We Play as One Team: Our Approach to Volunteer Management

As we celebrate International Volunteer Manager's Day, it’s the perfect opportunity to recognise and appreciate our Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) colleagues who support over 800 volunteers nationally. Our volunteer managers play a vital role in providing unwavering care for children who may die young and their families. They also nurture our passionate volunteers across various areas, including Hospice, Retail, Office and Projects, Fundraising and Outreach.

There is no doubt we ask a great deal of them. To support this, our new Volunteering Strategy includes a commitment to embed a Volunteer Manager’s network across our organisation. We aspire for all colleagues to feel connected, confident, and passionate about integrating volunteers into every area of the work we do. We hope this encourages them to take on volunteer manager roles – regardless of their position- knowing they have a supportive CHAS community around them.

Our ‘Future Normal’

Our ‘future normal’ embodies one of our organisational values of playing as one team:

• We listen to our colleagues to understand both their individual and team needs, and how we can support
• We involve families and volunteers in planning and development
• We are courageous and creative
• We foster a community, where volunteer managers can access peer support, training and share experience

Integrating volunteers within our CHAS at Home Team

A new project that embodies this vision is our ongoing pilot to integrate volunteers in CHAS at Home. A branch of our Outreach Service, the CHAS at Home team consists of nurses and support workers who provide a range of nursing interventions in family homes and in hospitals.

Recently, our CHAS at Home colleagues in both the East and West regions welcomed nine new volunteers to their teams, to explore how Activities and Nursing Support volunteers can enhance the care provided to families in their homes. Each volunteer accompanies a clinical staff member on visits to help with practical tasks, such as moving and handling, and personal care. They also spend quality time with children and their families, facilitating enjoyable activities and outings.

Linda, one of our new Nursing Support Volunteers, shared her experience so far:

“Julie and Diane (two CHAS at Home nurses) supported me during my first home visit to meet with a family supported by CHAS. I felt very much part of the team. They explained everything as we went along and were a great support. I helped with repositioning a child, reading a story, playing and music. I can’t pick out what I enjoyed specifically as I enjoyed all of it. I went away with a better knowledge of my role and I am glad I volunteered for this project.”

Linda’s experience highlights the dedication and support she has received from her Volunteer Managers. Senior Staff Nurses Julie Webber and Karyn Stevenson have embraced this initiative and their additional responsibilities that come with it.

Photo from recent induction for Nursing Support Volunteers with Karyn (far left) and Julie (far right).

Play as one team

The CHAS Volunteering Team continues to work closely with our nursing colleagues across both regions to:

• Provide volunteer management training and support
• Establish a thorough and supportive volunteer journey
• Create new volunteering roles that are flexible, unique and rewarding
• Embed support and supervision for volunteers, with a strong focus on wellbeing

We look forward to evaluating this pilot in the new year. The insights gained, will help us better utilise the skills and experience of volunteers and continue to develop the services we offer to families.

Thank you

Today and every day, we at CHAS want to thank all of our volunteer managers for their unwavering support of our volunteers and their willingness to embrace new challenges and creative ways of working.