Volunteering at Osler

Something for everyone...

Osler has over 1,200 active volunteers and offers many different volunteer opportunities. Examples of areas where our volunteers assist include:

Patient Care

If you would like to work directly with patients and their families, a patient care area may be right for you. Your duties could include things like:

Visiting inpatients on units such as Cardiology, Acute Care for Elderly (ACE), Oncology, ICU, Respirology and Maternal Newborn
Preparing patients for CT Scans, Ultrasounds, X-Rays, Physiotherapy sessions, and Day Surgery procedures
Offering support as patients wait in the Emergency Department

Support Services

These service areas are usually very busy with lots of patient interaction. Volunteers may:

Help visitors find their way around the hospital
Greet and assist patients attending one of Osler’s outpatient clinics, or help with some administrative tasks.
Play piano for patients and visitors in our main lobbies. The Healing Music program is for musicians who have at least grade 6 and have performed in front of an audience.
Provide information for those waiting in our family waiting rooms

Fundraising

If you enjoy a retail environment, you may want to ask about volunteer opportunities in the hospital gift shops. The shops are managed by Osler’s Volunteer Association and profits are donated to the hospital for the purchase of hospital equipment.

Internships, Work Placements, Foreign-Trained Professionals

We do our best to match the interests of prospective volunteers to available opportunities. However, volunteer work does not include opportunities for work placements, or mentorship by medical professionals. This falls outside the scope of the volunteer role.

Something for everyone

Opportunity Directory: for more details of all the volunteer positions at Brampton Civic and Etobicoke General, visit our Opportunity Directory.

Specialized Volunteer Positions

Some of our volunteer positions require specific skills or qualifications.

Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP)

This is for people who prefer close patient contact, who wish to have a more hands on volunteer experience. The time commitment is eight months minimum.

The Hospital Elder Life (H.E.L.P) is an award-winning comprehensive volunteer program that has been proven to enhance the physical, emotional and social experience for seniors during their stay in the hospital while preventing confusion and progressive weakness. Volunteers will be provided with specialized training in the delivery of specific interventions and have the unique opportunities to have direct patient contact in an inpatient care setting.

Essential Skills/Requirements and Qualifications:

Must be reliable and mature in judgement
Discreet, empathetic behavior and ability to exercise diplomacy in talking to patients, patient’s family and staff
Must display a genuine enjoyment of and appreciation for older people
Interest in offering comfort and support to patients and visitors
Must be dependable and committed to scheduled shifts, or provide alternative availability to substitute absences
With access to basic medical information, there is zero-tolerance for breach of confidentiality
High level of communication skills, including strong listening and supportive interaction
Fluent in English both verbal and written. Additional languages may be beneficial
Adequate physical ability to push patients in wheelchairs
Ability to deal appropriately with medically related situations, e.g. bleeding, vomiting, etc
Ability to be aware that you are a communication link and as such need to report any concerns regarding patients to the healthcare professional
The uses of camera, voice-recorder, alcohol, tobacco or illegal drugs are prohibited for all hospital staff and volunteers while on duty
Volunteers are required to attend and complete the HELP volunteer training which consists of one full day of class (8 hours) and 16 hours of “shadowing” an experienced volunteer
Mandatory annual competency review
Optional quarterly education lecture on special topics
A minimum time commitment of one 3 hour shift per week for eight months is required
A minimum of 100 hours is required for reference letter

To apply for this position at Brampton Civic Hospital, download an application and specify your area of interest. More on how to apply.

To apply for this position at Etobicoke General Hospital, adults and students can download and complete the application form. More on how to apply.

Mental Health Inpatients –Yoga Sessions

This service area is for volunteers who prefer close patient contact and want to facilitate social and recreational activities with individuals/groups in the Mental Health department.

Qualified yoga volunteers will assist the Staff by carrying out social activities in a yoga session with patients in GEN B under the supervision of Nursing Staff. Volunteers will have a second interview with staff on the unit. Their primary duties will be to guide patients with yoga. This position is available late evenings.

Essential Skills/Requirements and Qualifications:

Excellent customer service and interpersonal skills
High level of communication skills
Fluent in English both verbal and written, additional languages are beneficial
Previous experience and or education in mental health with skills related to social and recreational activities.
Experience in facilitating social and recreational activities with individuals/groups.
Experience in facilitating exercise programs/routines such as yoga, Tai Chi, Zumba
Knowledge about mood and anxiety disorders their symptoms and how they impact individuals affected.
Pleasant manner and supportive attitude
Ability to stay calm in a busy, often stressful environment
Good organizational skills
Proactive attitude and a willingness to learn
Mandatory 2nd interview with department staff
Must be able to maintain and adhere to confidentiality and all Osler’s policies

To apply for this position at Brampton Civic Hospital, submit an application and specify your area of interest. More on how to apply

Lobby Connections

This is a position suited for those with good people skills, excellent customer service, who can work independently, and who like to be busy and active. This isn't your typical desk job! It's a great way to learn about the hospital as a whole.

Volunteers provide information, customer service, and way finding support to patients and/or visitors to destinations throughout the hospital.

Essential Skills and Qualifications:

Friendly, outgoing approach
Excellent communication, problem solving, interpersonal and public relations skills
Ability and willingness to cope in a busy, fast paced environment
Professional telephone etiquette
Neat appearance
Fluency in both verbal and written English is necessary. Additional languages is beneficial
Hearing acuity to answer the phone and respond to inquiries
Must be physically capable of pushing patients in wheelchairs, standing and walking
Understand the layout and locations of departments throughout the hospital (training provided)
Comfortable with close patient interaction

To apply for this position, submit an application and specify your area of interest. More on how to apply.

Patient Family Advisory Council (PFAC)

As a patient or family member who has a lived experience interacting with the health care system, you bring unique skill sets and perspectives to inform key hospital decisions and health system solutions. Volunteer as a Patient Family Advisor (PFA) and partner with staff and physicians to help improve the care and services we deliver to our community.

We have a number of volunteer opportunities available for PFA:

Osler Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC)
PFAs can participate in shared decision-making about the development of organization-wide policies, strategic planning, and new initiatives. Osler’s PFAC is co-chaired by a Patient Experience leader and a PFA. The Council reports directly to the Quality Governance Council.
Program PFACs
PFAs can take part as members of program PFACs where patient/family with condition specific expertise is needed to help plan and inform program re-design. These PFACs play a role in the development of program level policies, strategic planning, and new initiatives.
Committees
PFAs have the opportunity to join various committees to ensure the voice of the patient/family is reflected when plans and decisions affecting the delivery of care or other related activities are being planned and implemented. Some examples are the Medical Advisory Committee, Clinical Senior Leadership Team, Quality Governance Council, Access and Flow, etc.
Quality Improvement Initiatives
A roster of PFAs will be created. Their unique skills, talents and insights related to specific subject matter expertise will help co-design various quality improvement processes and projects.
Recruitment
PFAs will also have the opportunity to participate in the recruitment of staff and leaders.
Beyond Osler
PFAs have the opportunity to join various committees beyond Osler. Specific opportunities are:
- Central West Local Health Integration Network (CW LHIN)
- Central West Regional Quality Table
- Central West Palliative Care Network