Volunteers - Find a role

Closing date of role

Monday 6 April 2026

Purpose of role

Supportive oncology care involves medical and non-medical teams working together to help to prevent and manage the effects of cancer and its treatment. It includes prehabilitation, management of treatable but incurable cancer, curative disease, cancer survivorship and palliative and end of life care. The supportive oncology directorate board meets every month except during August.

The volunteer role of supportive oncology board patient/user representative will help to ensure that the work we do is informed by patients and the public.

We are looking for 2 to 4 people who have either completed their cancer treatment and are now living with cancer, or who have cared for someone currently living with cancer. You will use your experience as a patient or carer to represent the residents of Greater Manchester and Cheshire.

The meetings are usually held using MS Teams, although in the future, we are considering introducing the option to attend face-to-face or remotely by MS Teams.

Time commitment

Meetings usually take place on a Thursday 12pm to 1.30pm. However, to accommodate teams with clinical commitments, we ask for some flexibility around the date and time of meetings.

Preparation time to read the papers and related materials would take no more than 40 minutes depending on the content of the agenda. There is no need to print off the papers as they will be visible on your computer screen during online meetings. For face-to-face meetings it can be helpful to have paper copies or to bring your laptop to the meeting.

We are looking for 2 to 4 representatives who can commit to the role for at least 1 year and cover eleven meetings between them.

Related documents

• Management of volunteers' policy
• Health and safety policy
• Uniform and workwear policy and code of appearance
• Volunteer agreement
• Supportive oncology strategy (work in progress)

Procedure

Volunteers are required to:

• be registered volunteers who are DBS checked and cleared
• attend meetings remotely using MS Teams
• wear identity badges and volunteer lanyard if on site
• conform to Trust policies and procedures that they are made aware of
• report any accident/untoward occurrences to a member of staff
• comply with training provided
• duties will include:
  
  • use your knowledge and experience to give objective advice about the impact on patients and carers around the issues being considered by the board, while leaving aside any personal agenda and issues.
  • have a genuine interest in improving services for patients and a basic understanding of the NHS.
  • understand and evaluate a range of information and evidence.
  • ask constructive and challenging questions.
  • work as part of a group, build effective relationships, and listen to and consider the views of others.
  • have good time management skills.
  • have good IT skills.
  • have access to a private setting and IT equipment such as a laptop/PC or tablet to take part in online meetings.
  • read papers and related materials in advance, which will be circulated electronically.
  • have an awareness of and commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
  • understand the need for confidentiality.
• Do no other duties than those agreed in these guidelines
• Volunteers are welcome to volunteer in more than 1 role at The Christie over a total of no more than 10 hours per week
• Your supervisor in the supportive oncology directorate will:
  
  • supervise the work of the volunteers.
  • manage a local induction for the volunteers.
  • be able to deal with any queries/problems/concerns from the volunteers.
  • liaise with the marketing and engagement department as required.
  • provide a commitment that the volunteers views will be taken seriously.
  • offer advice, guidance and support.
  • offer pre-meeting briefings to discuss the agenda.
  • provide a commitment to use jargon-free language (as much as is practically possible) and provide information such as meeting papers in good time.
  • commit to being transparent in the information shared and be honest about what can and cannot be achieved.
• The marketing and engagement department will:
  • register volunteers on behalf of The Christie
  • arrange training appropriate to volunteers’ needs
  • maintain records of volunteers’ attendance at training sessions
  • liaise with staff and volunteers
  • be available to deal with any matters of concerns for volunteers
  • provide a clear description of your role

Mandatory training

Volunteers must complete:

• mandatory training as specified by the marketing and engagement department prior to starting. Training once completed is valid for 3 years and is transferrable to other NHS Trusts supporting the online volunteer passport. Guidance is provided.
• additional training as required – to be provided by the departmental staff.

COVID vaccination

To help maintain the highest levels of safety for our patients, volunteers and staff, we encourage volunteers to be vaccinated. Volunteers may take the opportunity to be vaccinated as part of our staff vaccination programme.

Flu vaccination

Flu is a key factor in NHS winter pressures. It impacts on those who become ill, the NHS services that provide direct care as a result, and on the wider health and social care system that supports people in at risk groups. We encourage volunteers to be vaccinated to help reduce the spread of unplanned hospital admissions and pressure on the NHS.

Further information

The committee has a full agenda that encompasses the full range of activity in the supportive oncology directorate. This will include operational issues, risks management, finance and fundraising, research and service improvement and innovation. This is a new committee and is still developing its agenda and membership.

Successful shortlisted applicants will be invited for a short interview lasting 30 minutes with an opportunity for questions. The interview will be attended by a representative from volunteer services and the supportive oncology directorate.

You will be asked a small number of questions including why you want to volunteer at The Christie, why you would like to do the role you are applying for and what you can bring to the role. You will also be asked if you can commit to the role for the time asked each month and for a year from the point of starting your role.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion

At The Christie, we aim to deliver healthcare services that are accessible and inclusive to everyone. We want our teams to reflect the diversity of the patients and communities we serve and therefore welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and identities.

To ensure The Christie is a place characterised by dignity and inclusivity, we ask that volunteers show equal respect to all staff, patients, visitors, and to each other regardless of their background or ability.

Closing date of role

Monday 30 March 2026

Purpose of role

The role of the volunteer is to enhance the patient’s experience of The Christie Pharmacy by providing services of a non-nursing, non-medical nature and to free up the time of the paid members of staff at all levels to enable them to carry out the duties which they are qualified to do.

This is a meet and greet role which involves speaking to patients, organising the queuing system and dealing with general enquiries. This role does not offer clinical experience towards academic study.

Scope of role

The Christie Pharmacy

Responsibility for role

Pharmacy manager, marketing and engagement officer/coordinator

Time commitment

Fridays 11am to 3pm

Related documents

• Management of volunteers' policy
• Health and safety policy
• Local risk assessment(s)
• Uniform and workwear policy and code of appearance
• Volunteer agreement

Procedure

Volunteers are required to:

• be registered volunteers who are DBS checked and cleared
• wear identity badges and volunteer lanyard if on site
• conform to Trust policies and procedures that they are made aware of
• report any accident/untoward occurrences to a member of staff
• comply with training provided
• duties will include:
  
  • greeting patients and visitors on arrivals, introducing yourself in a welcoming and professional manner
  • signposting patients and visitors to other parts of the hospital
  • dealing with general enquiries in a professional and consistent manner, offering support when required
  • on occasion, be able to deal with distressed patients and/or their relatives in a sensitive and confidential manner, and refer to an appropriate member of staff
  • sitting with patients who are on their own and would like some company, should the patient consent
  • actively approaching patients and relatives, and acting as a listening ear
  • helping patients and their relatives to understand the systems in the pharmacy department and where they should wait
  • assisting Pharmacy staff in delivering best patient care
  • to be aware while in the department of any general housekeeping or health and safety issues that may arise, and liaise with staff appropriately to maintain safety
• Do no other duties than those agreed in these guidelines
• Pharmacy staff will:
  
  • supervise the work of the volunteers
  • be able to deal with any queries/problems/concerns from volunteers
  • liaise with the marketing and engagement department as required
  • include volunteer activity in their risk assessments
  • offer a local induction programme
  • carry out an annual review to check how your role is going
• The marketing and engagement department will:
  • register volunteers on behalf of The Christie
  • arrange training appropriate to volunteers’ needs
  • maintain records of volunteers’ attendance at training sessions
  • liaise with staff and volunteers
  • be available to deal with any matters of concerns for volunteers
  • provide a clear description of your role

Mandatory training

Volunteers must complete:

• online mandatory training as specified by the marketing and engagement department
• additional training as required – to be provided by the departmental staff

Flu vaccination

Flu is a key factor in NHS winter pressures. It impacts on those who become ill, the NHS services that provide direct care as a result, and on the wider health and social care system that supports people in at risk groups. We encourage volunteers to be vaccinated to help reduce the spread of unplanned hospital admissions and pressure on the NHS.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion

At The Christie, we aim to deliver healthcare services that are accessible and inclusive to everyone. We want our teams to reflect the diversity of the patients and communities we serve and therefore welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and identities.

To ensure The Christie is a place characterised by dignity and inclusivity, we ask that volunteers show equal respect to all staff, patients, visitors, and to each other regardless of their background or ability.