Band 8a Lead Transfusion Practitioner

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To liaise with all key members of the multidisciplinary Barnet Hospital and Chase Farm Hospital Hospital Transfusion Team (HTT) and other relevant stakeholders to advise and support colleagues in the delivery of specialised patient care across professional boundaries.
• Exercise high levels of judgement, discretion and decision-making in highly complex clinical care situations , to provide specialist expertise and advice on blood transfusion issues.
• Line manage members of the Transfusion Practitioner Team across the Barnet Hospital and Chase Farm Hospital sites.
• To lead and support with specialist knowledge the development, and implementation of programmes of nursing and medical care for individual patients and the client group as a whole.
• To lead on development and delivery of training programme and education of Transfusion including presenting complex clinical information to a large group of staff at all clinical levels and across a large number of clinical specialties.
• To lead on clinical audit related to all aspects of transfusion both locally and nationally and with support from clinical directorates develop and implement any changes to practice identified or recommended as a result of the findings.
• To promote a culture of continual improvement in patient care through reviewing relevant transfusion and patient blood management evidence base and embedding this in transfusion team practice.
• To actively participate in fulfilling blood transfusion quality and safety regulations, initiatives and directives enabling the Trust to meet the requirements of: a blood establishment, licensing, clinical governance, risk management standards and UKAS Accreditation. 

CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Through audit lead on monitoring the appropriateness of blood and blood component usage in association with the blood transfusion laboratory to ensure compliance with current best practice and national guidance
• Responsible for collaborating with clinical teams on all aspects of Blood Transfusion quality management within Trust clinical areas.
• Utilises current evidence and best practice in all aspects of clinical work.
• Act as an effective link between the Transfusion Laboratory and medical/nursing staff to ensure that any adverse incidents or events are investigated fully and managed appropriately and to ensure the effective day to day delivery of the Transfusion service.
• To provide specialist expertise and advice on all aspects of blood transfusion practice including cold chain requirements and BSQR compliance Using specialist knowledge and judgement is responsible for developing clinically effective, innovative evidence
  based practice by writing, implementing, monitoring and contributing to review of clinical and laboratory policies, procedures and protocols.
•  Work with blood transfusion, laboratory staff and clinical teams to manage operational and clinical issues relating to the remote blood issue system.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR PATIENTS

• Identify, monitor, and escalate where applicable, any incident trends, audit results or recommendations or other transfusion issues to directorate/ divisional / corporate leads for action to maintain best practice and improve the quality of patient care. In consultation with the Trusts Hospital Transfusion Committee, ensure that patient and
  staff feedback inform the development of policy, protocols and procedures and planning of the Trusts audit programme.
•  Lead in the evaluation of the service and patient care, including monitoring of patient experience.
• In line with Trust policy and Caldicott / Data Protection Act requirements, maintain patient confidentiality.
•  Ensure that patients’ complaints are managed in accordance with the Trust’s Complaints policy including the dissemination of learning points

RESPONSIBILITY FOR POLICY AND SERVICE DEVELOPMENT

• Attendance at Hospital Transfusion Committee (HTC), contributing to and where relevant leading on complex work streams to ensure clinical excellence, and a high quality patient focused blood transfusion services Trust wide.
• Investigate and develop ways of reducing blood product and blood component usage and wastage in a safe, cost effective manner incorporating current guidance and transfusion standards. Responsible for formulating long term strategy plans for blood usage at the Trust with RFL colleagues to ensure adequate supplies of blood and blood products in times of national shortage are available on a Trust wide basis.
• Participate in Serious Hazards of Transfusion reporting and communicate the analysis and recommendations within the Trust and include in policy decision making and practice as required.
•  With collaboration from all sites transfusion teams responsible for, the development, implementation and updating of policies / guidelines / protocols for Blood Transfusion, including distribution and ratification by appropriate stakeholders and Trust governing bodies responsible for transfusion.
•  Lead on the planning and implementation of evidence-based protocol and guidelines covering all aspects of the transfusion of blood and blood products, and ensure these guidelines are effectively disseminated to Trust staff as appropriate.
• Responsible for development and implementation of multidisciplinary audit of transfusion practice at Barnet and Chase Farm sites, perform audits and work with the Hospital Transfusion Team and Committee to implement any changes to improve the quality and safety of the service provided.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING

• Promotes a development/education culture within the organisation
• Lead in the identification and development opportunities for Trust staff in training of blood transfusion practice and protocols including BSQR compliance based on their role and responsibilities.
• Work in collaboration with the Trust Training and Development Department in order to develop and implement appropriate educational training programmes relating to Blood Transfusion, including e-learning modules.
• Lead on the delivery of teaching and education programmes for clinical and other staff groups and the assessment of staff competencies relevant to Blood Transfusion, supporting ward based CPEs and designated clinical staff to embed training where relevant.
• Participate in staff induction days to introduce best practice for blood component use.
• Organises educational seminars for clinical and other staff groups affected by changes to blood transfusion policy, protocols or procedures.
• Ensure that policies of care pertaining to transfusion medicine and practice are disseminated to clinical staff.
• Participate in regional and national working parties/special interest groups and attendance at key seminars and conferences to share learning.
• Establish strong networks with other specialists in Blood Transfusion field to exchange and enhance knowledge and expertise.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR GOVERNANCE

• Lead on investigating, reporting, documenting, closing and analysis for Trust incidents via DCIQ, Serious Adverse Events and Reactions (SABRE) for MHRA and for SHOT and Serious Hazards of Transfusion investigations.
• Participate in the development of multidisciplinary audit of transfusion practice. Perform National, regional and local audits and work with HTC and the HTT to improve the quality and safety of the service provided through implementation of audit recommendations, feedback and policy and guidance review .
• Use critical analysis (RCA etc.) to investigate incidents / near misses in collaboration with respective clinical governance leads and adhering to the Trust framework for governance.
• Using specialist knowledge interpret professional and regulatory Transfusion related policies from external sources e.g. NHSBT, BSH, SHOT, NMC, DH and contributes to the development of recommendations and implementation of changes to clinical guidance or transfusion systems as necessary.
• Monitor Trust compliance with relevant regulatory bodies and regulations relating to safe and effective blood transfusion practice/protocols and blood product management including sections of the UK Blood Safety and Quality Regulations. Through Divisional Quality and Safety Governance structures escalate non-compliant and facilitate corrective action where possible.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL AND PHYSICAL RESOURCES

• Budget holder for relevant service budget, ensuring efficient management of the budget and working within resource constraints, alongside operational management to realise Trust financial savings schemes/Financial Improvement Programme (FIP).
• Ensure the relevant patient information resources are available to patients and clinical teams.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR LEADING AND MANAGING

• Work to the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust values and ensure decisions made are aligned with the organisation’s objectives
• Effective line management and leadership of transfusion practitioner team.
• Supporting Clinical Lead for Blood Transfusion with the coordination of the HTT and providing support as acting Chair in Clinical Lead’s absence.
• Work closely with the Clinical Lead for Transfusion, , the HSL Lab and members of the HTT and the HTC to deliver, develop and improve Trust blood transfusion services.
• Lead on meetings related to blood transfusion.
• Responsible for effective decision making skills to address complex issues and use effective change management skills to implement these.
•  To use effective prioritization, problem solving and delegating skills to manage time effectively.
• Facilitate effective communication with the multi-professional team regarding person-centred care.