As we move into the fall and winter months, we’re preparing to welcome a new cohort of visiting volunteers to our team. Starting in November, these folks will begin the next step in their hospice volunteer journey taking on client-facing (direct) roles like, vigil sits, visiting in hospital or home, leading group programs and more. These direct volunteer roles are treasured; they are at the core of what compassionate hospice and palliative care is all about.

Source: BC Centre for Palliative Care website, Competency Framework Document (2021).

To prepare these new volunteers with the skills and tools they need the BC Centre for Palliative Care has set out a Hospice Volunteer Competency Framework that lays out eight comprehensive areas of education for ‘direct’ hospice volunteers. This adds up to at least 30 hours of mandatory training and mentorship to prepare direct volunteers to take on the privilege and responsibility of caring for hospice clients.

Following our mission to promote and provide compassionate care for Sea to Sky residents with life-limiting illness and ongoing support for their loved ones, we’re always looking to diversify our volunteer team with folks who have lots of different lived experiences, cultural backgrounds and different languages.  All this helps us to be ready to support anyone wishing to access our services and programs. Learn more about volunteering with Sea to Sky Hospice here.