Voluntary Services Co-ordinator (Butterfly Volunteer Lead)

Job summary

Voluntary Services Co-ordinator (Butterfly Volunteer Lead)

Interview Date | 22nd April 2026

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Voluntary Services Team as the coordinator for the Butterfly End of Life Volunteer Service. The role focuses on leading and coordinating a team of compassionate volunteers who provide support to patients and families at the end of life across the Trust.

The post holder will oversee the recruitment, training, supervision and day-to-day coordination of Butterfly Volunteers, ensuring the service is safe, well supported and responsive to the needs of wards, patients and families. The role works closely with the Anne Robson Trust to ensure volunteers are appropriately supported when working in sensitive end-of-life environments.

Alongside the Butterfly Service, the role also supports the wider Voluntary Services Team with coordinating volunteering activity across the Trust. This includes supporting volunteer placements, responding to requests from wards and helping develop volunteering opportunities that enhance patient experience and support staff.

Our philosophy is that volunteering should be Inspiring, Fulfilling and Worthwhile, and this role plays an important part in supporting volunteers while helping improve the experience of patients and families.

Main duties of the job

The role centres on coordinating and leading the Butterfly End of Life Volunteer Service across the Trust, ensuring that patients and families receive compassionate support at the end of life. It involves recruiting, interviewing, training and supporting Butterfly Volunteers in partnership with the Anne Robson Trust, while also providing day-to-day supervision and pastoral guidance as they work on wards in emotionally sensitive situations. A key part of the role is ensuring volunteers are confident, well-prepared and working safely within Trust policies and governance processes.

You would also be responsible for organising volunteer placements across wards, responding to requests for support, and working closely with the Palliative and End of Life Care team, ward staff and chaplaincy to ensure appropriate referrals. Maintaining accurate records, monitoring volunteer activity and gathering feedback from patients, families, staff and volunteers all contribute to ongoing service improvement and the development of best practice.

Beyond the Butterfly Service, the role supports the wider Voluntary Services Team by helping with the recruitment, training and development of volunteers across the Trust. It also involves promoting volunteering, identifying new opportunities and working collaboratively with colleagues to strengthen and expand volunteering provision across the organisation.

About us

We are proud to be part of BSW Hospitals Group - a formal partnership between Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust and Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust. With a combined workforce of over 17, 600 colleagues, and budget of 1.6 billion the Group is united by a common purpose to deliver the best possible care to over 1 million people.

We are creating a health and care system that works with the people we care for, reducing the differences people currently face in access, experience and outcomes, improving the experience of our colleagues and tackling shared challenges like sustainability and finances. Every improvement we make across our Group will be guided by what creates the greatest benefit for our colleagues, our patients, our communities and our partners.

Employer details

Employer name

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Great Western Hospital

Marlborough Road

Swindon

SN3 6BB

Employer's website

https://www.gwh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

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Employer details

Employer name

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Great Western Hospital

Marlborough Road

Swindon

SN3 6BB

Employer's website

https://www.gwh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

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