Volunteer roles

The benefits of volunteering with us

• Help people have their say - Our volunteers are actively spending time in the community finding out what people’s views are about their local health and social care services. This involves speaking to local people about their experiences, encouraging them to share their views about what is good and what requires improvements.
• Visiting local health and care services - Through appropriate training, some volunteers are trained to visit health and social care services and this involves observing, gathering views of patients, residents and staff.
• Raising awareness of Healthwatch - As a volunteer, it is important to raise awareness of Healthwatch and explain to people what we do. It is essential that local people are aware of what we do so we can help them voice their opinions and concerns.
• Developing person & professional skills - Volunteering can help you expand and/or create skills for life; it is a great way of developing knowledge about health and social care services. For example, engaging with people and attending activities/events will result in better communication and social skills. Also, conducting research and assisting with design aspects will improve computer skills.

Current volunteering opportunities

Take a look at our current volunteering opportunities:

• Young Healthwatch Volunteer - Ensure that young peoples' voices are heard and help to influence change to make health and social care services better for children and young people. No DBS required.
• Publication and Document Editor - Support by looking over materials and reports to ensure they are accessible to the public and its intended audience. No DBS required. 
• Digital Communications and Social Media Volunteer - Support our communications team in managing our online platforms, by reviewing and creating content. DBS is required.
• Enter & View Authorised Representative - Listen, observe, and collect people's experiences of health and social care services, including people living in residential homes to understand and inform the service of what is working well and what can be improved. DBS and references are required.
• Community and Engagement Volunteer -  Collect feedback about people's experiences of health and social care services by engaging with people at various locations including hospitals, libraries, and community events. DBS is required. 
• Information and Signposting Volunteer - Support local people to get the information they need about local health and social care services and how to access community support. No DBS required.
• Healthwatch Independent Strategic Advisory Board (ISAB) Member - Support the Healthwatch work programme including Enter and View visits, supporting the team by attending and representing Healthwatch at strategic meetings, and building relationships with key health and social care, voluntary and community sector stakeholders. DBS and references are required. 
• Online Feedback Collector - Contribute to the intelligence and information Healthwatch use to inform improving change by collecting feedback about people's experiences of local health and social care services that have been posted online. No DBS required.
• Administration Volunteer - Support the back-office functions of Healthwatch with data entry, event planning, and answering telephone calls. No DBS required.
• Virtual Visit Volunteer - Help to build a picture of local health and social care services by interviewing residents, patients, family members, carers and staff online or over the phone. Please note this is not the same as the Enter & View Authorised Representative role. No DBS required.
• Healthwatch Champion and Ambassador - Be the eyes and ears of what's happening in the community. Ensure that people are engaged, listened to, and provided with an avenue to inform Healthwatch of their views and experiences of health and social care services. DBS is required.

Not sure which role would suit you? We're always keen to hear from people who have new skills to offer us. If that's you, get in touch!