Volunteering your time for end of life care can be quite rewarding and fulfilling for you and the people who need your support!. Hospice Toronto is ramping up to start another Core Hospice Training program at the end of October and they are still in great need of volunteers who are interested in joining our Complementary Therapy program to provide Reiki (Level Two required), Therapeutic Touch, Healing Touch, Reflexology, and Registered Massage Therapy. As most of you know, this program continues to grow in popularity with hospice clients, and as you are likely aware, due to capacity issues, we have recently had to reduce our maximum # of treatments to try and accommodate all of the requests that we receive.
I have included below an introductory email along with the attached volunteer application and other resource documents, and I am hoping that you might be willing to forward this on via email or through social media to any of your networks, or post it wherever your complementary therapy colleagues would see it.
There are 6 upcoming Volunteer Information Sessions that are taking place on:
Saturday August 18, 2012 10:30am – 12:00pm
Wednesday August 22, 2012 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Tuesday August 28, 2012 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Monday September 10, 2012 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Saturday September 15, 2012 11:00am – 12:30pm
Wednesday October 3, 2012 6:00pm – 7:30pm
All sessions will be taking place at the new Hospice Toronto office location at 2221 Yonge St, Ste 400 (just south of Eglinton Ave)
Please encourage anyone who may be interested to contact Sally if they would like to attend and learn more about the program and please let me know if you have any questions or if you need more information.
Please Contact
Sally Blainey
Manager, Volunteer Services
Hospice Toronto
***2221 Yonge St., Suite 400
Toronto, ON M4S 2B4
sally.blainey@hospicetoronto.
More Information:
TITLE:
Complementary Therapy Volunteer
PURPOSE:
To provide complementary therapies to home
hospice clients
NECESSARY SKILLS AND ATTITUDES:
Current certification and membership in good standing from the regulating body or
professional association linked to the therapy that the volunteer will practise
Minimum of one year of practice in the therapy which they will provide (Current
therapies include: Reiki (Level Two required), Therapeutic Touch, Healing Touch,
Reflexology, and Registered Massage Therapy.
Training in or experience with palliative care is an asset
Good oral and written English skills
Understanding of and commitment to team work
Independence, self-reliance, reliability and honesty
Empathy and the ability to suspend judgment
Commitment to a holistic approach in addressing issues related to life threatening
illness
Ability to remain calm in an emergency
Respect for all aspects of diversity
RESPONSIBILITIES:
To uphold the client’s right to dignity and self-determination
To adhere to the Hospice Toronto’s policies and procedures
To advise team leader in a timely manner if unable to fulfill duties
Where appropriate, to provide client- directed advocacy
To complete all training necessary for this position
To maintain a clear vision of the volunteer role with clients
To provide adequate notice of resignation from volunteer position
DUTIES INCLUDE:
Reviewing the Record of Care (in-home log book) at the beginning of the shift;
recording information the end of the shift
Providing the treatment for the agreed-upon amount of time
Maintaining the Complementary Therapy log book
Reporting to the Client Service Coordinator any changes in the client’s condition
Attending care team meetings
Attending Complementary Therapy Volunteers team meetings
LIMITATIONS:
Volunteers must follow the policies of Hospice Toronto regarding the amount of time
spent by the Complementary Therapy Volunteer with the client;
Volunteers may not administer medication nor perform medical procedures for
hospice clients
KEY RELATIONSHIPS
Client Services Coordinators, Manager of Volunteer Services
SUPPORTS FOR SUCCESS
Care Team training program, community workshops, workshops run by Hospice
Toronto, team meetings, individual supervision, Complementary Therapy Volunteer
support meetings
TIME COMMITMENT:
To be negotiated with the Manager of Volunteer Services, the minimum being four
client visits per month (1 hour each), the maximum being eight visits per client.
A minimum of one year commitment to the hospice
