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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide companionship and support to families, carers, and patients, enhancing their quality of life.
- Company: Weston Hospicecare, a compassionate organisation focused on human connection.
- Benefits: Personal satisfaction, community involvement, skill development, and making a real difference.
- Why this job: Be a trusted friend and make meaningful connections with those in need.
- Qualifications: Empathy, active listening, and a warm, adaptable approach.
- Other info: Full training provided; travel required; enhanced DBS check needed.
The predicted salary is between 12000 - 18000 £ per year.
Overview
Being a Companion at Weston Hospicecare is a fulfilling and rewarding role grounded in human connection and empathy. Companions are “friends” or “neighbours” from the Hospice who accompany our families, carers and patients throughout their time under our care. Companions are not carers, nor are they clinically trained, but they are there as a listening ear, a comfort, and a trusted person.
The time spent with people can be as simple as sitting and talking or having a warm drink together. Sometimes Companions can take people out and go on trips, to see local locations, visit a local café, or just a simple walk. All of this is beneficial and makes a difference to families, carers and people with life-limiting conditions.
The role builds an incredibly trusting relationship that is grounded in reliability and familiarity. This relationship allows our families, carers and patients to talk candidly about how they are feeling, and to discuss their emotional and physical struggles with someone who is impartial, non-judgemental, and a friendly face.
A Companion can provide much-needed breaks to carers. While not taking on any caring responsibilities themselves, this can allow a carer the freedom to have a much-needed break, in the knowledge that their loved one has someone with them for a short while.
This role takes place across a variety of locations over our area, mainly in people’s homes. As such, travel for this role is necessary, but the distance of travel can be as little or as far as what works for you.
Full training is required for this role, taking place over the course of 1 full day. Training is offered after a suitability meet & greet and completion of pre-training paperwork. The training provides the skills necessary for the role, as well as the practicalities and processes we use to be there for our patients and families.
We look forward to working alongside you!
What you will be doing
- To support families, carers, and/or patients, by offering companionship and support which enhances their quality of life and wellbeing.
- Calling people referred to the Companion service to offer your support when accepting a referral.
- Being a listening ear to those people under the service, or anyone else who needs it.
- Talking with those people about everyday topics and their interests and hobbies.
- Offering practical support to family members and patients, to re-engage with their hobbies and interests when possible.
- Sitting with patients to enable carers to have time to relax or to go out of the house for respite.
- Ensuring confidentiality is maintained at all times for all details pertaining to patients, their relatives and staff.
- Utilising supervision sessions as a chance to update skills and network with fellow Companions.
- Reporting back all contacts in relation to the referral to the Clinical Services at Weston Hospicecare.
The skills you need
- Comfortable relying on own initiative and common sense but also able to recognise own needs and knowing when to seek support.
- A warm, friendly, adaptable, caring approach.
- Empathy.
- Able to actively listen without feeling the need to ‘fix it’.
- Non-judgemental.
- Flexible & Reliable.
- A good sense of humour.
- Self-awareness.
- Open-minded and tolerant of different lifestyles and values.
- Able to stay within the boundaries of the role, recognising when to refer to colleagues.
What’s in it for you
- Personal satisfaction knowing that you have made a difference in someone’s life.
- Getting involved in your local community.
- Putting existing skills to good use.
- Gain confidence and friendship.
- Developing new skills.
Disclaimer
This role will require an enhanced DBS check. You will need access to your own transport. Companions must not provide nursing or medical care (such as administering drugs or changing dressings) or provide personal care, counselling or medical advice.
Jackson Barstow House, 28 Thornbury Road, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, BS23 4YQ, United Kingdom
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Companion employer: Weston Hospicecare Mart Ltd
Contact Detail:
Weston Hospicecare Mart Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Companion
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the organisation! Before your interview, spend some time researching Weston Hospicecare. Understand their values and mission, and think about how your own experiences align with their goals. This will help you connect on a personal level during your chat.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice active listening! As a Companion, being a good listener is key. During your interview, show that you can listen attentively and respond thoughtfully. This will demonstrate your empathy and ability to connect with others, which is crucial for the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Be yourself! Authenticity goes a long way in building trust. Share your genuine experiences and feelings about why you want to be a Companion. This will help the interviewers see the real you and how you can fit into their team.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We encourage you to submit your application directly on the StudySmarter platform. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves and shows your commitment to joining our community.
We think you need these skills to ace Companion
Some tips for your application 🫡
Be Yourself: When writing your application, let your personality shine through! We want to see the real you, so don’t be afraid to share your experiences and what makes you passionate about being a Companion.
Show Your Empathy: Since this role is all about human connection, make sure to highlight your empathetic nature. Share examples of how you've supported others in the past, as this will resonate with us and show you understand the importance of companionship.
Keep It Clear and Concise: While we love a good story, keep your application straightforward. Use clear language and get to the point, so we can easily see why you’d be a great fit for the Companion role.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us quickly and efficiently, plus you’ll find all the info you need about the role there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Weston Hospicecare Mart Ltd
✨Show Your Empathy
During the interview, make sure to highlight your ability to connect with others on an emotional level. Share personal stories or experiences where you’ve provided support or companionship, as this will demonstrate your understanding of the role and its importance.
✨Be a Good Listener
Since the role involves being a listening ear, practice active listening during the interview. Show that you can engage with the interviewer’s questions thoughtfully and respond in a way that reflects your understanding of their needs and concerns.
✨Demonstrate Flexibility
Talk about your adaptability and how you can handle different situations. Give examples of times when you’ve had to adjust your approach based on someone’s needs, as this aligns perfectly with the Companion role’s requirement for flexibility.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare some questions that show your genuine interest in the role and the organisation. Inquire about the training process or how Companions typically build relationships with patients and families. This not only shows your enthusiasm but also helps you understand the role better.
