Volunteer opportunities - Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre

Volunteers are important members of the health care community and truly enhance the patient, family and visitor experience at Abbotsford Regional Hospital.

Volunteer Resources strives to develop and maintain roles that serve and support patients, families and visitors while increasing an overall positive hospital experience.

We celebrate diversity and inclusiveness, and therefore we welcome people from ages 16 years and older to apply. We take pride in finding the right match for our programs and for successful volunteer engagement. 

Current opportunities 

• Auxiliary Gift Shop – Support the Auxiliary to Abbotsford Regional Hospital with customer service, cashier duties and organization of stock items.
• Welcome and wayfinding – Act as an ambassador and source of information by welcoming and helping patients, families, clients and visitors navigate through their hospital journey and returning wheelchairs to the hospital entrances.
• Acute Care for the elderly friendly visitor – Visit with hospitalized frail elderly patients to increase patient comfort, wellness, and to provide socialization.
• General Day Care (GDC) – Provide a welcoming environment for patients before and after their medical treatment or procedures.
• Surgical Day Care (SDC) – Provide a welcoming environment for day surgery patients and families.
• Book cart – Teams of two volunteers visit inpatient units with a book cart to offer books to patients.
• Medical Imaging – Support patients with information and wayfinding by providing a friendly and welcoming environment.
• Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU) cuddler (Volunteer minimum age: 25 years old with life experience) – Comfort infants between visits of parents and staff for newborns needing some extra TLC.
• Real time patient experience – Teams of two volunteers assist patients and families with completing online surveys regarding their experiences while in hospital. Proficiency with a tablet is required.
• Foundation – Assist with special events for Abbotsford Regional Hospital, under direction of the Fraser Valley Health Care Foundation (FVHCF).
• Musicians (main floor atrium) – Qualified pianists provide soft background calming music for patients, families and visitors in the main floor atrium.
• Musicians (acute care for the elderly) - Qualified musicians provide soft background calming music for elderly patients in an acute care patient unit.
• B.C. Pets and Friends / St. John Ambulance pet therapy – Visit with patients, families, visitors and staff who need a little pet connection.
• Emergency - Support the Emergency Department by providing compassionate psycho-social support to patients, family and visitors and to provide wayfinding assistance throughout the department.

Requirements

We are looking for volunteers that have a high level of self-awareness, adaptability and a variety of life experience. Good communication and customer service skills are essential. You must enjoy dealing with the general public and a diverse populations.

Volunteers must meet the following requirement to be a successful candidate:

• Minimum age is 16 years old. Parent/legal guardian consent is required for applicants under the age of 18
• 150 hours or a nine to 12 month commitment (vacation requests are accommodated)
• Ability to attend a regularly scheduled three to four hour shift once a week
• Proficient in English
• Strong communication skills
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Reporting of vaccination status for COVID-19 and seasonal flu vaccines

If you are a successful candidate you will be asked to complete and provide the following:

• Criminal Record Check
• Two references
• Mandatory New Volunteer Orientation Curriculum on Learning Hub
• Attend a Group Site Orientation (usually two to four hours)
• Mandatory compliance with all Fraser Health policies

Auxiliary to Abbotsford Regional Hospital

The Auxiliary to Abbotsford Regional Hospital has been serving the health care communities for over 100 years. This non-profit society oversees and manages the hospital gift shop and is involved closely with the Fraser Valley Health Care Foundation in providing funding for much needed medical equipment and patient comfort items.

If you are interested in volunteer opportunities with the auxiliary, please email abbotsfordauxiliary@gmail.com. You can visit their website: abbotsfordhospitalauxiliary.ca.

Application process

Step 1 Application: Complete the application form
Step 2 Interview: Only candidates who qualify for available positions will be contacted for an initial interview
Step 3 Screening: Criminal record check and references will be required
Step 4 Orientation: Attend a volunteer orientation session
Step 5 Placement: Training and placement following orientation