NHS staff — you can now refer vulnerable people who are staying at home for support from the #NHSVolunteerResponders.
NHS Volunteer Responders is delivered by NHS England and NHS Improvement in partnership with Royal Voluntary Service and the GoodSam Responders app.
750,000 volunteers have signed up since 24 March.
NHS Volunteer Responders can be asked to help individuals with tasks such as
Identity checks are carried out for all volunteers.
Enhanced DBS check for those volunteering as patient transport drivers.
Royal Voluntary Service has completed security checks and the scheme is fully operational.
Referrals for volunteer support can be made by any health and social care professional
Who to refer
You can refer people who are at very high risk from coronavirus where no local support is available, including:
Continue to make use of your local schemes where they exist and please talk to your patients if in doubt about whether they require support.
Professional discretion should be used to determine if an individual would benefit from NHS Volunteer Responders.
How to refer
Submit details online via the NHS Volunteer Responders referrers’ portal
https://www.goodsamapp.org/NHSreferral
Or call 0808 196 3382 to refer patients
Social care providers can make referrals with an nhs.net or gov.uk email address. Without one, they will need to await approval which may take up to 72 hours, or they can make referrals through their local authority.
Once the referral is logged, ‘on duty’ volunteers in your area pick the job they want to do that day and close the task once complete.
You can use the portal to track when the patient receives support. You can also use the portal or phone number to remove someone from the scheme if they no longer need assistance.
| All referrers will need |
| Verbal consent to refer the patient (‘client’) for support from a volunteer |
| The client’s name |
| The client’s phone number |
| The client’s address |
| To select the type of support required |
| To select how regularly the support is required |
| To make clear the priority |
| Your contact details |
