Band 8a UHB Lead Transfusion Practitioner

Overview

The closing date is 28 January 2026

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest acute hospital trusts in England, serving the populations of Birmingham and Solihull. It transfuses approximately 46,500 blood products a year across multiple disciplines.

The purpose of this essential role is to lead the promotion of safe and appropriate transfusion practice across the Trust. You will work closely with our Blood Transfusion Laboratory Managers, Haematology and Blood Transfusion Clinical Leads, and the clinical users involved in the transfusion pathways.

The role involves designing and delivering training and competency assessments in clinical areas, investigating incidents relating to transfusion, performing transfusion audits, and producing policies and procedures. The post holder is responsible for overseeing transfusion training and competency; quality governance; risk management; statutory compliance of clinical transfusion.

Applications are encouraged from a NMC registered Nurse or HCPC registered Biomedical Scientist who is an enthusiastic, flexible and highly motivated individual with experience relevant to clinical transfusion practice who will lead the transfusion practitioner team across UHB.

You will need to have a natural focus on quality, patient safety, and service delivery and work within the Trusts Quality Governance systems with an excellent knowledge of current transfusion practice and understanding of wider transfusion issues affecting Trusts currently.

• Develop and facilitate the implementation of policies designed to improve the effectiveness of blood transfusion medicine within the trust.
• Liaison with all groups of staff and patients to promote optimal use of blood, alternatives to donor blood and best practice within the constraints of clinical needs and costliness.
• The post-holder is expected to network with colleagues within and outside the Trust to maintain knowledge relating to professional developments and research in health care. Networks include the National Blood Service network and the British Blood Transfusion Society.
• Training and updating staff in blood transfusion in conjunction with the clinical skills laboratory and the Hospital Transfusion Group. To maintain record of training on behalf of risk management.
• Investigate, report and help resolve actual and potential problems related to transfusion within the Trust.
• Investigate blood transfusion related incidents and complete the paperwork required for reporting to the Serious Hazards of Transfusion scheme.
• Collect, collate and review data related to blood use and wastage with the laboratory manager.
• Provide leadership, motivation and vision regarding the contribution of the transfusion team to patient care and facilitate liaison between the laboratory services and the rest of the Trust.

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust strives to have an inclusive culture where everyone feels like they belong, can thrive, knows that they add value and feels valued. We do this by developing compassionate and culturally competent leaders, being values driven in all that we do and by creating a welcoming and inclusive workplace that thrives on the diversity of our people.

We want to attract and recruit talented individuals from all backgrounds, and for each of you to feel supported for the diversity you bring, to achieve your full potential. For those staff with a disability, including physical disability, long term health condition, mental health or neurodiverse condition, this also means being committed to making reasonable adjustments needed for you to carry out your role.

Please note:

For a detailed job description for this vacancy, please see attached Job Description.

• State registration with Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) or Registered General Nurse.
• MSc Biomedical Science or equivalent academic achievement.
• Evidence of continuing professional development and proficiency in accordance with appropriate professional guidelines.
• Post registration specialty training in the transfusion pathway.
• Evidence of advanced and update training.

• Evidence of continuing professional development and discipline specific proficiency.
• Minimum of 3 years in a BMS 2 post in Haematology or Transfusion or minimum of 5 years post registration nursing in an acute setting with a minimum of 3 years at F grade or above.
• Managing a team, project or section.
• Teaching/Assessment experience.
• Change management in a clinical setting.

• Well-developed leadership, interpersonal and communication skills.
• Proactive and self-motivated with the ability to motivate others.
• Ability to produce clear, accurate, written and verbal reports.
• Good presentational skills.
• Ability to work in and lead a team.
• Manage effectively unpredictable workloads.
• Effective logical thought processes and the ability to solve problems, plan and facilitate…