There is great variety of volunteer roles in St Francis Hospice Dublin. In our Raheny and Blanchardstown Hospices and in the greater Dublin City North and County Community. Every volunteer role enhances the quality of care we offer to patients and their families. Many roles have patient contact, but some are based in the Hospice with limited patient contact. For some specailised roles you will require specific skills or qualifications. See brief descriptions of all our volunteer roles:
Administration
Administration volunteers support many departments in admin tasks. e.g: building charts, clerical support, light administration tasks.
The administration volunteers are fully supported by the clerical team.
Volunteer Artists
Our Artist volunteers assist patients in oil painting. They help patients discover creative talents they did not even know they had.
- Raheny Artist role is 10:30 - 12:30 (Tuesday)
- Blanchardstown Artist role is 2.00 - 3.00pm (Thursday)
Volunteer Bereavement Support Service (VBSS)
A team of volunteers provide a bereavement support service. This is a listening service, it is not counselling.
- Volunteers see clients each Tuesday evening in Raheny and Blanchardstown.
- Volunteers need to be available for monthly supervision and a team meeting on a Wednesday evening each month.
- There is a 60 hour training programme prior to commencing in this role.
Other volunteers assist at bereavement services and information evenings held on Wednesday evenings on a monthly basis.
Cash Office
Volunteers work one day each week. Under the supervision of the Finance Department, these volunteers are required to perform assigned tasks to a high standard so the role would suit a systematic person with previous cash handling experience.
- Volunteers count sundry cash, mainly coin, donations received into the hospice.
- Volunteers are required to record accurately every donation and to reconcile daily total cash received with total receipts issued.
- This role is Monday to Thursday in Raheny, and Thursdays only in Blanchardstown Hospice.
Chaplaincy
Volunteer musicians, singers and chapel cleaners play an important role in the daily service.
Coffee Shop
Volunteers provide a much appreciated refreshment service for relatives and friends visiting patients in the In-Patient Unit.
- This role is in Raheny only from 19:00 – 20.30 every evening, including weekends.
Community Palliative Care - Home Visit Role.
Home Visit volunteers provide a visiting service to patients in the community. This service gives support to patients and families in the environment of their own home. Home Visit volunteers also bring patients on outings and assist practically, for example helping a patient go supermarket shopping. The time commitment is flexible, normally once visit a week at a time to suit both the patient and volunteer. All visits take place during the day Monday - Friday .
Complementary Therapies
Complementary Therapies in use at St Francis Hospice include massage, aromatherapy and reflexology.
- Volunteers must have qualifications in massage and at least one of the other therapies.
- It is a requirement that Complementary Therapies volunteers have at least 2 years previous experience since qualifying before becoming a volunteer at St Francis Hospice.
We also have qualified volunteers that offer relaxation, hand care and beauty care.
- These volunteers must have their own valid insurance and hold relevant qualifications from recognized accrediting bodies.
- Complementary Therapy volunteers give their services, mornings only, in both Raheny and Blanchardstown Hospices.
Dog Visits
Dogs and their owners, visit both Hospice Daycare and the In Patient Unit for a few hours once each week.
- The visiting dog should be PEATA assessed in order to volunteer. Even though already PEATA assessed, Dog Visit volunteers are required to complete the SFH volunteer recruitment process also.
- Dogs need to be assessed and approved for suitability to carry out visits constructively and in a non-disruptive manner.
- Dogs must be regularly vaccinated and preventively treated for parasites.
Drivers and Bus Escorts
Volunteers give one day each week to pick up patients from their home and bring them into our Specialist Out Patients and Day Service
Out-Patient Driver and Bus Escort Volunteers give one day each week to pick up patients from their home and bring them to the Out-Patient Clinic for their appointment.
- While that patient is at their appointment, the next patient is collected and brought to the Hospice. Each patient is brought home after their appointment.
- These volunteers need to be available from 09:00 – 16:30 on the day of their duty and would make between three and five round trips in the day.
- The Out-Patient Clinic operates from Monday to Friday inclusive in Raheny and only on Thursday and Friday in Blanchardstown.
Florist & Garden Volunteers
- Garden Volunteers have a particular area of the garden that they look after. They maintain flower beds and containers outside the hospice. These volunteers come to the hospice on Tuesday mornings. This is a role in Raheny only.
- Florist Volunteers arrange patient’s flowers and look after the plants inside the Hospice. Ideally these volunteers should have experience in flower arranging. This role is from 10:30 – 12:30 on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings in Raheny and on Monday and Friday mornings only in Blanchardstown.
Fundraising
Volunteers work both internally and external to the Hospice assisting with various fundraising activities such as the Hospice Monthly Draw, fundraising administration and mite box collecting.
Fundraising Administration volunteers assists the Fundraising team. Office and computer skills needed. This role is in Raheny only, mornings on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Hairdressing
Services are offered in:
- Raheny - Monday to Thursday (mornings) in Hospice Daycare and on Friday afternoons in the In-Patient Unit.
- Blanchardstown - Thursday and Friday (mornings) in Hospice Daycare and on Tuesday and Friday mornings in the In-Patient Unit.
- Hairdresser volunteers must be qualified and need good previous experience in both cutting and styling.
Hospitality
Volunteers offer companionship for patients and these volunteers are a practical help to staff too. Meal times are particularly busy.
This is a volunteer role in Hospice Day Care and the In-Patient Unit for both Raheny & Blanchardstown. This is also a volunteer role in the Out-Patient Clinic in Raheny only. The days of the week and hours required depend on which location the volunteer is assigned to.
Library
Volunteers work in the library and assist in general administration in the centre for continuing studies. Computer skills are necessary. This role is in Raheny, mornings only Monday to Friday inclusive.
Musicians and singers
Volunteers play a large role in the entertainment of patients each afternoon. Roles are in Raheny - Monday to Thursday inclusive (in Hospice Daycare) and Blanchardstown - Thursday or Friday (also in Hospice Daycare).
- Ideally, volunteers have some singing ability and can play piano or another musical instrument.
- Musicians are also part of the team at our monthly Services of Remembrance.
Reception desk volunteers
Volunteers assist visitors who have come to visit patients, family members, members of the Community Palliative Care, Hospice Daycare, Social Work or Chaplaincy teams. They also accept and process donations received from the public. Previous reception desk experience, telephone and office skills are an advantage.
In Raheny:
- Volunteers assist at the main reception desk from 13:30 - 17:00.
- A volunteer covers the In-Patient Unit reception desk from 13:00 - 17:00.
- Both these roles are from Monday to Friday inclusive.
In Blanchardstown:
- Volunteers assist at both the main reception desk and the In-Patient Unit reception desk from 13:30 – 17:00 Monday to Friday inclusive.
