Chief Medical Adviser

Please note that the last date to apply for this volunteer role is 22nd January 2024

Make-A-Wish UK brings amazing people together to grant inspirational, life-changing wishes for children with critical conditions. We work with wish children, their families, and medical teams to make unforgettable wishes a reality – like a child getting to be a princess in their own castle, cooking with their favourite celebrity chef, and even becoming a Ghostbuster to save the city of Leeds! Our mission is to grant a wish for every eligible child living with a critical condition in the UK, but we can’t do this without your help. In this vital leadership role you will be instrumental in helping us to grant the wishes of 200 children that are waiting right now in communities across the UK. Helping us to reach them will be an inspirational and fulfilling experience that you’ll never forget. Join our volunteering community now and make a lasting difference. By sharing your time and skills, you can help children across the UK experiencing life-threatening illnesses.

Why we need your help

When a child is diagnosed with a critical condition, everything changes. The joy of childhood is brought to an abrupt end; replaced by hospital appointments, gruelling treatment plans and endless worry. A wish has the power to cut through the gruelling daily reality of life with a critical illness, bringing true magic back to the childhoods of those most in need. Sadly, the number of wish enquiries from seriously ill children with less than a year to live is rising fast. We need help to meet this urgent demand now - before it’s too late. By volunteering, you have the power to make a wish come true for a critically ill child, allowing families to create lasting memories to treasure forever – no matter what the future holds.

Why volunteer for Make-A-Wish UK?

When you volunteer for Make-A-Wish UK in your community, you'll become part of a nationwide team, helping children who are living with critical conditions by:

• Getting active in your local community with other volunteers – both in person and online
• Helping local wish families by capturing their child’s unique wish and bringing it to life through all stages of the wish journey

We know that your time is precious, so we’ll work with you to make sure you get the most out of your experience with us. You’ll have the opportunity to:

• Join an inspiring and magical organisation, where you will help children experience the anticipation and long-lasting effects of a wish
• Develop new skills and gain new work-related experiences and relationships
• Participate in an interactive and engaging learning and development programme, that fits in around you and your life
• Build emotional resilience, and increase your levels of wellbeing and self-esteem using our wellness platform and recognition programme
• Access our volunteer Teams community; our online network where you can connect with both Make-A-Wish UK Employees and volunteers across the UK, and access handy resources and training documents
• Make connections with a diverse range of people and build lifelong friendships
• Access our WishForce map which shows you where wishes, and activities are happening in your community that you can choose to get involved in

How will I be supported?

You will be fully inducted into the world of Make-A-Wish UK and receive a training session which showcases our values of be inspiring, be magical and be inclusive that we expect all Make-A-Wish UK Volunteers to demonstrate in any role or activity. Alongside this you will receive specific training relating to your role through our engaging learning and development programme, as well as plenty of support from the Make-A-Wish UK team, enabling you to feel confident and empowered in making magical wishes happen for our wish families.

Requirements of this role

• To attend a regular quarterly Wish Advisory Group meeting.
• Be available to respond to queries about eligibility for wishes, based on our defined eligibility criteria, usually within 5 working days (estimated 10-12 per year)
• To represent Make-A-Wish UK at external events (estimated 1-2 per year) that support the organisation’s charitable objectives by engaging with the medical sector
• Paediatric clinical specialist with at least 5 years’ experience working with children with critical conditions
• Knowledge of holistic paediatric care, and experience of multi-agency child-centred support

Please note that there will be a full and informative training package that will equip you to become familiar with all aspects of volunteering at Make-A-Wish UK.

What will I be doing as a Chief Medical Adviser?

Make-A-Wish’s Chief Medical Adviser is the organisation’s key ambassador and champion within the medical and care sectors. This role is pivotal in helping Make-A-Wish to understand the clinical context and care pathways that eligible children and young people experience, and shaping the way Make-A-Wish integrates and interacts with professionals, wish families and organisations in the sector. This is an exciting and expansive opportunity for someone with a medical background who is passionate about growing communities of support for children with critical conditions.
The Chief Medical Adviser will shape the role with their own ideas, and the following activities are given as recommendations for how to thrive in the role:

• Identify opportunities for partnerships that support Make-A-Wish UK’s strategy to reach every eligible child.
• Promote Make-A-Wish across professional networks, maintaining regular communication on eligibility and referral initiatives, promoting the outcomes and impact of a wish.
• Be an ambassador for Make-A-Wish UK at events within the hospital and hospice care sectors.
• Support development of the wish journey for children and families.
• Advise on the methodology for measuring the impact of wishes.
• Provide advice on national research partnerships and reporting initiatives related to defining medical impact, potentially eligible children, and eligibility metrics.
• Support the referral and eligibility certification procedures when requested by giving advice to employees as to whether a child is eligible for a wish.
• To advise on Make-A-Wish UK eligibility criteria, based on the latest research and best practice. If required seek advice from the Make-A-Wish International Medical Advisory Committee.
• Provide or signpost to guidance on risk-management issues, travel safety, and policies and procedures for fulfilling wishes for medically fragile children with complicated and high-risk situations.
• When requested provide medical expertise on the development of training, tools and resources for employees and volunteers.
• To contribute to the Wish Advisory Group, who meet quarterly.

What skills do I need?

• Paediatric clinical specialist with at least 5 years’ experience working with children with clinical conditions
• Knowledge of holistic paediatric care, and experience of multi-agency child-centred support
• Excellent communication skills and experience of building professional networks
• Committed to the Make-A-Wish values to be inspiring, be magical and be inclusive
• A basic level of IT skills are essential for this role, ability to use Microsoft Office and Teams You will also need access to either a computer or smartphone/device

If you would like to volunteer for Make-A-Wish UK but would to like explore other volunteer opportunities that require less time commitment please do visit our website and take a look at the other magical roles to offer. Or you can reach us at volunteering@makeawish.org.uk. Make-A-Wish is keen to ensure our team reflects the diversity of the UK and the communities we serve. We encourage applications from volunteers 18+ from all walks of life including those who are disabled, LGBTQ and from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities who are underrepresented in our organisation. We are flexible and volunteering can be arranged to fit in around a busy lifestyle. We look forward to the unique contribution each volunteer can bring in terms of their culture, beliefs and background.

There are few experiences more powerful than helping to make a wish come true. Join us now and be part of the magic.

Watch George’s amazing ghostbusting wish and many more on our YouTube Channel here