We have approximately 320 male and female patients who require treatment in a high security hospital became of their dangerousness or criminal propensities.
The majority of the patients are male and 25% are from black or ethnic minority’s population. The average length of stay is seven years but sadly some patients will be here for much longer.
The volunteer service at Rampton provides a befriending service to male and female patients who have little or no contact with the outside world.
This involves recruiting, training, matching individual volunteers to patients and providing support to these volunteers when they make their monthly visit to the hospital.
Volunteers are recruited by various routes, including word of mouth, and come from across the East Midlands.
Most patients are referred by Social Workers within Rampton, but some referrals are from named nurses and self referrals
Having met the patient, social work and nurse, the volunteer co-ordinators will then seek the approval of the Clinical Team who will make the decision as to whether this would be appropriate for that particular patient.,
In order to protect both the patients and the volunteers, every patient receiving visits from a volunteer has to sign an agreement which rules our manipulative behaviour and also agrees the volunteering relationship will end when the patients leaves Rampton Hospital.
In many cases, the fact that the patient has a volunteer befriender is part of their care plan and for almost all patients their volunteer visitor is the only person they see who is not a paid professional.
All potential volunteers are checked through the Criminal Record Bureau and receive a three day induction course. Once they have been allocated to a patient the co-ordinators see them at least every third visit. Opportunities for group support are provided and also ad hoc training sessions to inform volunteers about new services or practices within the hospital.
There is also a canine volunteer, a volunteer who brings a dog to befriend a patient with learning disabilities who finds it very hard to relate to people and there is no doubt that his has had a positive effect on this patient and those around him.
For more information, please contact:
Volunteering at Rampton Hospital
Valerie Strawson
Rampton Hospital
Retford
Nottinghamshire
DN22 OPD
Tel: 01777 24 7539 or 01777 247653
Email: Valerie.strawson@nottshc.nhs.uk
