How to write a good role specification

A role specification describes the role that a volunteer does, as opposed to a job description which describes the work that paid staff do. The following is an outline of what a good role specification should contain, and the examples relate to the scenario of working in a charity shop in the diversity section:

Title: The name of the position or role

Purpose of the role: This is the most important part of the role specification - what the role should accomplish. For example, if you're working in a charity shop your purpose might be to sell a lot of clothes, or serve the customers politely.

Activities: The kind of things the volunteer could do to achieve their goals - although you don't want to be too prescriptive here, as it's good for people to do things their own way. So, for example, activities working in a charity shop could be keeping the clothes clean and tidy, using the till.

Evaluation: How you will measure whether the purpose is achieved? This is very important - letting people know how they're doing helps to motivate them, and helps you to judge how effective your volunteers are.

Experience: Any skills, qualifications or personal qualities you require.

Personal: Explain any philosophy or attitude your organisation holds that you hope your volunteers would share.

Benefits: Reimbursement of expenses, childcare provision, training, insurance, parking.

Hours: How many hours a week, the minimum time you expect volunteers to stay, and how flexible you are about both these issues.

Where: Where the volunteering will take place.

Supervision: How the volunteer's role relates to staff and other volunteers, and who will supervise them. Also comment on ways that problems will be dealt with.

It's a good idea to allow the interviewee time to read the role specification before the interview.

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