Job Title: / Volunteer Coordinator
Department: / Education department
Hours: / Full time, 37.5 hours per week
Salary: / £23,000 per annum for a fixed period of 12 months
Location: / St Catherine’s Hospice, Lancashire
Job Summary: / This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a pioneering project, The Mill at St Catherine’s Park.
The Mill is a converted 18th Century barn on the site of a former cotton mill within the hospice grounds. It has been renovatedinto a modern two-storey building with a traditional rustic feel featuring a café on the ground floor and therapy rooms above.
The Mill doubles as a welcoming café and a volunteer-led information service – the volunteer ‘Café Assistant’ supportsthe catering team to run the café and external events, the volunteer ‘Advisor’ helps people to help themselves through access to trustworthy information whilst offering basic emotional support to a wide range of people facing life shortening illnesses.
The post holder is required to coordinate volunteers in The Mill, recruit and train new volunteers and pilot a sustainable volunteering structure that can be rolled out across the Hospice.
This post is funded for 12 months by the St. James’s Place Foundation - Enabling Choice grants programme through Hospice UK.
Position in Organisation / Responsible to the Head of Education
Contact with others
Internal
Head of Education, CEO, other senior management team members, administration staff, service users, Human Resources Coordinator, clinical and non-clinical staff, volunteers, contracted staff
External
Service users / patient representatives, visitors to The Mill, the contracted human resources team, appointed IT consultant, staff at Lancashire County Council, Lancashire Care, CCGs, LTHTR and other charities
Key Accountabilities / Tasks
Volunteer Coordination /
  • Oversee the day-to-day coordination of volunteers at The Mill ensuring that rotas are filled
  • Timely and appropriate communication with volunteers
  • Maintain accurate systems and databases of volunteers

Recruitment of volunteers /
  • On-going recruitment of volunteers
  • Production of marketing materials to aid recruitment including online and social media

Induction, training and supervision of volunteers /
  • Provision of induction programme to volunteers
  • Provision of on-going training, resources and updates to support volunteers
  • Provision of one-to-one support to volunteers
  • Provide volunteers with opportunities to network with other volunteers
  • Development of the ‘Volunteer Supervisor’ role or ‘Volunteer Team Leader’

Report writing /
  • Analysis of data of volunteer advisor contact with clients
  • Oversee the evaluation of the effectiveness of the information service
  • Project reporting to Hospice UK

Strategy /
  • In conjunction with Head of Education,develop a Hospice wide strategy to enhance volunteering at St Catherine’s Hospice.
  • Identify opportunities to introduce volunteers to more technical areas of work
  • Develop a sustainable structure to manage volunteering for the future

Decisions / Recommendations includes:
Manage own workload
Work with Head of Education to ensure smooth running of volunteer services at The Mill
Make recommendations to enhance volunteering across the Hospice
Dimensions and limits of authority / influence includes:
Works under the direction of the Head of Education
Work is governed by the Hospice’s business plan and forward strategy
Allocation / checking of work
This post requires the incumbent to work for a significant amount of time independently and with initiative.
Head of Education oversees programme of work.
Physical effort
Minimal physical effort
Occasional need to travel using own car or rail network
Working conditions / environment
Works in a pleasant, well equipped environment
Other Duties include:
To undertake any other duty within your ability and within reason, as may be required from time to time, at the direction of your line manager.
Health & Safety
Comply with Hospice policies, procedures and protocols
Inform line manager, as early as possible, of sickness resulting in potential or actual inability to carry out duties

VOLUNTEERS

The Hospice has the advantage of being supported by a number of volunteers. If a volunteer is assigned to assist you at any time, you will still retain responsibility for the requirements of this job in terms of accuracy, efficiency and standards of completion. You will also ensure good communication and be mindful of your responsibility towards that volunteer in terms of Health and Safety.

CONFIDENTIALITY

You should be aware of the confidential nature of the Hospice environment and/or your role. Any matters of a confidential nature, relating to patients, carers, relatives, staff or volunteers must not be divulged to any unauthorised person.

DATA PROTECTION

You should make yourself aware of the requirements of the Data Protection Act and follow local codes of practice to ensure appropriate action is taken to safeguard confidential information.

Organisational Chart


PERSON SPECIFICATION

ESSENTIAL / DESIRABLE
Qualifications
English and Maths G.C.S.E. or equivalent
Relevant Experience
Experience of coordinating projects
Recent significant experience as a volunteer or coordinating volunteers / Experience in the voluntary sector
Key Skills & Abilities
Commitment to the aim, philosophy and ethos of the Hospice
Sound organisationalskills
Excellent communication skills, written and verbal
Excellent team working skills
Able to prioritise workload and work under pressure
Good IT skills
Evidence of initiative and self-motivation
Other
Sufficient personal resources to work effectively in a palliative care setting

AGREEMENT

Senior Manager’s name / Signature
Job Holder’s name / Signature
DATE AGREED

Job Title: Volunteer Coordinator 1 of 5 Created: October 2014

This Job Description is not exhaustive but provides an outline of duties and responsibilities. It does not form part of the Contract of Employment and will be subject to periodic review with the postholder.