Kowhai Companions - Volunteers, Burwood Hospital Older Persons Health at Canterbury District Health Board (Christchurch), Christchurch

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Make a difference in someone-s life by developing meaningful relationships
• Gain an understanding of working in healthcare and be a valuable member of the hospital team
• Work experience which may benefit your career pathway

About the Kowhai Programme

The Kowhai Programme utilises trained volunteers to provide person centred emotional tautoko / manaaki / support and practical assistance to vulnerable patients in hospital. The programme is also designed to support whānau / family or carers when they are unable to be with their loved one, or tautoko / support those patients who do not have whānau / family support.

About the Kowhai Companion Role

The Kowhai Companion role provides tautoko / support which would usually be provided by whānau / family or a whanau whanau/ carer.

By gaining an understanding of the patient-s background, their whānau / family members, identity, personal preferences and activities they enjoy, you will be able to create a Kowhai conversation chart - personal profile.

Kowhai Companions will tautoko / support patients who experience memory and thinking problems such as delirium, those with dementia, or patients who would just benefit from someone sitting with them kanohi ki te kanohi / one on one.

The programme has been running at Burwood Hospital since January with great success,

-Being a Kowhai Companion gives me a purpose and reward beyond what I can adequately describe and express. I give my time, attention, and care to the patients I see once a week and in return I hear stories from the past, see smiles on their faces, share laughs, learn new life lessons-

-this programme has done more for me than anything else during my hospital stay, having someone to take me outside gave me something to look forward to-

-I felt really happy knowing that someone could be with Mum in the evenings, she gets very frightened and the staff can-t be there with her all the time, they are lovely people--

-I have seen some really positive experiences and believe the Kowhai companions make a real difference-

We are looking for people who may have two to three hours available, Monday to Friday, times of the day are flexible.  This is purely a manaaki / companion role you will not be expected to provide patient cares.

For further information or to request an information pack please contact Fiona Graham, Programme Coordinator on fiona.graham@cdhb.health.nz or Kimberley Sletcher, Recruitment Partner on kimberley.sletcher@cdhb.health.nz 

To Apply

Applications can be made on line via our career website www.cdhbcareers.co.nz

Please include a letter telling us a little bit about yourself, including:

• Why you would like to become a Kowhai Companion
• What you will bring to the Kowhai Companion role
• Any experiences in tautoko or manaaki

The Future of the Health Industry

The role that you are applying for is one that may only be performed by a person who has been vaccinated against Covid-19. It is therefore a condition of this application that you are vaccinated against Covid-19. This vaccination requirement includes gaining Booster Doses required to perform you role under the Health Order. As a person working in the health and disability sector you will come into contact with a large number of people, some of whom may be vulnerable.  Without a vaccine, there is the risk that you may contract Covid-19.  The requirement to be vaccinated is to keep you safe and also to endeavour to protect others against the potential transmission of Covid-19 as a result of you contracting it in the course of your employment.

Nau mai, haere mai, tauti mai!