The STRiVE team (now Volunteer Centre East Lothian) worked in partnership with health and social care teams through agreed referral and information pathways, principally with the Short Term Assessment & Rehabilitation Team (START) on early supported discharge.
Everyone receiving the Supported Home Assessment and Rehabilitation Service was offered volunteer and community services support as an integral element of assessment.
This support contributes to the National Health and Wellbeing Outcomes by ensuring that people:
- were actively encouraged and supported to participate in their communities and participate in activities that could improve their own health and wellbeing
- were supported and encouraged to look at what they could do rather than what they couldn’t do, promoting their independence
- people felt listened to, treated with dignity, supported responsively and reliably
- people were given more information about what was available in their communities, services and advice
“It’s grand this aftercare, you don’t feel like you’ve just been left.”
The initial target was five, but a total of fifteen volunteers were recruited during the project. Their induction and training covered: boundaries, confidentiality, data protection, support for volunteers and ongoing contact, expenses, endings, protection of vulnerable adults, equality and diversity, health and safety, and protection of vulnerable groups.
The Project Worker (or Volunteer Co-ordinator) meets with the person in the hospital / home to discuss:
- how the service works
- how the service can assist them
- what they would like to achieve (in terms of short and long term goals)
Having a ‘good’ person-centred conversation and clear communication with patients, to help them engage in activities they considered important, and to assist them in regaining control and offering informed choices was crucial.
In addition to daily telephone contact, support from volunteers can be:
- practical assistance for tasks such as shopping, cooking, or gentle exercise
- one-off to attend appointments
- assistance to fill in forms or help navigate their way around services
- signposting to local support groups or agencies who can best meet their needs
- assistance to connect with groups / neighbours in local community
STRiVE as the operational lead, ensured that:
- Clear guidelines and boundaries were identified and agreed for the volunteers and the patients receiving support. The recruitment and selection of volunteers progressed and was in line with recognised safer recruitment guidelines. Provided regular supervision, support and training events for volunteers.
- Worked in partnership to identify, register and support eligible patients to achieve their goals. Assessed and promoted self-management to patients. Provided support, and links to the project and the opportunities within people’s communities. Regular reviews of discharged patients
- Identified and matched suitable volunteers to identified patients