Volunteer to Career

The pathway is for anyone who is interested in a career in Health and Social Care and wants to gain hands-on experience in a clinical setting.

You can complete your Volunteer to Career pathway in our Lymphoedema Service or Adult Inpatient Unit.

All volunteering takes place at our St Oswald’s Hospice site, which is located on Regent Avenue, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 1EE.

You will be expected to do a minimum of 1 shift a week.

Shifts in our Lymphoedema Service will be either 9am to 12pm or 1pm to 4 pm, Monday to Friday.

Shifts in our Adult Inpatient Unit will be 8am to 10am, 10am to 12pm, 2pm to 4pm or 5pm to 6.30pm, Monday to Sunday. There is also a lunchtime shift available 12.15pm to 1.45pm.

Your shifts will be discussed during the interview stage and agreed and allocated at the start of your volunteering journey, depending on availability.

We usually expect our volunteers to commit to a minimum of 1 shift a week for 6 months.

Shorter periods of volunteering can be agreed by committing to more weekly shifts. This will be discussed at the interview stage.

To gain the National Volunteering Certificate you must volunteer for more than 60 hours.

All volunteers are provided with a polo top. Those volunteering in the Lymphoedema Clinic will also be provided with trousers. You will wear your own suitable shoes / trainers. Stud earrings can be worn in the clinical settings but no rings, watches or bracelets are allowed. You will receive full uniform guidance at the start of your volunteering.

Phones must be kept in your locker while volunteering. If you need to use your phone during a shift, please speak to your Volunteer Coordinator.

Yes. Travel is reimbursed via a travel form. Paid travel tickets must be provided and / or mileage recorded. Forms will be checked and signed by the Volunteer Coordinator as per our travel expenses policy.

There are several mandatory online and face-to-face training courses that must be completed before you start. An induction period with training will also be planned for each individual.

During your volunteering, you will receive ongoing training, guidance and support from our team of clinicians.

You will also receive regular 1:1 mentoring sessions throughout the Volunteer to Career pathway.

To apply for Volunteer to Career, please download and return this application form.

You will be contacted to attend an interview and a full DBS will be required, which we will pay for. Once you have a DBS and you have completed all necessary training, we will contact you with a start date.

If you have any questions about Volunteer to Career or would like to register your interest in the pathway, please email volunteer@stoswaldsuk.org or fill out the contact form below.