A Direct Volunteer who is providing visits to any Island Health locations or long-term care facilities is required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and receive their annual flu shot each fall.

A Direct Volunteer provides Grief or End-of-Life support to clients and their families. Direct Volunteers are required to complete in-depth Hospice provided Volunteer Training and attend ongoing volunteer gatherings every six weeks. When a Direct Volunteer is providing support to clients at any Island Health location, they are required to complete a 3-hour online Island Health training session. We ask for a minimum of a 1-year commitment from all of our Direct volunteers. An Indirect Volunteer can help with administrative duties, events, fundraisers, and committees. They also can sit on the CRHS Board of Directors. Time commitments vary based on the required task and/or event. Some training may be required.

We ask that our Direct Volunteers for a minimum of a 1-year commitment to their role. All of our Direct Volunteers must follow CRHS protocols and procedures. Direct Volunteers are required to provide regular clean Criminal Record checks. Direct Volunteers must stay neutral and non-judgmental about the personal beliefs and medical choices of our clients, including the choice of MAiD. We ask that Direct Volunteers be active listeners without sharing any personal opinions or private personal information. Direct Volunteers find ways to help clients' last days to be filled with dignity, love, and joy while providing caring, friendly and compassionate companionship. Direct Volunteers may spend time doing activities clients enjoy, e.g. reading, singing, playing music, playing games etc. Our Direct Volunteers support the client's family through their anticipated grief and share resources and information about Hospice Grief Services. Direct Volunteers do not offer advice or counselling to clients or their families. All Direct Volunteers hold a safe and confidential space for clients to share personal information. Direct Volunteers must maintain complete confidentiality of the patient. Including name, illness, visiting information, location and, most of all, personal conversations. All Direct volunteers must maintain ongoing communication with the CRHS team. All of our Volunteers are ambassadors of the CRHS.

No - All Direct Volunteers are required to sign an agreement that, under no circumstances, will they sign as a witness to MAiD.

To receive support from the CRHS contact the office to book an intake. The intake allows our Lead Clinical Counsellor to assess their needs through a 15-minute intake process and matches them with the appropriate services. We must track our clients and their information to ensure they receive quality care throughout their time with CRHS. If not, this puts our organization at great risk. Ensuring the client goes through the intake service is a requirement of the Direct Volunteer. If this is not followed, the volunteer will be asked to step down as a CRHS Volunteer.

If you happen to see a CRHS client or their family in the community, do not address them unless they address you first. We live in a small community, and doing this respects their privacy and confidentiality.

Breaking confidentiality is a serious breach of the CRHS policies and is our patient/client's human right. Everyone deserves their privacy, and the Hospice Care we provide is only effective if the client feels they are in a respected and confidential space. Some Examples of breaking confidentiality: Sharing someone's personal information with anyone, including their or your close family and friends, without the client's permission. Such as; their location, illness, status, religious beliefs, end-of-life choices etc. Addressing a client in public without them addressing you first. Sharing someone's personal story of information with a close friend or family or on social media, regardless of whether you are using names. Discussing a situation within the Hospice Care Centre, Hospital or another facility with another volunteer or staff where you can be overheard. Discussing unnecessary client information with other Hospice Volunteers or Staff. Sadly, sharing someone else's information can destroy their families and end-of-life experiences and can create lifelong damage. If a CRHS Volunteer breaks confidentiality, they will be asked to step down as a CRHS Volunteer.

If you have any questions or concerns or need to debrief a situation, please contact our Lead Clinical Counsellor, Leslie at any time. She is here to help you. You can connect by email: leslie@crhospice.ca or phone 250-286-1121, or if it's an emergency and outside of regular office hours, you can call her on our emergency line at 250-201-1125.

Contact our Volunteer and Event Coordinator at hannah@crhospice.ca or 250-201-3714.