There are lots of ways you can get involved at Combined Healthcare, and the level of commitment can vary to suit your needs.
All of our involvement roles play a part in our aspiration to be outstanding in all we do and how we do it.
Your involvement and co-production with us can influence the development and delivery of our services, and it contributes to improving the care we give.
Volunteering
Volunteers play a very important part in the NHS. They bring valuable skills and enthusiasm to our patients, clients, visitors and staff. And they are not the only ones to benefit – volunteering is a very positive and satisfying thing to do. It provides you with an opportunity to learn new skills and meet new people.
We ask for a commitment of six months from our volunteers, so please bear this in mind when deciding whether you want to volunteer.
Anyone who is 18 and over can volunteer. This can include students, people in work, unemployed people or retired people.
Whether you are looking to gain experience in a healthcare environment or simply give a little back to your community, we will work to find a volunteer role that suits your skills and experiences, and what you’d like to get out of it.
In the video below, Charlotte talks about her experience volunteering on Wards 3 and 6 at our Harplands Hospital, before working with Changes, and the types of activities she took part in.
Volunteer peer mentor
A volunteer peer mentor is someone who has lived experience; either personally or as a carer. They share their personal experiences to help and support others on their recovery journey.
Volunteer peer mentors role model that recovery is possible. This is central to sustaining and nurturing hope which is a key ingredient of recovery. Volunteer peer mentors are able to share coping strategies and ideas about how to improve and maintain wellbeing, supporting service users and carers to develop greater ownership and empowerment on their recovery journey.
Service User and Carer Council
The trust has a service user and carer council (SUCC) in place to ensure that people who access our services, and people who care for them, are provided with a regular opportunity to be involved in the development of our services. The council meets to discuss the trusts’ care provisions and future service developments, alongside many professionals who join to listen and talk to the group about updates.
Organisations that have representation on SUCC and represent service users and carers are: PEGiS (Parent Engagement Group in Stoke), Lifeworks and Healthwatch.
The SUCC has helped to change the complaints process, contributed to information leaflets and helped to improve the telephone system at community resource centres.
Patient safety partner
Patient safety partners have lived experience of mental distress or learning disabilities. They work alongside our patient and organisational safety team.
The role requires a willingness to share personal lived experience to support others in their recovery journey and advocate on behalf of people who use services and their friends or families.
Involvement role
This is a flexible role that supports the trust to improve services or practices across our geographical area.
This can involve consultation, collaboration or you may be asked if you would like to be involved in the coproduction of a solution or change in services.
Wellbeing College co-producer
Any person from the above roles could be a Wellbeing College co-producer.
Wellbeing College co-producers are involved in the process of developing our courses and working alongside topic experts.
Find out more about our Wellbeing College here.
Wellbeing College workshop facilitator
Any person from the above roles could be a Wellbeing College facilitator.
Wellbeing College facilitators would work alongside topic experts to co-facilitate workshops delivered on our college prospectus.
Register your interest
If you would like to register your interest in any of the above involvement opportunities, or would like to find out more, please complete the form below and someone will be in touch.
