Job summary
Are you a compassionate clinician or healthcare professional with a passion for end-of-life care and empowering volunteers to support patients and families at life's most important moments?
West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is seeking a dedicated End of Life Coordinator to lead, develop, and embed our end-of-life (EoL) volunteering service across our hospital. This is a unique opportunity to combine clinical insight with volunteer leadership in a highly meaningful role.
You will be at the heart of our 'Rose Volunteer' programme, coordinating volunteers who offer emotional, practical, and compassionate support to patients, families, carers, and staff during the final days of life.
The ideal candidate will bring an understanding of the sensitivities and clinical needs of patients at the end of life, as well as the ability to inspire and support a dedicated team of volunteers.
A nursing or healthcare background is desirable, but not essential -- what matters most is your ability to deliver dignified, compassionate care through volunteer leadership.
This is a full-time post (5 days a week) with a flexible approach to hours. The role is accountable for regular impact reporting and external representation of the Trust and its charity partners
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Please note - we are unable to obtain a Certificate of Sponsorship (Work Permit) for this role.
Main duties of the job
The postholder will be responsible for maintaining a well- supported and engaged group of end-of-life volunteers.
They will ensure volunteers feel valued, confident, and equipped to carry out their roles with compassion and professionalism.
In response to service demand, they will actively recruit, train, and deploy new volunteers while upholding safe and inclusive practices.
This includes organising interviews, pre- placement checks, and bespoke training tailored to the sensitive nature of end-of-life care.
The Coordinator will also build strong working relationships with clinical and operational stakeholders to ensure the seamless integration and day-to-day running of the service.
This includes:
o Recruiting, training, and supervising EOLC volunteers.o Promoting the service and embedding it within clinical teams.o Enhancing volunteer wellbeing and resilience in emotionally complex care settings.o Building relationship with the partners across community.o Evaluating impact and driving service improvements.
About us
With a new hospital planned for Watford and work underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital, this is an exciting time to join us. We are building on the success of our award-winning virtual hospital and re-imagining models of care, working ever more closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare. Staff wellbeing and development are a priority at our Trust, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient experience. Our vision is Excellent patient care, together and our values are to be empowered, compassionate, professional and inclusive. They capture an important balance across what we must all do as individuals and to support others. We offer a variety of flexible working options as we recognise the importance of a good work life balance. www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk/flexibleworking If you have a disability or long-term health condition and should you require support or guidance please contact westherts.recruitment@nhs.net If you are a Service Leaver, Veteran, Military Reserve, Cadet Force Adult Volunteer, or partner/spouse of those serving please tick "Member of the Armed Forces Community" on the application form. We reserve the right to close this advert early due to the volume of applicants. Please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. If you do not hear back within 3 weeks of your application, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.
Job description
Job responsibilities
As the End-of-Life Care (EOLC) Coordinator, you will oversee the compassionate and effective delivery of the Trusts Rose Volunteering Programme across all three hospital sites. You will be responsible for the full lifecycle of volunteer managementincluding recruitment, bespoke training, supervision, rota coordination, and ongoing support.You will:
Lead the safe recruitment, onboarding, and deployment of EOLC volunteers, ensuring robust governance and emotional support structures are in place.
Grow and diversify the EOLC volunteer base to meet the evolving needs of patients and staff.
Promote the service across wards and departments, championing its value and integration into everyday hospital life.
Coordinate volunteer rotas, maintain weekly contact with all active volunteers, and ensure the delivery of a high-quality, emotionally intelligent service.
Liaise with community partners to share learning, strengthen relationships, and enhance continuity of care.
Monitor and report on performance, including KPIs and annual impact reports.
Support wider departmental initiatives, including contributing to the Volunteer Services Response Hub.
Identify new volunteer opportunities, including support for quality improvement initiatives.
Liaise with community organisations to share learning and extend engagement.
Perform recruitment checks, risk assessments, and monitoring protocols.
Work with the EOLC Nurse Educator and Chaplaincy team to refine training and referral systems.
Provide cover for other volunteering functions and contribute to the volunteer hub rota.
Embed volunteers into hospital life as visible partners in compassionate care.
This is a key role in shaping compassionate, person-centred care at end-of-lifeand in demonstrating how volunteers can transform the patient and family experience.
Job description
Job responsibilities
As the End-of-Life Care (EOLC) Coordinator, you will oversee the compassionate and effective delivery of the Trusts Rose Volunteering Programme across all three hospital sites. You will be responsible for the full lifecycle of volunteer managementincluding recruitment, bespoke training, supervision, rota coordination, and ongoing support.You will:
Lead the safe recruitment, onboarding, and deployment of EOLC volunteers, ensuring robust governance and emotional support structures are in place.
Grow and diversify the EOLC volunteer base to meet the evolving needs of patients and staff.
Promote the service across wards and departments, championing its value and integration into everyday hospital life.
Coordinate volunteer rotas, maintain weekly contact with all active volunteers, and ensure the delivery of a high-quality, emotionally intelligent service.
Liaise with community partners to share learning, strengthen relationships, and enhance continuity of care.
Monitor and report on performance, including KPIs and annual impact reports.
Support wider departmental initiatives, including contributing to the Volunteer Services Response Hub.
Identify new volunteer opportunities, including support for quality improvement initiatives.
Liaise with community organisations to share learning and extend engagement.
Perform recruitment checks, risk assessments, and monitoring protocols.
Work with the EOLC Nurse Educator and Chaplaincy team to refine training and referral systems.
Provide cover for other volunteering functions and contribute to the volunteer hub rota.
Embed volunteers into hospital life as visible partners in compassionate care.
This is a key role in shaping compassionate, person-centred care at end-of-lifeand in demonstrating how volunteers can transform the patient and family experience.
Person Specification
Education and qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level in a related subject or equivalent experience.
- Knowledge and experience in recruiting, training, supporting, and managing volunteers
- Knowledge of volunteering policies and good practice.
Desirable
- Supervision qualification.
- Experience in implementing projects
- Experience working with volunteers in an NHS or health field.
- Knowledge of End-of-life or palliative care acquired through study or experience.
Knowledge
Essential
- Demonstrable knowledge and awareness of good practice and safe governance in recruiting, training, and supervising volunteers.
- Knowledge of volunteer policies and good practice.
- Knowledge of volunteers supporting health & social care needs in an acute hospital setting.
Desirable
- Knowledge of project management
- Excellent understanding of utilising the internet and social media platforms to promote projects.
Experience
Essential
- Proven experience managing/ coordinating people.
- Proven experience successfully managing projects, preferably with volunteers and/or in an acute healthcare setting.
Desirable
- Experience working with or supporting those working with the dying and working in the cleaning settings.
- Experience in engaging with volunteers and understanding the opportunities and challenges this can bring.
- social care or related experience within an acute healthcare setting, preferably NHS.
- Experience working collaboratively with a range of service users, carers, staff and other stakeholders
Person Specification
Education and qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level in a related subject or equivalent experience.
- Knowledge and experience in recruiting, training, supporting, and managing volunteers
- Knowledge of volunteering policies and good practice.
Desirable
- Supervision qualification.
- Experience in implementing projects
- Experience working with volunteers in an NHS or health field.
- Knowledge of End-of-life or palliative care acquired through study or experience.
Knowledge
Essential
- Demonstrable knowledge and awareness of good practice and safe governance in recruiting, training, and supervising volunteers.
- Knowledge of volunteer policies and good practice.
- Knowledge of volunteers supporting health & social care needs in an acute hospital setting.
Desirable
- Knowledge of project management
- Excellent understanding of utilising the internet and social media platforms to promote projects.
Experience
Essential
- Proven experience managing/ coordinating people.
- Proven experience successfully managing projects, preferably with volunteers and/or in an acute healthcare setting.
Desirable
- Experience working with or supporting those working with the dying and working in the cleaning settings.
- Experience in engaging with volunteers and understanding the opportunities and challenges this can bring.
- social care or related experience within an acute healthcare setting, preferably NHS.
- Experience working collaboratively with a range of service users, carers, staff and other stakeholders
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
