Veteran Volunteer

Role Overview

The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise by the Nation that those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces and their families will not be disadvantaged by their Service and that they will be treated fairly. It is a pledge that together, we acknowledge and understand that those who serve or who have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, should be treated with fairness and respect in the communities, economy and society.

Originally signing the Covenant in 2017, the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital (RJAH) won an Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award in 2018. The Covenant was renewed in 2024 which includes a commitment to be an exemplar of the best care for veterans and their families. As part of this commitment, the Veterans Orthopaedic Centre (VOS) has a number of VOS volunteers in support.

Main Tasks

PRIMARY PURPOSE

The primary purpose of the VOS Volunteer is to:

• Support Service Personnel, Veterans and their families during their time at the RJAH hospital and Veterans Hub.

SECONDARY PURPOSE

The secondary purposes of the VOS Volunteer are to:

• Support non-military, non-veterans and their families during their visit to the RJAH and Veterans Hub where appropriate and capacity allows.

• Support RJAH staff, particularly with respect to directing patients within the hospital and passing on appointment paperwork to Health Care personnel.

OBJECTIVES

The following objectives will be undertaken by VOS Volunteers:

• Interacting with any service personnel, veterans and their families offering information, advice and guidance using the military welfare information and resources available to them. This may include signposting personnel to various Service-related charities, and/or other community organisations offering support to the Armed Forces community.

• Those volunteers who are comfortable/happy to visit inpatients should maintain a sensitive, respectful and diplomatic approach to both patients and staff when in clinical areas of the hospital.

• Work within the RJAH Hospital values when liaising with veterans, colleagues and others within the Trust.

GUIDANCE

The following guidance is offered to VOS Volunteers in support of their roles:

• Seek advice from the Armed Forces Outreach Support (AFOS) Coordinator, or other agencies if unsure of the support required.

• Whilst remaining empathetic and supportive of an individual’s needs, do not make promises to individuals in terms of assistance.

• Do not take anyone’s personal information. Provide them with the contact information required and offer the use of the phone to make that contact whilst in the Hub. Do not write their details down. Ask them to email the AFOS Coordinator if necessary.

• If an individual appears distressed/angry/anxious, offer them use of the confidential rooms to allow them the space and privacy they may require. Volunteers should, where possible, work in pairs for their own safety and to reduce any potential for misunderstandings.

• Gathering of data from the weekly record sheets is vital for the Hub to grow and identify trends, and also key to feed into the service charities and the Office for Veterans Affairs (OVA) regarding the wider armed forces community across Shropshire and the UK. It offers a greater understanding.

• Raise any safeguarding concerns with the Veterans Volunteer Manager, LoF.

• Raise patient welfare concerns with the AFOS Coordinator and the Veterans Volunteer Manager, LoF as appropriate.

ACCOUNTABILITY

VOS Volunteers are accountable to the Veterans Volunteer Manager, LoF and should adhere to the LoF Volunteer Charter.