Volunteer Support Worker Review

My role involved shadowing support workers on shift. This included observing how food was prepared/made, how support workers offered support to patients during mealtimes/encouraged them to get to meals, and taking part in/observing therapeutic and occupational groups. This also included talking to the patients and beginning to build a rapport with them, providing forms of support to patients such as playing games throughout the day and accompanying staff/patients on walks/therapeutic outings.

I have developed many new skills in communicating with patients and building a rapport, building confidence in implementing boundaries with patients, time management skills and offering appropriate support to patients at various times throughout the day. I have also developed skills in record keeping/note writing and conducting therapeutic observations.

Yes- appropriate amounts of responsibility were given at points which aligned with our development/confidence in skills. Responsibilities included partly facilitating groups, taking patients out for walks/offering support, preparing certain meals and conducting audits.

Plenty of support and guidance was offered - this included weekly supervision with the placement lead, supervision with the support worker lead, check-ins with the manager as to the progress of our objectives and advice/guidance which could be sought out at anytime from other support workers.

Supportive, cooperative and a positive working environment.

I thoroughly enjoyed my placement and all the opportunities it offered me.

Yes

Learning and development takes time in this field and it’s ok to make mistakes.