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- Tasks: Serve food and refreshments, maintain hygiene, and support a friendly café environment.
- Company: Join St Columba's Hospice, a compassionate place dedicated to patient care and support.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible shifts, free meals, and travel expense claims while volunteering.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while gaining valuable experience and skills.
- Qualifications: Friendly attitude, good communication skills, and a willingness to learn are essential.
- Other info: Volunteers aged 16+ can choose their shifts and receive training and support.
The purpose of this role is to provide a café service for patients, visitors and staff within the Hospice. It should be a place that people can rest and be provided with food and refreshments that can be eaten onsite or taken away. It should have a friendly feel about it but provide a high level of service and cleanliness.
Hospice staff and volunteers are expected to reflect our Hospice Values in the way they carry out their roles, and in their interactions with each other and with patients, family members and any other visitors. Our Values are: Care and Compassion, Respect, Trust and Partnership.
What will I be doing/involved in?
- Providing a friendly, helpful and professional service to patients, visitors and staff who use the Café and Gift Shop
- Interacting with the Café and Hospice teams and contributing to the smooth running of the service
- Preparing and serving hot food (e.g. paninis, toasties etc)
- Using the till system and handling cash, including banking excess cash from the till at the end of the day
- Maintaining excellent levels of hygiene in the preparation, serving and seating areas of the café, following food hygiene standards.
- Keeping Café goods and Gift Shop displays fully stocked
- Being aware of food allergies and intolerances in our products
- Being familiar with stock sold in the gift area
- Taking part in any relevant training where possible
- Communicating with customers and co-workers to improve the service and solve problems
What experience or skills do I need?
- Understanding of the work, rules and values of St Columba's Hospice. Willing to keep informed and stay updated about our work
- Friendly with excellent customer service and communications skills
- Able to establish good working relationships and work well within a team
- Numerate (able to operate till and handle cash transactions)
- Able to prioritise when the Café is busy
- Willingness to undertake training in the operation of equipment within the Iona Café
- Willingness to abide by food hygiene standards
- Comfortable working on own during quiet times in the day and with other staff/volunteers when busy
- Good personal hygiene practices
- A strong understanding of the need for and importance of patient and client confidentiality and boundaries, at all times
- Confidence and sensitivity when dealing with difficult information from distressed and anxious patients or relatives
- Experience of working with people with advanced illness is helpful, though not essential
Time commitment and duration
Shifts are generally 3-4 hours and can be taken weekly, fortnightly or monthly. The café is open 7 days a week. We are also recruiting standby volunteers, who are crucial for covering holidays and unexpected absences. Volunteers will be sent a monthly email containing all remaining shifts and can take as many or as few as they choose. The role will be reviewed on a yearly basis.
Where will I be based?
St Columba's Hospice Care, 15 Boswall Road, Edinburgh
Who will I be volunteering for?
Volunteer Services team, Stewards, Catering Team, Finance team and other Hospice staff as needed
Recruitment checks
- Interview with Volunteer Services Manager and Iona Café Manager
- Application Form
- Two references
- Volunteers must be 16 years or over
Training
- Hospice Orientation
- Café Induction Programme (including 1:1 induction with Café manager and work shadowing with experienced volunteer)
- Team meetings (as necessary)
Additional Information
- Hospice Chaplains are always available to support volunteers
- Volunteers may claim reasonable travelling expenses for transport to and from the Hospice, or the place you volunteer, e.g. one of our retail shops. Please speak to your manager about this.
- The Hospice provides complimentary tea and coffee to all volunteers, staff, patients and families as part of the hospitality strategy.
- If you volunteer for a full day at the Hospice, you can claim a free meal from the staff café or Iona Café. Please speak to your manager about this.
Go to our Volunteer page to find out more about volunteering at the Hospice.
Iona Cafe Volunteer employer: St Columba's Hospice
Contact Detail:
St Columba's Hospice Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Iona Cafe Volunteer
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the values of St Columba's Hospice. Understanding and embodying their principles of Care and Compassion, Respect, Trust, and Partnership will help you connect with the team and demonstrate your commitment to the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Gain some experience in customer service or food handling if you can. Even volunteering in a similar environment can give you practical skills and show your dedication to providing excellent service in the Iona Café.
✨Tip Number 3
Be prepared to discuss how you would handle sensitive situations. Since you'll be interacting with patients and their families, showcasing your empathy and communication skills during the interview will set you apart.
✨Tip Number 4
Show your willingness to learn by asking about training opportunities during your interview. This demonstrates your commitment to personal development and your readiness to adapt to the café's needs.
We think you need these skills to ace Iona Cafe Volunteer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before applying, make sure you fully understand the responsibilities and values associated with the Iona Cafe Volunteer position. Familiarise yourself with the Hospice's mission and how your role contributes to it.
Tailor Your CV: Highlight any relevant experience in customer service, food preparation, or working with vulnerable individuals. Emphasise skills such as teamwork, communication, and your understanding of hygiene standards.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that reflects your passion for volunteering and your alignment with the Hospice's values of Care and Compassion, Respect, Trust, and Partnership. Share specific examples of how you've demonstrated these values in past experiences.
Proofread Your Application: Before submitting, carefully proofread your application for any spelling or grammatical errors. A well-presented application shows attention to detail and professionalism, which are important in a service-oriented role.
How to prepare for a job interview at St Columba's Hospice
✨Understand the Hospice Values
Before your interview, make sure you are familiar with the Hospice's values: Care and Compassion, Respect, Trust, and Partnership. Be prepared to discuss how you embody these values in your interactions with patients, visitors, and staff.
✨Showcase Your Customer Service Skills
As a volunteer in the Iona Cafe, excellent customer service is key. Think of examples from your past experiences where you provided friendly and professional service, and be ready to share these during the interview.
✨Demonstrate Teamwork Ability
The role requires working well within a team. Prepare to talk about your experiences collaborating with others, especially in busy environments. Highlight any instances where you helped improve team dynamics or service delivery.
✨Be Prepared for Situational Questions
Expect questions that assess your ability to handle difficult situations, such as dealing with distressed patients or managing busy periods in the cafe. Think through how you would respond to these scenarios while maintaining professionalism and compassion.
