Specialist Nurse - Therapeutic Apheresis Services (TAS)

Therapeutic Apheresis Services (TAS) is the only patient facing service provided by NHS Blood and Transplant and is highly regarded within the organisation as a flagship service. You will work within a service and team, supporting lifesaving treatments for patients across the region. It goes without saying that no two days are the same for nurses working within TAS. You will have the opportunity to provide a variation of different lifesaving and life enhancing treatments to patients on a 1:1 basis. Many of our treatments are provided by the team within a designated TAS unit but there will also be a requirement to work independently and provide outreach services within the host trust and off site at various hospitals.

In addition to working for a unique, national NHS Employer, we will provide you with an extensive residential induction and ongoing development programme specific to this role to support you in achieving your career ambitions. Because our Therapeutic Apheresis Units are based within large NHS Trust our nurses benefit from the infrastructure and facilities of NHS Blood and Transplant and the host Trust.

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.

You will be required to travel and spend time away from base, which will involve working irregular hours and overnight stays when required, with prior notice.

About us

It takes all types of people to deliver the kind of service that saves and improves lives. At NHS Blood and Transplant, you'll join a team of more than 6,000 people who are making a genuine difference to communities, families, friends, relatives and more across the UK. We play a unique and special role in the NHS by helping people do something extraordinary - donate blood, blood products, organs, tissues, or stem cells to save someone in need.

Our three core values are what set us apart. They guide and inspire everything we do. By being caring, expertly meeting the needs of our patients and our people, and accepting nothing less than the best quality, we can do extraordinary work and help our people to do something extraordinary in their career, too. Three small words, one big difference - Caring, Expert and Quality. Together we'll save and improve more lives than ever.

You will join us on our journey to create an inclusive workplace and aim to reflect the diverse communities we work with, and we positively encourage applications from all sectors of the community.

Job responsibilities

What we offer:

• NHSBT promotes flexible working opportunities and welcome requests.
• 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.
• NHS pension scheme. The NHS Pension Scheme is a defined benefit scheme (not dependent on investment returns).
• 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.
• Our Thrive program embodies our commitment to learning and development, offering a wide range of activities to support your personal and professional growth. It’s open to everyone at NHSBT, ensuring you have the resources to succeed and shine in your role.

To learn more, please see our recruitment profile, which provides a summary of the job description and person specification.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse with current Nursing and Midwifery Council registration (RN1 or RNA) with post-registration experience and a degree in a clinical area. OR Equivalent level of post registration experience or qualification in acute or specialised clinical area.
• NMC professional registration (which must be maintained in the role).
• Possess a teaching and or assessment qualification. OR equivalent experience.
• Evidence of recent post registration education and 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.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.