Academic Member of the Research Governance Committee

Shooting Star Children’s Hospices is a leading children’s hospice charity caring for babies, children and young people with life limiting conditions and their families.  Our bespoke support is free of charge and available 365 days of the year. The supplementary support to our paid staff that our volunteers offer ensures the best experience for our supported families.   The hospice recognises and values the unique contribution volunteers make.  

Role Purpose

Shooting Star Children's Hospices is seeking an experienced and dedicated academic with a strong interest in paediatric palliative care, or related field to join our Research Governance Committee as a Volunteer Academic Member. 

This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to the strategic development of research at a research active children’s hospice, to ensure that our research activities meet the highest standards of integrity, ethics and governance.  

You will work with the Committee Chair, the Research Fellow, and other committee members to support research that makes a meaningful difference to children with life-limiting conditions and their families as well as bereaved families, including those where a child died unexpectedly. 

Appointment to the Committee will be subject to confirmation by the Shooting Star Children’s Hospices Trustee Board.  

Duties and Key Responsibilities

• Participate in quarterly meetings: Attend and contribute to online committee meetings held four times per year (papers and slide deck will be prepared by the Chair). 
• Review research proposals: Provide expert review of project proposals, contributing to the assurance of ethical and governance standards. 
• Support research oversight: Help ensure that all research complies with regulatory and ethical requirements and reflects best practices. 
• Contribute academic expertise: Share your knowledge and experience to strengthen the quality and impact of the charity’s research portfolio. 
• Promote collaboration: Encourage partnerships between Shooting Star Children’s Hospices and wider academic, clinical, and research communities. 
• Champion good governance: Actively promote equity, transparency, and excellence in research oversight. 

Essential Skills and experience

• Proven experience in academic research, research governance, and research ethics. 
• Strong academic background in higher education, and health or social care research. 
• In-depth understanding of research compliance frameworks (e.g., GDPR, HRA, UKRIO, Caldicott Guidelines, or equivalent). 
• Ability to evaluate research proposals and provide constructive feedback. 
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills. 
• Confidence using virtual meeting platforms and digital collaboration tools. 

Desirable Attributes

• Academic research background with a track record of publications in the area of paediatric palliative care or related field. 
• Previous experience serving on or chairing a research committee or governance board. 
• Commitment to promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion in research.
• Quarterly committee meetings (Approximately 1 hour per meeting). 
• Reviewing project proposals (Approximately 1 hour per month). 
• Email communication and ad hoc queries (Approximately 1 hour per month). 
• 2–3 years in the role would be appreciated for both parties to gain the most out of this experience. 
• This is a voluntary role. Reasonable expenses related to attendance and participation will be reimbursed. 

Commitment

• Quarterly committee meetings (Approximately 1 hour per meeting). 
• Reviewing project proposals (Approximately 1 hour per month). 
• Email communication and ad hoc queries (Approximately 1 hour per month). 
• 2–3 years in the role would be appreciated for both parties to gain the most out of this experience. 
• This is a voluntary role. Reasonable expenses related to attendance and participation will be reimbursed. 

What can I expect volunteering for Shooting Star Children's Hospices?

• Full training and Induction for the volunteer role.
• To make a valuable and worthwhile contribution to the services we provide
• Ongoing Support from a line manager and the Volunteer Development team.
• Reimbursement of agreed out-of-pocket expenses in line with our volunteer policy.
• A monthly volunteer newsletter with news about the charity and any ad-hoc volunteering opportunities.
• The possibility to switch volunteer roles if you decide that you would like to try something different.
• An invite to our yearly Volunteer thank you event.
• An opportunity to provide feedback via our feedback forms, surveys and our Volunteer Forum.

TO APPLY:  Please complete an online application form at https://www.shootingstar.org.uk/how-you-can-help/volunteer/apply/

If you have any questions please contact:  Melanie Hill or Tracy Sgambellone volunteers@shootingstar.org.uk

Values

As a charitable organisation our ambition is to see highly professional services which place life-limited children and their families at the heart of everything we do.  To achieve this ambition we require all of our volunteers to share our common values and display behaviours that enable us to deliver our goal.

Our organisational values are:

Professionalism – we will safeguard our families, each other and our organisation by working to ethical and professional standards at all times.

Respect – We will treat each other with the utmost respect.

Integrity – We will be open, honest and transparent in all that we do.

Diversity – We will respect individuality and ensure inclusion and fairness to all.

Excellence – We will strive for excellence in all that we do.

This role is advertised as part of TPP's Free Giving Back Services. This volunteer advertisement copy has been supplied to TPP and applicants apply direct to the organisation. Please contact the organisation directly if you have any questions about this volunteer role.