Senior Leadership Role

Description:

As the Head of Patient and Donor Safety, you will be a pivotal member of the nursing directorate within NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), leading initiatives that directly contribute to saving and improving lives. This strategic role focuses on ensuring the highest standards of patient and donor safety across NHSBT’s diverse services — including organ and tissue donation, blood transfusion, therapeutic apheresis, and stem cell transplantation.

You will spearhead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of the National Patient and Donor Safety Strategy, embedding the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF) throughout NHSBT. This involves promoting a strong safety culture, fostering learning through incident response and thematic reviews, and driving system-wide improvements grounded in human factors and just culture principles.

Your role will be critical in developing innovative, evidence-based safety solutions, optimizing learning outcomes, and ensuring compliance with national safety standards. By providing visible and inspiring leadership, you will build and maintain strong partnerships across internal teams and external NHS networks. Additionally, you will oversee the complaints team, ensuring adherence to policy and transforming insights into actions that enhance donor and patient experiences.

You will also support Care Quality Commission (CQC) self-assessments, maintaining comprehensive documentation and evidence repositories for patient and donor safety and experience. Working closely with the nursing leadership team, you will ensure that safety remains at the forefront of all NHSBT operations, contributing to the organization’s core values of Caring, Expert, and Quality.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead NHSBT’s patient and donor safety agenda, ensuring robust frameworks and systems are in place.

• Oversee the development and operationalization of the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF).

• Foster a culture of openness, learning, and continuous improvement across all teams.

• Act as the principal expert and advisor on patient and donor safety, offering guidance on complex and sensitive matters.

• Oversee regulatory compliance and support CQC assessments.

• Lead the complaints and feedback processes to identify learning opportunities and improve user experience.

• Build collaborative relationships with internal stakeholders and national NHS safety networks.

• Develop and deliver safety training programs and facilitate organizational learning.

• Provide strategic leadership to drive quality improvement across NHSBT services.

Qualifications and Training:

• Master’s degree or equivalent senior-level professional experience.

• Registered Nurse or Registered Healthcare Professional (registration must be maintained).

• Demonstrated commitment to Continued Professional Development (CPD).

• Strong knowledge of patient safety frameworks, legislation, and healthcare regulations.

About NHS Blood and Transplant:

NHSBT is a vital part of the UK’s healthcare system, employing over 6,000 professionals dedicated to saving and improving lives through organ, blood, tissue, and stem cell donation. Guided by its three core values — Caring, Expert, and Quality — NHSBT fosters an inclusive and supportive environment that encourages professional growth and continuous learning.

Employees benefit from flexible working arrangements, comprehensive training, and career development opportunities under the Thrive Program. NHSBT is committed to diversity and encourages applicants from all backgrounds.

What NHSBT Offers:

• 27 days annual leave (plus Bank Holidays), increasing with service length.

• Defined benefit NHS Pension Scheme.

• Extensive professional development and training opportunities.

• Flexible working arrangements where applicable.

• A culture of inclusion, learning, and continuous improvement.