SCOTTISH NATIONAL BLOOD TRANSFUSION SERVICE
(A Division of the NHS National Services Scotland)
DONOR CARER VENEPUNCTURIST - Whole Blood – 4 posts
Band 3 - £16,271 - £19,268 per annum pro rata
Part time: 65 hours per month
Location: Inverness
As a vital part of NHSScotland, NHS National Services Scotland’s mission is to enable and support the
delivery of better health and better care working in partnership. We do this by providing a range of
specialised support services that enable NHS Boards to focus their efforts on delivering health improvement
and patient care.
As a major division within the NHS National Services Scotland, the Scottish National Blood Transfusion
Service (SNBTS) plays a vital role not only in the health of the people of Scotland but also on an
international scale – through our leading position in new product development, biomedical research and
donor services. Our goal is to maintain the highest standards to patient care whilst remaining internationally
competitive.
We are looking for a donor carer to join our existing team of staff who provide a high standard of care to our
donors. You should be friendly, enjoy meeting people and be willing to work as part of a team.
The position is within Donor Services Blood Collection Team and based in Inverness, however extensive
travel throughout the region is required. You must be flexible, and willing to work variable hours. Hours will
include regular Sundays and late evenings.
Our benefits package includes pension scheme, comprehensive range of work life balance policies,
occupational health services, learning resource centres and discounted leisure, financial and shopping
benefits.
The successful candidate(s) must comply with the Mandatory Induction Standards and with the Code
of Conduct for Healthcare Support Workers.
Our benefits package includes final salary pension scheme, comprehensive range of work life balance policies,
occupational health services, learning resource centres and discounted leisure, financial and shopping benefits.
For an informal discussion regarding this posts please contact Katie Moir, Donor Services Manager on
01463 704126 or 07884 116 446.
For an application pack please complete the online application form on the SHOW website
www.jobs.scot.nhs.uk. Ref G20645.
Closing date for completed applications is 12 noon on 18 February 2014
Please note that only those applicants called for an interview will be contacted. If you have not received a response
within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.
Further information on NSS is available from: www.nhsnss.org.
NHS National Services Scotland is the common name of the Common Services Agency for the Scottish Health Service.
NHS National Services Scotland is an equal opportunities employer.
Candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria will be guaranteed an interview.
NATIONAL SERVICE SCOTLAND
SCOTTISH NATIONAL BLOOD TRANSFUSION SERVICE
JOB DESCRIPTION
1.
JOB DETAILS
Job Title:
DONOR CARER - WHOLE BLOOD
Immediate Senior Officer/Line Manager:
Team Manager
Department(s):
Donor Services - Supply Chain
Division:
SNBTS
Job Reference:
2. JOB PURPOSE
Deliver the direct care to donors throughout the donation process of blood and blood products, ensuring the
donor's continued support through a high level of clinical/customer care.
Working to agreed clinical and quality standards and procedures using accurate data input to safeguard donor
and patient safety.
3. DIMENSIONS
Donor Services annually collects some 290,000 blood donations from 340,000 donor attendances across Scotland.
In addition 10,000 apheresis procedures are undertaken each year to produce 14,000 platelet products.
Blood is collected at six static sites and at blood collection “sessions” in the community across Scotland. Staff are
located in six geographically dispersed departments based in Aberdeen, Inverness, Dundee, Dumfries, Glasgow
and Edinburgh.
4. ORGANISATION CHART
Donor Services Manager
SNBTS Nurse Director
Senior Nurse Manager
Team Manager
Whole blood
Assistant Team Managers
Senior Donor Carers
Donor Carers &
Donor Carer/Drivers
5. ROLE OF THE DEPARTMENT
The SNBTS Supply Chain Directorate is responsible for the planning and provision of adequate supplies of safe,
high quality blood components for NHS Scotland.
 National Donor Services leads, develops, implements and maintains an approved national strategy for the
SNBTS blood donor program. The department is responsible for all aspects of donor communication, donor
recruitment, publicity, administration and the blood collection and apheresis programmes to meet the demand
for blood.
 The department deals with approximately 340,000 donor attendances per year yielding some 290,000
donations, and ensures the provision of secure a safe and sufficient blood supply, to appropriate regulatory
and legal standards, that meets NHSScotland requirements.
In addition, in some areas the department provides to support to the Clinical Directorate a range of clinical and
therapeutic services for patients being treated in the NHS trusts.
6. KEY RESULT AREAS
A: Higher level Skills
The postholder will be expected to be assessed as competent in all of the following areas:
1. Undertake Integrated Registration, Health Screening and Haemoglobin Testing ensuring that all relevant
information is obtained and recorded thus providing accurate donor records. Carry out haemoglobin testing
via a capillary blood sample as well as all health screening to agreed, clearly defined standard operational
procedures (SOPs) and against a specified level of medical selection criteria, referring any donor medical
queries above their designated level of authority to Medical/Nursing staff to determine donor suitability.
2. Acting to clearly defined protocols perform computerised linking of donation and samples, ensuring that the
donor is linked to the correct donation and ensuring that all relevant information is accurately recorded and
input to the computer thereby ensuring the safety of the blood supply.
3. The postholder will possess and display a good working knowledge of the IT systems and equipment used at
donor sessions, with the ability to perform basic trouble shooting on site as and when required.
B: Foundation Objectives:
1. Acts as first point of contact at Blood Collection sessions. Welcomes donors, checks donor status
and directs donors to appropriate station. Performs initial donor eligibility assessment including
basic deferrals to their specified level of medical selection authority, recording accurate donor
information and other information e.g. waiting times. Ensure appropriate publicity materials are
displayed at session.
2. Undertakes opening, checking and preparation of blood packs, quality assurance checks
and issuing of appropriate equipment and materials.
3. Responsible for care of donors during the donation process including labelling of packs,
sample tubes, and documentation, ensuring that the correct volume of blood is withdrawn
and appropriately mixed. Responsible for monitoring the donor during the donation
process, observing for signs of adverse reactions, taking action according to SOP’s and
assisting in the care of unwell donors. At the end of the donation process, the donor carer
will also be responsible for the safe removal of the needle from the donor’s arm
4. Providing post donation care, donor refreshments and post donation advice. Deal with any faints or rebleeds that can occur, being vigilant for any additional information that a donor remembers that may
influence the withdrawal of the blood donation from the supply Chain.
5. Contribute to the retention of existing donors and encourage new donor recruitment by delivering
excellent customer care at all times.
6. Undertake appropriate procedures to seal and inspect the completed donation, ensuring seal integrity,
correct labelling, adequate sampling and appropriate storage of collected blood prior to return to testing
centre, all in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s).
7. Loading and unloading of equipment and setting up and dismantling of session equipment and checking
and reporting of any defects with session equipment or supplies.
8. Comply with Heath and Safety at work procedures and ensure that work area and
equipment are maintained throughout session and left clean and tidy at end. Responsible
for personal compliance with Good Manufactoring Practice (GMP) as per training and
MHRA requirements.
9. Maintenance of skills and knowledge by participation in personal development, performance review, and
undertaking appropriate training to meet the requirements of the post.
10. Undertake any other reasonable relevant duties that may be assigned
Policy & Service Development
Will be aware of organisational policy and service developments.
Will comply with Data Protection legislation.
Will comply with confidentiality guidelines.
Will comply with Health & Safety regulations
7. ASSIGNMENT AND REVIEW OF WORK and DECISIONS AND JUDGEMENTS
While there is supervisor and manager at the session who can be consulted postholders will generally work on
their own at their own designated work station. Postholders are expected to perform to a trained level of
competence and work is not checked on a daily basis.
The post-holder reports to a specified Team Manager for ongoing development and performance review and on a
day-to-day basis to the rostered team manager. Performance is reviewed on an annual basis with frequent formal
reviews of progress as required.
The postholder must adhere to Regulatory and Statutory requirements and follow SNBTS Standard Operational
Procedures.
When undertaking Higher level tasks the postholder will be required to exercise a degree of personal initiative and
decision making, normally without reference to the session management team.
8. COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS
The post holder will work as a integral member of the donor services team, undertaking assigned duties and
working flexibly at whole blood sessions under the direction of the session management group to achieve the
highest standard of donor care. The post holder will interface directly with donors and will deal with them
courteously and efficiently at all times establishing excellent customer relations. The postholder will be expected
to maintain the reputation and image of SNBTS at all times with everyone they come into contact with in the
course of their duties. The post holder deals with confidential and sensitive medical information on a daily basis.
Postholders are required to exercise tact and diplomacy when dealing with donors, relatives and members of the
public.
Internal
External
Donor Services Manager
Blood Donors
Senior Nurse Manager
General Public
Team Manager
Voluntary organisers
Assistant Team Managers
Venue officials
Senior Donor Carers
Donor Recruitment and publicity
New trainees during mentoring process
9. MOST CHALLENGING PARTS OF THE JOB
Able to deal with a wide range of working environments and maintain a high standard of customer care at all
times.
Ability to comply to highly regulated working procedures quickly and accurately whilst maintaining a friendly
interaction with your donors.
Able to work under pressure at busy sessions whilst remaining calm and ensuring that procedures are adhered to.
Dealing with difficult or nervous donors.
Able to cope with peripatetic nature of job
10. SYSTEMS
Postholder is responsible for completion of own time and subsistence sheets
When registering or linking blood post donation postholder is required to input data relating to the donor and
donation into a specialised computer program. This accuracy of this information is essential for donors records
and post donation for storage & transportation of blood, informing the laboratories of testing requirements
Postholders are expected to complete their own sections of the Electronic Knowledge and Skills Framework
online.
11. PHYSICAL, MENTAL, EMOTIONAL EFFORT
Physical Effort
 Daily requirement for short periods to lift objects weighing 6-15 kilos. Items over 10 kilos will be lifted by two
or more persons e.g. Loading and unloading of equipment for sessions.
 Daily requirement to pull/push cages or trolleys of equipment without mechanical aid can be up to 60kls – 2
people.
 Frequent requirement to exert moderate physical effort for long periods during a shift. E.g. bending and
stretching while working at bedside for 2mins at a time can be 50 – 100 times per shift
 Can be required to work in a noisy environment when working on Mobile Donation Centres
Mental Effort
 There is a frequent requirement to concentrate on number of tasks simultaneously during a session e.g.
monitoring the donor for adverse reaction whilst monitoring the donation flow and volume.
 Responsible for ongoing accurate recording of all information received at each stage of the process
Emotional Effort

As dealing with a cross section of the general public can be expected to deal with people with challenging
behaviour
12. ENVIRONMENTAL/WORKING CONDITIONS & MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT
 Daily direct contact with untested blood, blood products and body fluids.
 Frequent requirement to work in many locations not specifically designed for blood collection purposes
e.g. church halls, community centres etc.
 Work frequently involves the manual handling and manipulation of heavy or cumbersome equipment
to sessions throughout region.
 Requires regular afternoon/evening, weekend and/or public holiday work.
 Occasional requirement to work in adverse weather conditions when carrying equipment in and out of
session.
13. KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED TO DO THE JOB
Knowledge, Skills & Experience
Knowledge of health care or other customer focussed environment and the requirements for the provision
of good customer care are essential. Standard keyboard skills are essential as are good communication,
organisational and interpersonal skills. Demonstrate ability to work independently and as a member of a
team.
Qualifications
Educated to Higher level. Needs to be able to understand a wide range of procedures and practices and be
able to demonstrate an ability to deal with non-routine situations on a daily basis.
14. JOB DESCRIPTION AGREEMENT
A separate job description will need to be signed off by each jobholder to
whom the job description applies.
Job Holder’s Signature:
Head of Department Signature:
Date:
Date:
HR Department will check job description format and content and then send
the job description to the AfC Team
HR Representative’s Signature:
Date:
Summary of Key Terms and Conditions of Post
Division/Department:
Blood, Tissues & Cells
Location:
Inverness
Job Title & AfC Pay Band:
Donor Carer Venepuncturist – Whole Blood – Band 3
Salary/Salary Scale:
£16,271 - £19,268 per annum pro rata
Conditions of Service:
Your terms and conditions of service are in accordance with the Agenda
for Change Terms and Conditions Handbook. Agenda for Change
comprises a new National pay system and job evaluation scheme for the
Health Service, a harmonised set of terms and conditions of employment
and a new Knowledge and Skills Framework which was introduced across
the NHS from 1st December, 2004.
Hours of Duty:
The standard full-time hours for NHS staff are 37.5 hours, exclusive of
meal breaks, normally to be worked over 5 days per week. The hours of
this post are 65 hours per month.
Annual Leave:
The annual leave arrangements are:
o
o
o
27 days (202.5 hours) on commencement
29 days (217.5 hours) after 5 years’ service
33 days (247.5 hours) after 10 years’ service.
8 public and statutory holidays are also available within the leave year.
Superannuation:
Employees will be automatically superannuated under
(NHS Pension Scheme)
the terms of the National Health Service
Superannuation Scheme, unless they formally
elect to opt out of the scheme.
Any queries on whether or not pension rights are transferable should be
addressed direct to the Scottish Public Pension’s Agency, Health Service
Branch, 7 Tweedside Park, Tweedbank, Galashiels, TD1 3TE.
Medical Assessment:
Appointment to this post will be subject to satisfactory medical clearance.
The successful candidate will be required to complete a pre-employment
health declaration form and, where appropriate, undergo a health
assessment by the Occupational Health Service.
Summary of Key Terms and Conditions of Post (cont.)
Knowledge and Skills
A new NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework will be applied
Framework:
to all jobs covered by Agenda for Change. Under the Knowledge and
Skills Framework, staff will have annual development reviews, which will
result in the production of a personal development plan.
NHS NSS is committed to promoting continuous staff development and a
number of divisions have Investors in People accreditation. There is equal
access to training for all staff.
Equal Opportunities Policy:
NSS is an Equal Opportunities employer and the policy applies to all
aspects of employment.
Smoking Policy:
We operate a No Smoking Policy.
SCOTTISH NATIONAL BLOOD TRANSFUSION SERVICE
DONOR CARER VENEPUNCTURIST – WHOLE BLOOD
REFERENCE: G20645
SUPPLY CHAIN
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Criteria
Essential
Desirable
Experience
Experience of dealing with the
public.
Experience in a Health Care
Environment.
Qualifications
No formal qualifications required.
Evidence of recent learning.
Knowledge & Skills
Effective written and oral skills.
Basic Keyboard Skills.
Excellent interpersonal skills.
Personal Qualities
Physically fit.
Enthusiastic / Motivated.
Flexible: able to work irregular
and unsocial hours.
Adaptable to change.
Warm approachable disposition.
Ability to perform under pressure.
Specific
Requirements
Excellent personal presentation.
(specifically related to what is
necessary for effective job
performance)
Aptitude for learning.
Ability to work well within a team.
NATIONAL SERVICES SCOTLAND
STAFF BENEFITS PACKAGE
Working for the NHS provides individuals with excellent career prospects and access to a wide
range of jobs. NHS National Services Scotland employs approximately 3,500 staff working in a
number of locations across Scotland.
Some of the benefits of working for NHS National Services Scotland are:-
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A minimum of 27 days annual leave (pro rata) increasing with service
Eight public holidays (pro rata) per year
Access to flexible, family friendly working arrangements
Membership of the NHS Scotland superannuation scheme. Membership also includes a
lump sum death in service benefit.
Excellent training and development opportunities
Season Ticket Loan Scheme
Childcare Voucher Scheme
Cycle to Work Scheme
Access to national and local staff discounts and promotions
Occupational Health Service
Employee Counselling Service