About this role
Job summary
As a Session Sister/Charge Nurse, you will lead donor-facing teams and blood collection activities to deliver a safe, high-quality donation experience. You will play a vital role in ensuring donor and patient safety, maintaining regulatory compliance, and achieving operational targets while promoting excellent standards of care. As a visible clinical leader, you will support, motivate and develop colleagues, oversee donor eligibility and care, manage clinical risks, and drive continuous improvement. Working closely with multidisciplinary teams, you will champion NHS Blood and Transplants values, ensuring every donor receives a compassionate, professional and positive experience while helping to save and improve lives through the collection of safe blood products.
Main duties of the job
Lead donor-facing teams and blood collection activities to ensure a safe, effective and positive donation experience.Provide visible clinical leadership, setting clear expectations and supporting teams to achieve operational and quality objectives.Act as the expert in donor eligibility, donor care and the management of adverse donation events.Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, policies, standard operating procedures and clinical governance processes.Monitor performance, analyse clinical data, identify areas for improvement and support delivery of key performance indicators.Investigate incidents, complaints and quality concerns, implementing corrective actions and sharing learning with colleagues.Coach, mentor and develop staff, delivering training and supporting ongoing competency assessments and professional development.Promote service improvements, support change initiatives and contribute to audit, research and innovation activities.Manage session resources, stock, equipment and workforce deployment to maximise productivity and donor safety.Deputise for the Senior Sister/Senior Charge Nurse/Donor Centre Manager when required.
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 description Job responsibilities
Your working hours will be:
The normal opening hours are 07:50-17:00; contractual hours are 07:30-17:20 (with a half-hour unpaid break), so 6 days per fortnight is 0.75 WTE.
‘On a shift basis but, the normal hours for this role are 6 days per fortnight. Shifts start at 07:30 and finish 17:20, with a half hour unpaid break.’
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:
Hybrid working arrangements – because NHSBT works nationally, we’re able to offer hybrid working options that give you more flexibility to balance work with life. 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). Further details and outline of benefits can be found at: http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/information-about-nhs-pensions 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. 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. 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.
You can find more information about accessibility, our culture, and how we support applicants on the NHSBT Careers website:
Read about our application process Learn more about our culture at NHSBT To learn more, please see the job description and person specification. These can be accessed via the link below, or by clicking ‘Apply’ if you are viewing this advert on another site.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Registered Nurse with current Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) registration (Part 1 Adult/General, Level 1 or 2). Evidence of ongoing professional development and commitment to continued learning. Experience of managing clinical environments within a regulatory framework such as Blood Safety and Quality Regulations (BSQR) and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP). Knowledge and understanding of BSQR and GMP requirements. Valid UK driving licence.
Experience Essential
Substantial management and leadership experience within a clinical environment. Experience of leading and implementing change, while motivating and supporting teams to deliver high standards of care. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to influence, negotiate and build effective working relationships. Strong analytical, decision-making and problem-solving skills, with experience of risk management, performance management and clinical governance. Experience of mentoring, coaching and developing colleagues, alongside a commitment to continuous learning and improvement.
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship 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 (Opens in a new tab).
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 (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name NHS Blood and Transplant
Address NHS Blood and Transplant
Plymouth Centre
Ground and First Floor
Derriford Hospital, Derriford Road
Plymouth
PL6 8DH
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)