We work together to support local people
Volunteer Centre Dorset works with volunteers, partners, and local organisations to help people overcome challenges, maintain their independence, and stay connected to their communities.
Hospital Inpatient & Unpaid Carer Support
Our Patient & Carer Community Co-ordinator, Janet Tolley, is based in the Discharge Lounge at Dorset County Hospital, providing a friendly and accessible point of contact for patients, unpaid carers and hospital staff.
Janet can meet people during their hospital stay to understand what might make returning home difficult and help put practical support in place. She works closely with hospital teams, Volunteer Centre Dorset services and other community organisations to help people return home safely, while also providing information and support to family members and unpaid carers.
Where appropriate, this support can continue after someone has left hospital, helping to ensure they have the right connections and practical help in place as they settle back into their community.
Contact Janet Tolley directly on 07741 780200 or contact our office on 01305 269214.
Hospital Discharge Support
Going home after a stay in hospital can sometimes bring unexpected challenges. We work alongside health and care professionals to help people return home safely and confidently, providing practical, person-centred support both before and after discharge. Working closely with teams at Dorset County Hospital and other community partners, we can help identify and resolve practical barriers for someone going home, connect people with further support, and help them settle safely back into their home and community.
How we can help?
Depending on someone’s individual circumstances, our support may include:
- Meeting patients and unpaid carers before discharge
- Working with hospital teams to identify and resolve barriers to going home
- Coordinating practical support through Volunteer Centre Dorset services
- Connecting people to local voluntary and community organisations
- Providing small essential items to support timely discharge
- Arranging Hospital Discharge Support Grants where appropriate
- Supporting unpaid carers
- Liaising with community health, social care and primary care services
- Providing follow-up support to help prevent avoidable readmissions
Hospital Discharge Support Grants
Sometimes a practical problem at home can be enough to delay someone’s discharge from hospital. Our Hospital Discharge Support Grants provide one-off funding for essential goods or services where an identified barrier is preventing someone from returning home safely.
Working with healthcare professionals, we consider each person’s individual circumstances and identify practical solutions that can enable a safe and timely discharge. Grants may also be considered where practical intervention could help prevent an unnecessary admission to hospital.
- Deep cleaning, including where specialist cleaning is required
- Decluttering, packing or moving
- Essential plumbing, electrical, locksmith or door repairs
- Household appliances such as a washing machine or microwave
- Essential items needed before a package of care can begin
- Other practical goods or services where an identified issue is preventing someone from returning home
Small Discharge Items
We keep a range of small, practical items in the Discharge Lounge that can be provided to patients when they will help someone return home safely and comfortably. Having these essentials readily available means we can respond quickly to an immediate need and help remove some of the smaller barriers that might otherwise delay a person’s discharge.
Sometimes it’s the small things that can make getting home from hospital a little easier. In the Discharge Lounge at Dorset County Hospital,
We keep a range of useful everyday items in the Discharge Lounge, so we can quickly provide practical help when someone needs it to return home safely and comfortably.
What support may be available?
Depending on the person’s circumstances and assessed needs, small items will be selected if they will eliminate a barrier to somoene going home, such as:
- non-perishable food items
- lockable medicine box
- portable key safe
- basic linen
Community Green Team
Sometimes a person is ready to leave hospital, but a practical issue at home means it isn’t yet safe or suitable for them to return. Our Community Green Team can provide hands-on help with small jobs in and around the home, removing practical barriers and helping people regain their independence.
The team can work alongside hospital and community professionals to respond to individual needs, with support tailored to the person’s circumstances.
What support may be available?
- Moving furniture to make a home safer or create space for care equipment
- Installing key safes
- Helping with the delivery or positioning of essential household items
- Small household jobs and minor practical tasks
- Clearing or tidying outdoor areas where access is an issue
- Other practical support that can help someone return home safely
Support in the Community
We also continue to provide support once someone has returned home, working alongside health, social care, and community partners to address any ongoing needs and give people the confidence to remain independent.
We can also coordinate additional community support where needed, ensuring people have the right help in place to regain their independence and reduce the risk of readmission.
What support may be available?
Depending on the person’s circumstances and assessed needs, small items will be selected if they will eliminate a barrier to somoene going home, such as:
- access to other local services
- support from Community Response Volunteers
- Connecting with other free or paid services
- Connection with GP surgery to ensure they are aware of the recent hospital stay
Making a referral
I you want to make a referral for someone to receive in-patient support, or help when back at home, please …
If you are a professional working in hospital, and a patient could benefit from a Hospital Discharge Support Grant, please make a referral using the link below.
If you’re a friend or family member of someone who may benefit from some help, please contact us.
You don’t need to be certain that this is the right service before contacting us. If you’d prefer to talk through the person’s circumstances and the support they may need, we’re happy to have an informal conversation first.