Volunteer Training Modules

All of our volunteers need to take part in a range of training modules to become accredited by us and join our volunteer teams. Please see below a brief description of each of our volunteer training modules. To make a volunteer application please click here and we’ll send details of training dates etc.

Module 1: Healthwatch: How we work

Induction for all volunteers

This will help you to establish a foundation of understanding of Healthwatch policy and practice (Part A), compliance with data protection and confidentiality (Part B), and equality and diversity legislation (Part C). If you aren’t sure about the roles we offer, please come along to find out more about what we do, and decide from there!

Module 2: Safeguarding and Mental Capacity awareness

For: all teams

You’ll watch some short films to enable awareness of what constitutes a safeguarding issue, followed by a short training course prepared by Devon County Council.

Module 3: Health and Safety

For: Promotions Team

This 1 hour session enables volunteers to use Healthwatch equipment in a safe manner. Such as: erecting the Healthwatch Devon gazebo and how to avoid slips, trips, falls and unnecessary injuries. This training will be delivered via an e- learning course and ‘on the job’.

Module 4: Gathering views and listening to people

For: Promotions, Enquiries and Enter and View teams

A short session for volunteers to understand and learn how to explain our recording process. Come and meet our back office staff and enable people to ‘Speak Out’ on health and social care services.

Module 5: Public Speaking

For: Promotions team

A 1 day course to enable volunteers to speak at a wide range of events and present Healthwatch in a confident manner.  The course will cover everything from operating a powerpoint presentation to dealing with questions from the audience and signposting.

Module 6: Customer Service

For: Enquiries Team  (optional for other team members)

This is a 1/2 day course to help you to deal with the public in a confident manner, either on the phone or in other administrative settings.  This session will help you handle potential conflict and be an ambassador of Healthwatch.

Module 7: Enter and View

For: Enter and View Team

This 1 day course is the neccessary training to carry out Enter and View visits.  The course will help you understand your role and requirements of the visit, as well as planning your visits and writing reports.

Module 8: Effective Representation

For: Healthwatch participants

This is a 1/2 day session to help you to effectively advocate Healthwatch’s  interests and the views of users, patients, carers and the wider public in relation to health and social care services.