Specialist Nurse for Eye and Tissue Donation Stoke-on-Trent

Job summary

This vacancy is only open at this stage to internal employees of the following organisations within the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care System:

• North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust
• Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
• University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, inclusive of Black Country Procurement Group and North Midlands and Cheshire Pathology Service.
• Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board

Are you ready for a new challenge in a role that truly makes a difference every single day? UHNM is expanding it's pioneering Eye and Tissue Donation Service, developed in collaboration with NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT). Following a successful first year, we are now recruiting an additional Specialist Nurse to help grow and strengthen this impactful service.

This is a unique opportunity to join a compassionate, forward-thinking team that supports bereaved families across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, while contributing to life-changing donation outcomes. You'll be part of a service that is making a real difference - and we're looking for someone who shares our passion and commitment.

Main duties of the job

• Develop and maintain a robust, high-quality referral system for potential donors, working closely with the National Referral Centre and other stakeholders.
• Deliver education and training to clinical and non-clinical staff, promoting awareness and understanding of eye and tissue donation.
• Actively contribute to the normalisation of tissue donation in both hospital and community settings.
• Perform eye retrieval to a high standard and level of practice, after completing a comprehensive training package and keeping up to date with any additional requirements.
• Collaborate and provide cross-cover with the Bereavement Centre's administrative team during staff shortages, ensuring a seamless and compassionate service for bereaved families.

About us

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust is one of the largest and most modern in the country. Based across two sites, Royal Stoke in Stoke-on-Trent and County Hospital in Stafford, we are proud to serve around three million people and we're highly regarded for our facilities, teaching and research. We are the specialist centre for major trauma for the North Midlands and North Wales.

All of our employees make a valuable contribution regardless of role here at UHNM and we are proud of our wide range of development packages aimed at ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to fulfil their true potential.

UHNM create and encourage a culture of inclusion, providing equal opportunities for career development that are fair and transparent. We are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer and foster a culture in which all staff feel valued and respected. In return we ask all of our employees to make a commitment to the values, co‑created by or staff, patients and carers, and that unite us as a Trust.

At University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust we know that investing in, supporting and developing our staff has a direct impact on the quality of care that we deliver. Our employees are as important as our patients and the population that we serve.

Job responsibilities

The role is primarily based at the Royal Stoke University Hospital, within the Bereavement Centre. This role is heavily computer-based and applicants are expected to possess excellent computer skills, including significant experience using Microsoft Office packages/software for completing audit work, data entry and analysis, and other office-based work. As the service continues to evolve, occasional travel within the local community may be required. Weekend and bank holiday working is part of the rotational cover, and flexibility to meet business needs is essential.

In return for your valued transferable knowledge, skills, training and experience; youll receive comprehensive training and development, to build the specialist knowledge required for this role. Youll also be joining a supportive team environment where your contribution is valued, and your professional growth is encouraged.

Flexibility is key

Due to the nature of the service, a high degree of flexibility is essential. While a standardised 3-weekly rota is provided for reference, you will be expected to adapt your working hours at short notice to ensure service continuity particularly during periods of staff absence or annual leave. The team operates long days Monday to Friday, and full 8-hour shifts on weekends and bank holidays.

For a detailed job description, person specification, and standardised working pattern/rota - please refer to the attachments, or contact Samuel.Townshend@uhnm.nhs.uk for more information.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• NMC registration, with relevant post-registration experience.
• Evidence of appropriate level of education i.e. degree supplemented by diploma level training or equivalent specialist knowledge gained through formal training and work experience.

Desirable

• Education or teaching qualification.
• Bereavement counselling qualification.
• NHSBT eye retrieval competence.
• MSc or equivalent level post-graduate qualification relevant to the role.

Training and Experience

Essential

• Experience of caring for a dying patient and in dealing with the bereaved.
• Experience of working with people from different cultural and religious backgrounds.
• Experience of working with bespoke software and Microsoft Office packages.
• Experience of clinical teaching.
• Experience of communicating with a wide range of senior professionals.

Desirable

• Professional experience with grief and loss or work of a similar nature.

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Proactive, self‑motivated, flexible and adaptable to meet service needs.
• An excellent attendance record.
• Prides self in high standards i.e. evidences attention to detail.

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.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website. From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.