The hospice, which cares for adults living with a life-limiting illness or condition, has a wide range of opportunities – in clinical, catering and business support roles - and is looking for special people to be part of its future.
Established in 1981 and well loved by the local community, the Hospice has shown remarkable growth and progression over the past five years: becoming an independent hospice, taking over the running of the Alan Hudson Day Treatment Centre in Wisbech, doubling its high street stores to four and moving to its award-winning £10.6 million purpose-built home in Shelford Bottom in November last year.
The organisation now employs more than 200 staff and supports more than 460 volunteers and is in search of more special people to join ‘Team Arthur’, become part of its extended family and fill both current and future roles. Working people, graduates, those looking to get back into work, students who want to gain experience and anybody interested to find out more about what it is really like to work or volunteer in the hospice environment, are invited to come along to one of the sessions on Tuesday 11 July at either 2pm or 6pm.
There are often misconceptions about what it might be like to work in a hospice, but these are quickly changed as soon as someone visits one of the Hospice facilities or meets a member of Team Arthur’s wider family. Volunteer Marilyn Chapman, who has volunteered within the Hospice’s Day Therapy service since May 2015, explains how her impression changed: “It was my husband Jon who first mentioned volunteering at Arthur Rank Hospice to me, because he used to drive for them. I did wonder to start with, if it might be a bit dark and drab. However, once I actually got here, it turned my thought process on its head: everybody was smiling and helpful and there are so many wonderful people and patients you get to spend time with. You really have to experience it and be working here to fully appreciate what a warm and wonderful place Arthur Rank Hospice is. It really is like a second home to me and has done so much more than fill a gap for my retirement – it’s actually given me confidence.”
Staff benefits include flexible working opportunities (dependant on the role), a cycle to work scheme, childcare vouchers, a company pension scheme and annual staff social events. For those wishing to volunteer, benefits include increased confidence, the opportunity to meet and work with new people, a chance to develop new skills and gain experience for future employment, and recognition through things like long service awards.
Vacancies currently listed on the hospice’s website include ‘Clinical Nurse Specialists in Palliative Care’ and ‘Health Care Assistants’ but there will be many more nursing, healthcare assistant and support staff roles available when additional beds are opened, hopefully in the autumn.
Volunteering opportunities which are likely to be available in the near future vary widely in their remit but, depending on your suitability and qualifications, could include: catering support for visitors in the Hospice’s Bistro, to retail support alongside friendly teams in one of the charity’s four high street stores; leaders with special skills to run activity sessions in Arthur’s Shed, to support for the Charity’s fundraising events; gardeners for the extensive outdoor areas at the Hospice, to drivers who transport patients to and from appointments and sessions.
The Team Arthur recruitment day will be taking place at the Hospice’s Shelford Bottom facility in Cambridge, starting with a short presentation in the Education Suite, with tea and cake, followed by a tour of the hospice and its gardens. Those attending will then be invited to chat - according to their area of interest - to current staff and volunteers, who will be manning stands at an information fair held in the Hospice’s Bistro.
To register, please email your name and phone number to careers@arhc.org.uk, clearly indicating whether you wish to attend the 2.00pm-4.00pm or the 6.00pm-8.00pm session on Tuesday 11 July, before Friday 7 July.
If you are unable to attend the Team Arthur recruitment day, but would like to find out more, please call Kasia on 01223 675865 for job vacancies or Vipra on 01223 675872 for volunteer opportunities.
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