Specialist Nurse - Therapeutic Apheresis Services Plymouth

Therapeutic Apheresis Services (TAS) is the only patient-facing service within NHS Blood and Transplant and is recognised nationally as one of our flagship clinical services. We are expanding TAS across the Southwest Peninsula, providing specialist outreach support to the four main hospitals in Devon and Cornwall.

As a TAS Nurse, you will play a vital role in delivering lifesaving and life-enhancing apheresis treatments to both adult and paediatric patients. There is no dedicated TAS unit within the Southwest; instead, you will work entirely through outreach, travelling to and operating within partner hospitals across the region. This offers exceptional variety, autonomy, and the opportunity to develop strong working relationships within multiple host Trusts.

You will be joining a unique national NHS service that combines specialist expertise with the infrastructure and support of both NHS Blood and Transplant and our partner organisations. To help you thrive, we provide a comprehensive residential induction and continuous professional development tailored specifically to this highly specialised role.

Main duties of the job

• The Specialist Nurse will be responsible for the assessment, planning, and delivery of apheresis procedures for both emergency and elective patients and donors taking part in a 24/7 on-call rota.
• Performing therapeutic apheresis and cell collection procedures in paediatrics and adults.
• Planning the nursing care of patients/donors and be responsible for all aspects of clinical care, providing advice to patients/donors and staff as necessary.
• Providing safe and compassionate care within a total quality system, upholding the clinical standards of the service by ensuring they are working within their limitations, ensuring best practice and clinical effectiveness is achieved within policy frameworks.
• Working within a total quality management system approach, to maintain nursing practice standards to meet local regulatory frameworks, licences, and laws.
• Establishing and maintaining effective written and verbal communication using a variety of methods with key stakeholders to support patient centred care and quality and safety.
• Providing clinical support and supervision to less experienced staff and student nurses and will be a source of clinical knowledge and expertise.

What we offer

• 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.
• Health and wellbeing support – we offer confidential services including occupational health, employee assistance programme, and wellbeing resources.

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

• Educated to degree level through: Be a Registered Nurse with current Nursing and Midwifery Council registration; RN1 Adult Nurse level 1, RNA Adult Nurse level 1, and/or RN8 Childrens Nurse level 1 or RNC Childrens Nurse level 1 (which must be maintained).
• Plus: Degree in clinical area OR Equivalent level of post registration experience/qualification in acute/specialised clinical area.
• Possess a teaching/assessment qualification OR equivalent experience.
• Evidence of recent post registration education/learning.
• Demonstrate an awareness of current issues in nursing.
• Possess a valid driving licence, allowing you to drive in the UK.
• Demonstrates commitment to own continued professional development (CPD).

Experience

• Experience of clinical management and the ability to make decisions.
• Demonstrable experience of planning, implementing and evaluating changes in clinical practice.
• Demonstrates an understanding of and experience in working to performance objectives and organisational targets.
• Experience of initiating and supporting the professional development of self and others.
• Demonstrates experience of mentoring/coaching staff in the clinical environment.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the principles of clinical audit and research.
• Understand the principles of clinical effectiveness and best practice.
• Experience of working with information technology using Microsoft Office packages (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams and PowerPoint).

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.