This textbook on palliative social work is a companion volume to the Oxford Textbook of Palliative Medicine and the Oxford Textbook of Palliative Nursing. To that end, this chapter will accomplish the following:

♦Volunteer roles, which encompass a wide spectrum of services, require diverse support from the social worker.

♦Ethical issues faced by volunteers should be addressed by the social worker through ongoing, informal communication and through continuing education and care planning with the volunteer.

♦Led by the social worker, volunteer recruitment, training, and retention can improve patient care by enabling a more complete understanding of how the unique dynamics of each family may benefit from different levels of support from various members of the interdisciplinary team.