Volunteering FAQs

• Complete the expression of interest form.
• Visit the volunteer service for a chat: Volunteer Service – block 6 Fieldhead Hospital
  Ouchthorpe Lane
  Wakefield WF1 3SP
• Call us on: 01924 316426

Once submitted, a member of the volunteering team will contact you with the next steps.

All potential volunteers are subject to a recruitment process based on guidance from NHS Employers, National Council for Volunteer Organisations (NCVO), and the National Association of Volunteer Service Managers (NAVSM).

If the applicant is suitable, they will be sent an application pack, which contains:

1.       Conditional offer letter 2.       Outline of the volunteer recruitment process 3.       Application form that requires: ·       Yours (including 9 protected characteristics) and your emergency contact details ·       Details of 2 referees, including their email addresses ·       Any criminal record details

4.       Occupational health assessment form 5.       DBS form 6.       DBS update service consent form 7.       Outline of the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) process 8.       Membership leaflet and form

The recruitment process typically takes 5–6 weeks, depending on the time needed to get references, occupational health clearance and to complete DBS checks. We will keep you informed of your progress throughout the process. Once all checks have been successfully completed, you will be required to complete any mandatory training before beginning your volunteer role.

Please provide the contact details of two people who can act as referees for you. We will contact them by email or letter and ask them to tell us a little about you and why they believe you would make a good volunteer.

Suitable referees may include a teacher, tutor, community leader, youth worker, support worker, or another professional who knows you well. Unfortunately, family members and friends cannot be accepted as referees.

If you are currently employed, or have been employed within the last three years, one of your referees must be your current or most recent employer. This reference should come from your line manager or the person you report to directly. We can only accept an employer’s official work email address; personal or generic email accounts (such as Gmail, Yahoo, or Outlook) will not be accepted. References from work colleagues cannot be accepted.

Before providing their details, please ensure that both referees are happy to provide a reference on your behalf.

Please contact the volunteering team to discuss alternative options.

Please contact the volunteering team who will explore alternative ID routes or advise on acceptable forms of documentation.

You’ll receive a green lanyard and your ID badge, which includes your details and the service you volunteer with. While carrying out your volunteer duties, you should wear your green volunteer lanyard so that staff, service users, and visitors recognise you as part of our volunteer team.

Yes. Once you are fully recruited and settled into your primary role, you can speak with the volunteering team about any additional opportunities.

Yes. If you’d like to explore a different role, please speak to the volunteer team.

Yes. If you have an idea for an activity, please speak to the volunteer team.

Volunteers can use the volunteer lounge at any time while on site. You can hold a meeting, connect with other volunteers, or chat with the volunteer team. There is a wide range of information available in the lounge, along with free books.

Volunteers can claim reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, such as travel or meals, in accordance with the Trust’s volunteer policy. All claims must be supported by valid receipts or bus/train tickets. Expense claim forms are available from the volunteer service or your manager.

You can share feedback with your supervisor, manager, or volunteer service. We also offer regular surveys, volunteer forums, and networks. If you decide to move on, the Trust asks volunteers to complete an exit form to help us improve the volunteer journey.

Training records are available through the Trust’s learning system, ESR. If you need help logging in, navigating the system, or finding your records, speak to the volunteer team, or your volunteer supervisor or manager.

Volunteer services have a laptop that you can use for free during office hours to complete or renew your ESR training. You can also speak to your supervisor. We also offer drop-in sessions at Fieldhead Hospital, where you can receive support with completing your training.

Yes. We take part in national Volunteers’ Week and hold an annual staff and volunteer awards event. We also share volunteer stories. Our aim is to ensure every volunteer feels valued, appreciated, and connected.

Volunteers are encouraged to take part in Trust events, forums, and engagement activities. You may also be invited to share feedback, contribute to improvement and research projects, or join volunteer networks and recognition events.

Yes. Our volunteers are welcome to join most of the Trust’s recognised staff networks, which offer connection and peer support. Please speak to the volunteer team for more information.