talking or having a warm drink together. Sometimes Companions can take people out and go on trips, to see local locations, visit a local café, or just a simple walk. All of this is beneficial and makes a difference to families, carers and people with life-limiting conditions.

The role builds an incredibly trusting relationship that is grounded in reliability and familiarity. This relationship allows our families, carers and patients to talk candidly about how they are feeling, and to discuss their emotional and physical struggles with someone who is impartial, non-judgemental, and a friendly face.

A Companion can provide much-needed breaks to carers. While not taking on any caring responsibilities themselves, this can allow a carer the freedom to have a much-needed break, in the knowledge that their loved one has someone with them for a short while.

This role takes place across a variety of locations over our area, mainly in people’s homes. As such, travel for this role is necessary, but the distance of travel can be as little or as far as what works for you.

Full training is required for this role, taking place over the course of 1 full day. Training is offered after a suitability meet & greet and completion of pre-training paperwork. The training provides the skills necessary for the role, as well as the practicalities and processes we use to be there for our patients and families.

We look forward to working alongside you!

• To support families, carers, and/or patients, by offering companionship and support which enhances their quality of life and wellbeing.
• Calling people referred to the Companion service to offer your support when accepting a referral.
• Being a listening ear to those people under the service, or anyone else who needs it.
• Talking with those people about everyday topics and their interests and hobbies.
• Offering practical support to family members and patients, to re-engage with their hobbies and interests when possible.
• Sitting with patients to enable carers to have time to relax or to go out of the house for respite.
• Ensuring confidentiality is maintained at all times for all details pertaining to patients, their relatives and staff.
• Utilising supervision sessions as a chance to update skills and network with fellow Companions.
• Reporting back all contacts in relation to the referral to the Clinical Services at Weston Hospice care.

• Comfortable relying on own initiative and common sense but also able to recognise own needs and knowing when to seek support.
• A warm, friendly, adaptable, caring approach.
• Empathy.
• Able to actively listen without feeling the need to ‘fix it’.
• Non-judgemental.
• Flexible & Reliable.
• A good sense of humour.
• Self-awareness.
• Open-minded and tolerant of different lifestyles and values.
• Able to stay within the boundaries of the role, recognising when to refer to colleagues.

• Personal satisfaction knowing that you have made a difference in someone’s life.
• Getting involved in your local community.
• Putting existing skills to good use.
• Gain confidence and friendship.
• Developing new skills.

This role will require an enhanced DBS check. You will need access to your own transport. Companions must not provide nursing or medical care (such as administering drugs or changing dressings) or provide personal care, counselling or medical advice.

Jackson Barstow House, 28 Thornbury Road, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, BS23 4YQ
, United Kingdom