Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a 12‑month secondment to the role of Blood Transfusion Practitioner within the Haematology Directorate at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Trust.
This secondment offers a valuable opportunity for a motivated and enthusiastic nurse, midwife, operation department practitioner or biomedical scientist to develop specialist knowledge and skills in transfusion practice, patient safety, education, and clinical governance, while contributing to Trust‑wide improvements in safe blood transfusion.
Main duties of the job
The Blood Transfusion Practitioner will play a key role in supporting safe and effective transfusion practice across the organisation. This includes working closely with clinical teams, laboratory staff, and senior stakeholders to promote compliance with national and local transfusion standards.
Key Responsibilities
1. Supporting education, training, and competency assessment in blood transfusion practice
2. Contributing to the investigation, learning, and action planning from transfusion‑related incidents
3. Supporting implementation of Trust transfusion policies, guidelines, and national recommendations
4. Promoting best practice in patient identification, sample collection, and transfusion documentation
5. Supporting quality improvement initiatives aimed at improving transfusion safety and compliance
6. Participating in transfusion governance structures, including supporting the Hospital Transfusion Teams and Hospital Transfusion Committee
Working for our organisation
Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust is guided by three core values: Caring, Ambitious and Inclusive. Staff are expected to put patients first, act with compassion, professionalism and accountability, and prioritise safety and quality in all aspects of care. The Trust encourages ambitious practice through continuous improvement, innovation, and learning, striving for excellence in clinical care, education, and service delivery. Inclusivity underpins how staff work together, valuing diversity, promoting respect, and fostering collaborative, psychologically safe environments where people feel supported to speak up and contribute.
These values are supported by a behaviours framework that sets clear expectations for everyone, as well as for those managing, supporting, or leading others, ensuring the values are actively lived in day-to-day practice and decision‑making.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Blood Transfusion Practitioner (BTP) is responsible for supporting the safe, effective, and appropriate use of blood components across the Trust. The post holder will provide specialist clinical advice, education, audit, and governance support to clinical staff, ensuring compliance with national and local transfusion policies, standards, and legislation.
The role plays a key part in reducing transfusion-related risks, improving patient safety, and promoting best practice in line with national guidance and haemovigilance requirements.
Key Responsibilities
Clinical Practice & Patient Safety
7. Provide expert advice to clinical teams on all aspects of blood transfusion practice, including indications for transfusion, special requirements, and management of transfusion reactions.
8. Support identification, investigation, and follow-up of transfusion-related incidents, including near misses and Wrong Blood in Tube (WBIT) events.
9. Promote patient blood management (PBM) principles to minimise unnecessary transfusion and optimise patient care.
10. Act as a clinical resource for complex transfusion cases and support clinical decision-making.
Education & Training
11. Deliver Trust-wide education and training on blood transfusion practice, including sampling, collection, administration, and traceability requirements.
12. Develop, maintain, and review transfusion training materials, competency assessments, and teaching resources.
13. Support link practitioners, trainers, and ward-based staff to embed safe transfusion practices within clinical areas.
14. Participate in induction, mandatory training, and refresher programmes for clinical staff.
Audit & Quality Improvement
15. Plan, undertake, and report on transfusion audits in line with national requirements ( National Comparative Audit, SHOT recommendations).
16. Analyse audit findings and incident trends to identify risks, gaps in practice, and opportunities for improvement.
17. Support implementation of action plans and quality improvement initiatives to improve transfusion safety and compliance.
Governance & Compliance
18. Support delivery of the Trust’s transfusion governance framework and contribute to Hospital Transfusion Team (HTT) and Hospital Transfusion Committee (HTC) activity.
19. Assist with preparation of reports, risk assessments, and data for governance meetings and external reporting.
20. Support review, update, and implementation of transfusion policies, procedures, and guidelines.
21. Ensure compliance with UK legislation, national standards, and professional guidance relevant to blood transfusion.
Collaboration & Communication
22. Work closely with laboratory services, clinical teams, and external partners to support safe transfusion processes.
23. Act as a point of contact between clinical areas and transfusion laboratories for transfusion-related queries and escalation.
24. Communicate effectively with multidisciplinary teams, adapting communication style to suit clinical and non-clinical audiences.
Professional Development
25. Maintain professional registration and undertake continuing professional development (CPD).
26. Maintain up-to-date specialist knowledge of transfusion practice, national guidance, and emerging risks.
27. Participate in appraisal, supervision, and service development activities.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
28. Registered health professional with NMC (Registered Nurse/Midwife) or HCPC (Biomedical Scientist) registration, with current licence to practise
29. Degree level qualification (or equivalent professional experience) in nursing, biomedical science, or a related discipline
Desirable criteria
30. Evidence of ongoing Continuing Professional Development (CPD) relevant to transfusion practice
Knowledge and Skills
Essential criteria
31. Demonstrable knowledge of the full blood transfusion pathway
32. Demonstrable clinical experience in transfusion practice
33. Ability to work autonomously and make safe, evidence‑based clinical decisions, while also working effectively within a multidisciplinary team
34. Strong communication and influencing skills
35. Experience supporting clinical governance, including audit, policy development, and compliance monitoring
Desirable criteria
36. Sound understanding of national transfusion guidance and legislation, including: Blood Safety and Quality Regulations (BSQR) SHOT / SABRE reporting NICE guidance and patient blood management principles
37. Knowledge of haemovigilance systems, risk management, and patient safety governance frameworks
38. Experience of delivering education and training to multidisciplinary staff
39. Experience of participating in or leading: Incident investigation ( transfusion errors, near‑misses) Audit and quality improvement work
40. Ability to contribute to or lead service improvement initiatives
41. Ability to analyse data, write clear reports, and present findings to committees
Experience
Essential criteria
42. Excellent organisational, time‑management and prioritisation skills
43. Highly motivated and patient‑safety focused
44. Flexible and willing to work across multiple clinical areas and sites where required
Desirable criteria
45. Evidence of ongoing Continuing Professional Development (CPD) relevant to transfusion practice
Guy’s and St Thomas’ celebrates, respects and values the diversity of its staff and patients. We review our policies, procedures and practices to ensure that all employees, patients and carers are treated equitable according to their needs. We are actively committed to ensuring that no one who applies for a job, works or study’s at the Trust, or accesses our services is discriminated against on the grounds of race, ethnicity, nationality, disability, religion or belief, age, gender identity, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity/paternity, or marital/civil partnership.