Blood Donation Assistant- Driver

The Welsh Blood Service (WBS) provides blood products to NHS Hospitals across Wales and is currently recruiting a full time Clinic Collection Assistant to include driving duties. From the members of the public who make incredible, life‑saving donations to the dedicated members of our team who make it happen—people are essential to the service we provide. You could help us change lives.

The role is diverse and will include welcoming donors, testing donors to see if they are able to give blood on that day, taking blood, maintaining records and offering basic clinical advice and aftercare. You will also be loading/unloading and assembling mobile donation equipment. You need to be comfortable with the sight of blood. You must be able to travel to undertake the duties of the post at various locations. WBS fleet vehicles, team minibus and equipment vehicles are provided.

We will give you all the technical training you need to perform venepuncture (using needles to take blood), so you don’t need a medical background. However, you will need to demonstrate excellent customer service skills and have a friendly and flexible approach which will make donors feel welcome, at ease and valued.

The role will deliver both excellent customer service and direct care to donors throughout the blood donation process. You will be working as part of a multi‑skilled team committed to creating a caring environment and excellent customer service experience whilst identifying and meeting the expectation of individual donors so that blood is donated safely and donors are encouraged to return. This will include delivering high standards in customer service, performing venepuncture and driving duties. Working to agreed clinical and quality standards and procedures to safeguard donor and patient safety.

It will be the requirement of the post holder to develop skills in the areas of venepuncture, donor screening, meeting and greeting, appointment management and reconciliation in addition to core skills. There will be a requirement for all staff to flex through various teams and blood collection facilities such as blood mobiles, static sites and community clinics covering a large geographical area. The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.

Here at Velindre University NHS Trust we are extremely proud of the specialist services we provide across the whole of Wales in our cutting‑edge Velindre Cancer Centre and our award‑winning Welsh Blood Service, as well as the expertise of our corporate functions that bring the two divisions together. We are also fortunate to host the NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership and Health Technology Wales and have developed strong partnership working with these expert services. Formed in 1999, the Trust has a dedicated workforce that continuously strives to provide the key principles of prudent healthcare through a wide array of roles. We play a vital role in the communities we support and have ambitious plans for the future to continue to improve the services we deliver. We strive to maintain our core values in everything we do by being accountable, bold, caring and dynamic, and ensuring the best possible care for our patients and donors. If you want to work for an organisation that prides itself on making a real difference and offers exciting career opportunities then Velindre University NHS Trust is the place for you.

Qualifications and Knowledge

• Level 3 qualification or equivalent experience (e.g. evidence of autonomous practice)
• Must hold a full manual UK driving licence with no more than 3 penalty points
• Must hold a Category C1 & D1 driving licence or commit to undertaking training to obtain the licence within 6 months of start date
• Hold a First Aid Certificate

Experience

• Experience of working within a customer‑focused environment
• Experience of working in a team
• Experience in dealing with sensitive or confidential matters
• Experience of working with people at all levels
• Experience of using local systems, e.g. DATIX, ESR, Blood Establishment Computer System or other bespoke systems

Skills and Attributes

• Good communication, written and numeracy skills
• Ability and dexterity to undertake venepuncture
• Ability to work methodically and accurately and follow instructions
• Demonstrate the ability to promote and foster good working relationships within a team
• Standard keyboard/IT skills
• Confident in the use of automated equipment
• Ability to work under pressure
• Ability to work on own initiative and manage own workload
• Good organisational skills
• Problem solving skills
• Level 1 to 5 Welsh Language skills in understanding, speaking, reading and writing

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.

Salary
£25,313 to £26,999 a year per annum pro rata