This toolkit has built on the work by Cath Bateman, Dementia Delirium Clinical Nurse Consultant in Southern NSW Local Health District. This work involved the establishment, implementation and research evaluation of a dementia delirium hospital volunteer program implemented in Bega NSW in 2009.
Using the toolkit
These resources are copyrighted to the Agency for Clinical Innovation.
The word documents are designed to be adapted for individual service use.
Health services wishing to significantly change or alter the training resource are required to complete an ACI request for copyright form specifying proposed changes.
Acknowledgements
Cath Bateman was responsible for development of the original toolkit. The ACI Aged Health Network has overseen the resource development which included advice and input from the ACI consultative committee and Bega Valley Advisory Group.
We acknowledge these members of the committee and advisory group for their consultation and contribution to the development of the resources in the toolkit.
- Chris Cheung, Physiotherapist, Bega Valley Health service
- Beth Claydon, Hospital Volunteer
- Megan Collins, Occupational Therapist, Bega Valley health Service
- Cathy Ellis, Acting Associate Director, Priority Programs Unit, NSW Ministry of Health
- Salle-Ann Ehms, Aged Care Volunteer Coordinator, ReViVe Program, Prince of Wales Hospital, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District
- Jamie Gills, Dementia Delirium Clinical Nurse Consultant, NSW Central Coast Local Health District
- Helen Hallett, Hospital Volunteer
- Sharon Hoye, ACAT Clinician, Bega Valley Health Service
- Megan Kurtz, Allied Health Educator – Southern NSW Local Health District
- Pauline Mendes, Speech Pathologist, Bega Valley Health Service
- Anne Moehead, Nurse Practitioner, Psychogeriatrics, Northern NSW Local Health District
- Bridget Thompson, Dietitian, Bega Valley Health Service
- Barbra Williams, Regional Manager, Alzheimer’s Australia NSW
The training videos were produced by Gooseboy Productions.
Governance , safety and sustainability considerations
Use these considerations to successfully implement the program within a safety and quality framework and in line with the NSW Heath Policy Directive PD2011_033 Volunteers – Engaging, Supporting and Managing Volunteers.
Governance structure
A governance structure with designated volunteer coordination and project implementation resources is required for both successful implementation and sustainably of the volunteer program.
The level of project implementation resources required will depend on the size of the service, the scope of the implementation (i.e. number of wards the program will be implemented in) and the availability of an existing full time equivalent (FTE) volunteer manager or coordinator.
Short term project resources of six months are required to lead the implementation. If your service does not have an existing volunteer manager or coordinator, consider extending the project position for up to 12 months (with reduced FTE) to ensure the program is sustainable.
Activities
The key activities to successfully implement and sustain the program are:
- Establish the project implementation committee and reporting structures
- Identify the evaluation measures
- Review and refine the program referral process and procedures
- Determine the purchase processes for additional resources (see additional resources)
- Plan and conduct staff information and education sessions
- Promote the program
- Screen, recruit and vaccinate volunteers
- Coordinate and conduct volunteer training
- Oversee the initial volunteer rostering and start
- Establish volunteer networking and feedback processes
- Give volunteers ongoing mentoring, support, feedback and recognition
- Determine ongoing rostering and recruitment responsibilities
- Monitor the implementation and evaluation.
An ongoing volunteer manager or coordinator is required for volunteer recruitment, screening and vaccination, coordination of training, support and management.
Additional resources
Physical resources will also be required for a successful program.
- Purchase and supply of the volunteer uniform
- Volunteer filing cabinet, desk and chair space on the ward
- Patient activity resources to support therapeutic activities with volunteers as well as distraction resources for agitated patients.
- Secure storage for patient activity resources.
Partnering with other health service fund raising groups, such as the hospital auxiliary may help with funding for the patients activity resources. A list of suggested activity resources is included in the implementation guide.