Volunteer Complementary Therapist – Mentoring Programme (for those qualified less than 12 months)

Volunteer Complementary Therapist – Mentoring
Programme (for those qualified less than 12 months) –
Massage Therapist

Our core mission is to improve the lives of anyone affected by cancer, including those with a
diagnosis, carers, family members and bereaved relatives, by enhancing emotional,
psychological and physical well-being.

The Mulberry Centre is an award-winning charity which relies heavily on donations from
individuals and organisations to support people through their cancer journey from diagnosis,
through treatment and then post-discharge. We help them to start rebuilding their lives and
promote self-management. We also support carers and family members to deal with these
changes and bereaved relatives. We do this by providing counselling, complementary therapies,
wellbeing classes, and supporting information, tailored to the needs of our users at, and
around, our purpose-built centre in Isleworth. Our services are free of charge, but donations
are always welcome.

The Mulberry Centre Volunteer Mentoring Programme

The Mulberry Centre has recently launched an exciting Volunteer Mentoring Programme. This will
enable newly qualified therapists who do not yet have a full one-year practical experience but are
fully qualified and insured, the opportunity to join our team of volunteers. When accepted to join this
programme, you will be assessed through a minimum of 5 “cancer patients” case studies in which you
will be guided through specific cancer care initial consultation, contraindications, treatment
adaptation, additional techniques, body mechanics, cross contamination, and Health & Safety for
complementary therapies. On successful completion of the 5 cancer case studies, you will be ready to
start seeing Mulberry Centre clients, starting with Carers and Bereaved.

During this time, you will be continued to be supported regularly for 4 more weeks. The mentoring
programme is not an oncology massage qualification, but it does count towards points for your
Continued Professional Development allowing you to volunteer with us immediately after completing
the programme.

This programme equates to £1000 of training and support therefore we expect those participating to
commit to a minimum term of volunteering, 6 months weekly or 12 months fortnightly, otherwise we
reserve the right to invoice for the costs.

Our Volunteer Complementary Therapists provide complementary therapies for people with a
diagnosis of cancer, their carers and bereaved.  Therapies offered are recognised as having
positive benefits and are given with the aim of relieving stress related symptoms and
encourage relaxation.

Time commitment:   2 to 3 hours, weekly or fortnightly.

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Main Duties

•  Clients with a cancer diagnosis, carers or the bereaved are offered four treatments of one

hour each.

•  Each therapy is adapted to the needs of the individual, depending on the client’s condition.
Treatments are also carried out in chairs if needed, adjusting positioning and techniques
used.

Volunteer Specification

The Mulberry Centre is committed to providing the highest quality of care and therapists are
expected to:

▪  Have studied and qualified at a recognised college/school (ITEC equivalent).
▪  Be a member of CNHC.
▪  Have personal, professional indemnity insurance.
▪  Consider, or be undertaking, further professional development.
▪  Must not have had personal experience of cancer (either themselves or a close family

member) or have been bereaved within the preceding two years.
▪  All therapists must have or be eligible for registration with CNHC.

Support and Education

•  You will be provided with an induction covering the objective of the role, the work of
The Mulberry Centre, and its procedures and policies relevant for your volunteering
role.

•  We will do our best to assist your volunteering role with us.  This will include evaluation
sessions and keeping you updated with all the relevant information on what support
The Mulberry Centre offers. The mentoring programme will provide assessment through
a minimum of 5 ‘cancer patients’.
If accepted as  a volunteer there will be an initial 3 months, then a six-monthly and
annual review with your Lead. This is a way of monitoring and supporting each other
and is informal and confidential.

•

•  Expenses are reimbursed for travel incurred to carry out your volunteering duties. The
reimbursement  of  any  other  ‘out  of  pocket’  expenses  is  subject  to  prior  approval  by
your Lead.

•  Therapists are asked to attend meetings and support groups with other therapists,

which are held every three months.

•  Therapists are offered teachings, arranged by the Complementary Therapies Lead.
•  The Centre offers £50 per annum towards relevant professional development within

related areas, after six months as a volunteer at The Centre. We also offer
reimbursement retrospectively for CNHC membership yearly for those who have
volunteered regularly.

•  Networking amongst the therapists is encouraged, for support.

Next Steps

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•  All applicants will be asked to complete a Volunteer Application Form and

confidentiality agreement and provide two referees to their Lead which will be shared
with the Mulberry Macmillan Volunteer Lead (MMVL).

•  Candidates with the appropriate experience and skills for the role for which they have

applied will be interviewed by the lead associated to the role.

•  References will be taken up on successful candidates. Successful candidates will be

asked to provide relevant professional documentation including
qualifications/certificate to practise, enhanced DBS, membership of professional body
and insurance.

•  All new volunteers will be given role specific induction/training by their Lead and the

Mulberry Macmillan Volunteer Lead (MMVL) will provide them with a general induction
to the Centre, the general handbook and relevant information pertaining to policies and
procedures.  New volunteers will be asked to sign the Volunteer Agreement, confirming
their commitment to the Centre. Complementary Therapist volunteers will also need to
undertake a separate appropriate therapeutic induction.

•  Subject to satisfactory references, and completion of professional documentation, the
individual may start volunteering and a review will be carried out by their Lead after
three months.

Further information:  Email: volunteer@themulberrycentre.co.uk or

amanda@themulberrycentre.co.uk

Responsible to:

Complementary Therapies Lead

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