Pastoral Visitor

Life can be a roller-coaster at times, with lots of ups and downs. Any challenging experience, including time in hospital, can leave us feeling uncertain and vulnerable. At times like this it helps to have someone who will accept you just as you are and help you find your way to deal with it.

Pastoral visitors can be that someone: someone who is here to listen; someone who can be alongside people, as they try to make sense of their situation.

Your role will be to visit and support patients, relatives and staff, listening and accompanying them through the stories they tell and through ‘being alongside’ regardless of whether the person visited can converse or not. It is about giving space for people to feel heard, and it is a ’being’ rather than a ‘doing’ role. It is not about problem solving, nor is it about persuading people of anything at all (ie not preaching, not aiming to convert, nor giving advice).

Pastoral visitors typically commit to attending one morning a week from 09:30-12:45, visiting patients between 10:00 and 12:00 and then sharing in group reflective practice between 12:00 and 12:45.

All new volunteers with us must attend our course before beginning the role, which we run each spring and autumn. The next course begins in February 2025; applications must be received by January 7 2025.