Volunteers are being sought to help with the COVID vaccination programme in Plymouth.
With the rollout of a vaccination programme under way in the city, Our Plymouth CIC are working with the Plymouth Good Neighbours Scheme and University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, to recruit volunteers to help in a variety of roles.
Some of the roles will require specific skills and knowledge, but there are many others – such as car park marshals – which mainly involve committing time to help out.
One of the main volunteer requirements is for stewards to direct patients to and from vaccination centres, ensuring people respect social distancing guidelines and that they have all the documentation and paperwork prepared for checking.
Another role requirement is vaccination care volunteer which will involve meeting and greeting patients, helping them navigate the vaccination centre and signposting them to relevant external resources as needed.
These volunteers will work with small teams of doctors, nurses and other trained staff and assist in completing the documentation associated with the administration of the vaccine, ensuring compliance with regulated requirements.
Patients advocates are also needed to provide support to patients, presenting them with relevant details about the vaccination and possible adverse reactions.
Our Plymouth operations manager Martin Mills said that they had received more than 150 volunteer applications since their appeal was launched just before Christmas. But more volunteers are needed.
Martin said:
“I’ve always loved the community spirit Plymouth exudes but I’m still surprised at the response, to have so many people stepping up is awesome. We still have more places to fill though, so the work isn’t done yet.”
Once the induction sessions and paperwork are all completed the task of scheduling the days and times for each volunteer to start will be undertaken.
The Plymouth vaccination centre will be running three shifts a day and a full induction session is being prepared for volunteers ahead of it’s opening.
Neil Minion from the Plymouth Good Neighbours Scheme is well known by volunteers in the city as the head of the volunteer programme for Mayflower 400 and he’s passionate about the training and induction for volunteering.
Neil said:
“As a city we have to make sure that volunteers are treated properly and it’s a real meaningful experience for them. I’m humbled at the number of people coming forward to give up their time to help others, it’s a real demonstration of the great community spirit in the city,”
For more information go to www.ourplymouth.co.uk
