Companion At Home

Once you have made an enquiry about this service, our Volunteer Coordinator will call you directly to find out what support you would like and match your needs with an appropriate volunteer. On the first visit, the volunteer will be accompanied by a member of our Clinical Team to provide that initial introduction. Volunteers will always wear The Shakespeare Hospice lanyard and carry an official ID card for easy identification.

All volunteers go through a thorough recruitment process and receive role-specific training to ensure they can provide the best possible support. 

Yes, all volunteers hold an Enhanced Adult Workforce Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Certificate for added safety and security.

Typically, the Companion at Home volunteer will spend 1-2 hours with you, once a week or once a fortnight.

No, the Companion At Home volunteers' primary role is to offer companionship and emotional support.

They do not provide personal care, such as bathing, dressing, or medical assistance. They are also not responsible for:

• Passing messages between health professionals and family members
• Making care decisions, or
• Taking on a family role

Additionally, volunteers do not carry out heavy housework duties but focus on providing meaningful social interaction and support.

This is a befriending service, and we hope you will enjoy and look forward to each visit with your companion, but we understand that
sometimes things can change. If you feel you haven’t got a great match you can contact us to review your requirements.

This service is available between the hours of 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.