Become a volunteer

The volunteer application process is competitive and unfortunately we cannot accept everyone who completes the registration form or attends an information session.

Registration form

To volunteer at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB), please complete and submit the online registration form. When completing the registration form you will be asked which hospital you would like to volunteer at. If registration is closed we invite you to try again the following month.

• Apply to become a volunteer

Application pack

Your registration form will be reviewed and if it meets our criteria we will then send an application pack via email or post, along with further information about current volunteer vacancies.

Interview

Once Voluntary Services have received your completed application forms, successful applicants will be contacted by the team to come in for an interview.

You will be notified of the correct documents you will need to bring to your interview in order to enable us to complete a DBS check. If you are unable to provide these documents, please notify Voluntary Services discuss the available options. We ask that you confirm your attendance and the documentation you will bring to the interview.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

All volunteers are required to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check which will be completed during your interview with Voluntary Services. We will send you instructions on how to start the online DBS application with your invitation to interview and information about the required documentation to verify your identity.

If you have a criminal conviction, caution, reprimand or warning, at any time in your life, you are required to tell us. We will still consider you as a volunteer; however, you may need to attend a separate meeting to discuss any information you disclose to us. Failure to tell us may result in your application being declined.

If an offence is committed following your registration as a volunteer you must inform Voluntary Services.

Occupational health clearance

All volunteers require clearance from Occupational Health before starting a placement. The Occupational Health department may ask you to attend a health check at your chosen hospital to assess your health and wellbeing before you start volunteering.

An Occupational Health questionnaire will be issued as part of the application pack.

Volunteer induction

Volunteers must attend an induction day which provides mandatory training all staff (including volunteers) are required to complete before starting at UHB.

Information about the induction day will be provided when the recruitment process is complete.

Ready to start

Once the recruitment process is complete you will be invited to a placement meeting to complete the final documents, receive your uniform and identification badge.

We will also receive additional information relevant to volunteering at your chosen hospital, and if required, specific training for your volunteer role. A volunteer handbook will be provided, which will include all the information pertaining to the practicalities of volunteering.

You will then be taken to the ward/department you will be volunteering in to meet your volunteer supervisor and the department manager who will show you around the department. We can also arrange a shadowing session with an experienced volunteer.

We will then agree a start date for you to commence volunteering.