Clinical Nurse Specialist

You will lead and coordinate the day-to-day clinical delivery of the apheresis service, ensuring safe, effective and patient-centred care for patients and donors. You will assess and prioritise service requirements, coordinate patient and donor scheduling, and work collaboratively with transplant, donor and cellular therapy teams to manage the complete apheresis pathway. You will provide expert assessment and management of patients during apheresis, including recognition and escalation of clinical deterioration and troubleshooting of procedural issues. You will promote high standards of practice in line with the NMC Code, The Christie policies, JACIE and HTA requirements. You will support governance, audit, risk management and continuous improvement, contribute to the development and review of SOPs, and help ensure appropriate documentation and traceability. You will lead and support staff education, induction and competency assessment, working with external training providers where required. You will contribute to service planning and development as activity grows, working with the Apheresis Director and wider team to identify opportunities to improve efficiency, patient experience and clinical outcomes.

Provide a specialist nursing service for patients and donors undergoing clinical apheresis, using advanced specialist knowledge, clinical judgement and decision-making to deliver safe, effective and individualised care.

Provide timely written and verbal information, advice and support to patients, donors and relatives to facilitate informed consent, shared decision-making and understanding of the apheresis pathway.

Maintain current specialist knowledge of clinical apheresis and cellular therapy collection procedures, relevant protocols, standards and practices, and apply this knowledge to clinical care and service development.

Coordinate and plan apheresis treatment pathways with members of the multidisciplinary team, including internal and external services, to ensure procedures are appropriately scheduled and communicated.

Lead the day-to-day clinical apheresis service, including autonomous management of a designated patient caseload and undertaking apheresis procedures as required.

Liaise directly with the consultant medical team regarding the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of individual programmes of care and apheresis protocols.

Participate in outpatient clinics and support medical assessment of patients requiring apheresis, including assessment of venous access, confirmation of mobilisation and collection requirements, and communication of the planned pathway to relevant teams.

Ensure all documentation required for apheresis procedures is prepared and completed in a timely manner in accordance with departmental requirements and regulatory standards.

Work with the quality and data manager to maintain accurate records, collect relevant activity and outcome data, support service evaluation and contribute to change and improvement.

Develop, implement and review clinical apheresis policies, procedures and protocols, and participate in clinical audit, regulatory accreditation activity, annual reporting and quality manual development, including JACIE and HTA requirements.

Proactively review trial and commercial documentation relating to apheresis procedures and participate in relevant meetings to ensure requirements are understood and incorporated into the clinical pathway.

Act as an expert resource within the organisation in the field of apheresis and cellular therapy collections, providing advice and support to the multidisciplinary team.

Plan and deliver training and education relating to apheresis and associated practice for members of the multidisciplinary team within and external to the Trust.

Coordinate the training, orientation and competency assessment of members of the clinical apheresis team, ensuring appropriate support and supervision are available.

Promote the professional development of staff within the clinical apheresis team and support the identification and achievement of learning needs.

Maintain own professional development and ensure mandatory and role-specific education and training requirements are met.

Represent the organisation and department nationally and internationally as an expert in cellular therapy collections, as appropriate.

Manage the clinical apheresis nursing and nursing team in collaboration with the providing visible professional leadership and acting as a role model.

Provide confident management, leadership and specialist advice to staff within areas of responsibility, supporting effective communication, teamwork and safe practice.

Lead the development and implementation of standards for clinical apheresis practice and patient care, ensuring that standards are monitored and audited.

Lead planning meetings with medical and laboratory colleagues to coordinate the apheresis programme in conjunction with cellular therapy and donor coordinators.

Coordinate the scheduling of apheresis procedures and contribute to effective capacity planning and communication across the patient pathway.

Work within agreed budgetary constraints and support efficient procurement and management of clinical stocks, equipment and resources.

Ensure team objectives and key performance indicators are established and that mechanisms are in place to demonstrate compliance, activity and performance.

Contribute to human resource management, recruitment and implementation of relevant Trust human resource policies for staff within the service.

4. RESEARCH

Maintain current knowledge of relevant research and evidence relating to apheresis, cellular therapy collections and specialist nursing practice.

The Clinical Apheresis Unit is a specialist service embedded within the Haematology and Transplant Day Unit, caring for patients with haematological malignancies, lymphoma and teenage and young adult patients, as well as related and unrelated donors. You will work alongside an established multidisciplinary team and have a key role in developing the nurse-led apheresis service as activity continues to expand. The role offers the opportunity to develop and use specialist knowledge in apheresis, stem cell collection, lymphocyte collection, cellular therapy and transplant pathways. We value collaborative working, professional development and a strong focus on safe, high-quality patient care. Training and support will be provided, including specialist apheresis training and opportunities to develop leadership, education and service-improvement skills. Working hours are Monday to Friday, between 08:00 and 18:00, 37.5 hours per week.

Qualifications

Essential: - Registered Nurse with current NMC registration; - Evidence of relevant specialist education/training in haematology, apheresis, cellular therapy

Desirable: - Oncology/Haematology or transplant related courses; - Non-medical prescribing; - Working towards a masters in a health-related subject

Experience

Skills

Essential: - Trained in Apheresis; - Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; - IT skills; - Leadership and Management; - Decision making

Desirable: - Advanced Communication course

Knowledge

Essential: - Therapeutic Apheresis; - Cellular therapies processes and stem cell transplantation

Desirable: - Knowledge of current research and emerging developments in apheresis and cellular therapy; - Knowledge of research governance and study processes

Values

Essential: - Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours; - Demonstrates professional, respectful, inclusive and patient-centred practice