Sister / Charge Nurse in Costessey

You will be responsible for leading a team of Healthcare Assistants and Donor Care Supervisors, ensuring they are motivated, well‑trained, and capable of delivering excellent care. You will be expected to foster a positive working environment, provide ongoing training and support, and address any team issues or concerns that arise. You will use your clinical expertise and judgment to assess whether potential donors meet the necessary health and safety criteria for blood donation. This includes considering the donor's medical history, current health status, and any other relevant factors. This role requires strong leadership skills, clinical expertise, and a deep understanding of regulatory requirements. You'll be responsible for ensuring that the team delivers exceptional care while making critical decisions that affect donor safety and the overall quality of the service.

Responsibilities

• Taking clinical responsibility for ensuring the safe assessment and blood donation of our donors.
• Being accountable for the safe running of a blood donation session.
• Taking responsibility for ensuring an excellent donor experience.
• Maintaining the competency and skills of your team and yourself.
• Being able to adapt communication styles for difficult conversations.
• Maintaining your professional development to help us deliver improvements to our practice.

Your working hours will be on a shift basis but, the normal hours for this role are 3 days per week (6 days per fortnight). Early shifts start as early as 07:15 am and can finish up to 19:05 pm. Late shifts can start up to 10:00 am and finish up to 21:30 pm, this will be 9.5 hour days. Shift times vary according to location of session. Weekend and bank holiday working will be required. You can expect to work some long hours, but you won't be working more than five days a week.

What we offer

• No night shifts.
• TOIL (Time off in Lieu).
• Opportunities to work in other areas/specialisms.
• Flexible working options – we promote flexible working where the role allows. We're happy to discuss what flexibility might look like for you.
• Generous annual leave – 27 days annual leave (pro rata for part‑time) plus Bank Holidays, increasing to 29 days after 5 years service and to 33 days after 10 years.
• Inclusive pension scheme – the NHS Pension Scheme is a defined benefit scheme (not dependent on investment returns).
• Supportive learning culture – we've fostered a culture of continuous learning where colleagues are well‑led, engaged, and encouraged to grow. We support you in reaching your full potential, both in your current role and future career.
• Health and wellbeing support – we offer confidential services including occupational health, employee assistance programme, and wellbeing resources. Our support is available to all colleagues and we endeavour to provide tailored workplace adjustments where possible.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we welcome applications from disabled candidates. We will talk with you to explore any adjustments that may help you during the recruitment process.

Person Specification – Qualifications

• Registered Nurse with current Nursing and Midwifery Council registration (which must be maintained) as Registered Nurse Adult.
• Hold a full and valid UK driving licence with no more than 6 points.

Experience

• Demonstrate leadership qualities and understand the principles of best practice to deliver high quality care.
• Have experience of supporting the professional development of others.
• Have an understanding of clinical audit and research.
• Have experience of supporting improvements and change in practice.
• Have an awareness of patient safety initiatives and risk management.
• Have experience of working with Information Technology such as handheld devices and Microsoft Office packages (Word, Excel and PowerPoint).

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.