About Lifeline | Lifeline Volunteers | Lifeline Responders Plus
Training | Contact
From time to time we are asked by the Health and Care Sector if we can help with issues that might impact on the number of hospital admissions that currently take place.
To that end, we are piloting a new scheme to help people stay independent in their own homes for longer. I am sure you have heard of the Lifeline system, where equipment is installed in homes and a Lifeline pendant or similar is issued so they can wear it and press it if they have a fall or become unwell. This obviously gives the wearer the reassurance and confidence to carry on living in their own homes.
However, to sign up to this scheme, the applicant must have two contacts that live nearby that the Lifeline Centre can call if the Lifeline is activated. In some cases, this is not possible, and the person can not be considered for the scheme. There are many older people in Cornwall who have come down from up country to retire. I do not blame them it is a lovely county. But their families, if they have family at all, are a long way away and cannot be a named contact.
There are 2 strands to the service:
1) Lifeline Volunteers
These are volunteers who act as a point of contact to be called out for a named person should the need arise. This is now a county-wide role.
2) Lifeline Responder Plus
These are volunteers who are prepared to be called out for anyone in their local area (rather than a named contact). This was a pilot in Central area but is also now countywide. These callouts are daytime only (with paid carers in place overnight)
Lifeline Response Volunteers
Role description & Purpose
Volunteers offering support to someone in their community as a Lifeline Responder. Some people do not have the necessary contacts in order to have a Lifeline installed in their home. This may delay their discharge from hospital or other care in the Community and reduce their chances of having an independent life.
Please complete our enquiry form if you would be interested in becoming a Lifeline Responder: https://opportunities.volunteercornwall.org.uk/lifeline-support-volunteer-volunteer-cornwall-4
Volunteer Tasks and Responsibilities
What you will be doing:
- Be one of two main contacts for a client living near to your home address.
- Be a keyholder or access keys via a key box.
- If you are called (which may be never) you may be asked to physically go and check on the person. You may need to enter the house and assess the risk to the person and to yourself.
The support may involve things like:
- Contacting the client by phone to assess if a visit is required.
- Making someone comfortable if they have fallen on the floor and are unable to get up unaided - cover with a blanket and provide a pillow
- Assisting a person to stand up if that is at all possible but within safe limits if Level 2 Manual Handling training has been completed
- Contacting the Lifeline centre if KernowDoc or 999 is required
- Medicine prompts (simple) if required
- Help making a bed
- Making a drink if advised to do so
- Contacting Volunteer Cornwall during office hours or on the Safeguarding number if this is a Safeguarding concern.
- Reporting back through Lifeline
No experience in care necessary but will be beneficial.
Volunteers should:
- Be able to communicate well with other people
- To be able to understand and maintain confidentiality
- To be able to comply with all Volunteer Cornwall policies in every aspect of the role
- Be reasonably fit and healthy
This role will require two references and a DBS check (Adult Enhanced). If you do not have a current DBS we will arrange this for you.
Lifeline Responder Plus
Initially a pilot programme in the Mid Cornwall area, we are now extending the Lifeline Responder PLUS role throughout the whole of Cornwall to support people locally who would otherwise lack the required contacts to have a Lifeline system installed in their home.
There are occasions when emergency contacts for people are unavailable and this sometimes results in an ambulance being called unnecessarily. The purpose of this role is to have a flexible response service where volunteers will be willing to respond, if available, to lifeline alarms across a patch rather than solely responding to named individuals.
Visit the opportunity listings linked below to read the full role description and register your interest in becoming a Lifeline Responder Plus volunteer:
https://opportunities.volunteercornwall.org.uk/lifeline-responder-plus-volunteer-cornwall
Training
There will be a virtual induction, safeguarding and manual handling training. Any out of pocket expenses will be covered such as mileage but the ideal scenario would be that you are close by to respond rapidly.
Here is a link for more information on the Lifeline scheme run by the Council. Please make a point of looking at the video that is embedded in the page.
https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/lifeline
Contact
If you have any queries regarding the role, please let us know by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or calling 01872 266988 and we will do our best to answer them.