About this role
Job summary
The Transfusion service is responsible for ensuring the delivery of safe, effective and evidence-based transfusion practice and training across a range healthcare settings to promote patient safety.
The post holder will work with multi-disciplinary teams across the Trust to ensure blood and blood components are used safely, appropriately, and effectively by promoting best practice compliance with organisational governance, national standards and legislation.
The postholder will be passionate about providing expert advice and guidance to staff to ensure they are trained and competent at every stage of the transfusion process. The postholder will participate in audit and trend analysis to inform proactive measures to prevent harm and encourage continuous learning across the Trust.
As a cross county service the role will include to travel to both acute and community hospitals.
This is an indicative Band 6 post.
Main duties of the job
To support clinicians and advise on effective blood transfusion practice (including alternatives) when required.
To develop effective relationships with specialist client groups such as the Jehovahs Witnesses Hospital Liaison Committee in order to raise staff awareness about their special needs as regard to transfusion practice.
Able to design, implement and deliver suitable training plans for practical training sessions on equipment to multi-disciplinary staff at all levels of seniority, who may have little technical knowledge or practical experience.
Involved in planning and implementing new systems across the Acute Trust and Community Organisations in relation to transfusion practice
To maintain and troubleshoot the Trusts electronic tracking system, Blood Track
Monitor and be proactive in ensuring blood component traceability, communicating with clinical areas where blood components have not been fated as transfused to prevent failure of blood component traceability.
To keep accurate record of mandatory transfusion training attendance to maintain Trust governance records, MHRA compliance and UKAS accreditation.
To investigate serious transfusion associated incidents, errors and near misses and report in line with clinical risk, BSQR requirements and Serious Hazards of Transfusion (SHOT).
To be involved in incident investigations, and support risk management by ensuring incidents reports are completed in a timely manner.
About us
At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:
Flexible working options to help you balance work and lifeNHS pension scheme for long-term financial securityGenerous annual leave allowance to recharge and relaxA strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potentialAdditionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.
We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.
Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.
The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.
Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.
Job description Job responsibilities
Please see the attached Job Description for details on the expectations of the role. The main duties are described above. Please do note this is a trust wide role so travel between all SFT sites will be required.
Please consider making contact with the team to understand more about the Trust and the department.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Active NMC or HCPC Registration BSc (Hons) Nursing or Biomedical Science Post graduate qualification e.g. MSc, Specialist Portfolio, Teaching
Desirable
Please see the attached JD
Experience Essential
Excellent knowledge of Blood Transfusion practice Experience of blood transfusion practice from working in high volume area e.g. Oncology, Critical Care or Blood Transfusion Laboratory Experience in the audit process and using audit to improve quality Understanding of legislation, directives and guidelines governing transfusion practice, for example, NICE NG24, BSH, CQUIN Able to question and challenge clinical practice in a constructive way so that the standards of patient care are continually evaluated and improved
Desirable
Please see the attached JD
Additional Criteria Essential
Ability to travel to SFT hospitals, acute and community Good interpretative skills and able to explain complex information to clinicians and other service users Naturally accurate and a high level of attention to detail Able to multi-task dealing with multiple problems and distractions while working
Desirable
Previous experience/familiarity with BloodTrack
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.
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 Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Address Trustwide
The Crescent
Taunton
Somerset
TA1 4DY
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)