Deputy Chief Nurse - Digital Transformation

Job summary

At NHS Blood & Transplant (NHSBT), we provide a service that is unique. We work with both patients and donors alike to save and improve lives every single day. Our ambition is to save and improve more lives and to enable us to do this we are embarking on several critical programmes of digital transformation.

We are looking for a Deputy Chief Nurse- Clinical Digital Transformation to join the Donor and Session Platform (DASP) programme. DASP is a critical digitally led transformation programme to truly transform how donors engage with NHSBT to ensure equitable access, enhanced safety, and resilient supply chains for lifesaving blood and plasma products. This is a key role for the programme, and you will be joining us at inception stage, enabling you to have full impact on delivery.

As our Deputy Chief Nurse Clinical Digital Transformation, you will be accountable for providing effective and highly visible leadership for Clinical digital change for Blood and Plasma Directorate programmes and transformation, including all derivative workstreams of the Donor and Session Programme (DASP) portfolio.

Main duties of the job

You will

Lead the strategic planning and development of clinical change, nursing programmes, professional standards, and excellence in care quality, embedding best practice across Blood Supply, donor experience, and organisational strategy.
You will act as a senior clinical representative to regulators, professional bodies, donor groups, and staff representatives, ensuring transparency, data protection, and compliance with governance and safety standards.
Working with subject matter experts, you will provide clinical and nursing advice on digital issues to senior management, the NHSBT Board, and subcommittees, contributing to strategy, business planning, and service modernisation.
You will define new clinical roles and competency frameworks, approving training and simulation-based assessments to support digital skills and psychological safety.
Accountable to the Chief Nurse and DASP Programme Board, you will oversee clinical governance and risk management across DASP, including ownership of the clinical safety case, hazard log, and safety thresholds.
You will lead digital transformation in care delivery, ensuring safe, compliant implementation of clinical systems, and act as clinical governance lead for DASP, maintaining donor safety, risk oversight, and regulatory alignment while improving outcomes and efficiency.

About us

It takes all types of people to deliver the kind of service that saves and improves lives. At NHS Blood and Transplant, youll join a team of more than 6,000 people who are making a genuine difference to communities, families, friends, relatives and more across the UK. We play a unique and special role in the NHS by helping people do something extraordinary- donate blood, blood products, organs, tissues, or stem cells to save someone in need. Our three core values are what set us apart. They guide and inspire everything we do. By being caring, expertly meeting the needs of our patients and our people, and accepting nothing less than the best quality, we can do extraordinary work and help our people to do something extraordinary in their career, too. Three small words, one big difference - Caring, Expert and Quality. Together we'll save and improve more lives than ever. You will join us on our journey to create an inclusive workplace and aim to reflect the diverse communities we work with, and we positiv

Job description

Job responsibilities

What we offer:

Hybrid working arrangements because NHSBT works nationally, were able to offer hybrid working options that give you more flexibility to balance work with life.
Flexible working options we promote flexible working where the role allows. Were happy to discuss what flexibility might look like for you.
Generous annual leave - 27 days annual leave (pro rata for part-time) plus Bank Holidays, increasing to 29 days after 5 years service and to 33 days after 10 years.
Inclusive pension scheme - the NHS Pension Scheme is a defined benefit scheme (not dependent on investment returns). Further details and outline of benefits can be found at: http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/information-about-nhs-pensions
Supportive learning culture - weve fostered a culture of continuous learning where colleagues are well-led, engaged, and encouraged to grow. We support you in reaching your full potential, both in your current role and future career. Our Thrive program embodies our commitment to learning and development, offering a wide range of activities to support your personal and professional growth. Its open to everyone at NHSBT, ensuring you have the resources to succeed and shine in your role.
Health and wellbeing support we offer confidential services including occupational health, employee assistance programme, and wellbeing resources. Our support is available to all colleagues and we endeavour to provide tailored workplace adjustments where possible.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we welcome applications from disabled candidates. We will talk with you to explore any adjustments that may help you during the recruitment process.

You can find more information about accessibility, our culture, and how we support applicants on the NHSBT Careers website:

Read about our application process

Learn more about our culture at NHSBT

To learn more, please see the job description and person specification. These can be accessed via the link below, or by clicking Apply if you are viewing this advert on another site.

Next steps

This vacancy will close at 23:59 on Wednesday 6th May.

The assessment process for this role will be multistage, involving an initial stage video presentation, which if you are successful, you will be invited to a final stage panel interview and stakeholder panel.

Interviews are anticipated to be held on 2nd OR 4th June subject to confirmation.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Masters degree or equivalent experience in an appropriate subject e.g. education, management, clinical.
Expertise with post Masters experience leading to status as expert for the role
Evidence of specialist training or substantial experience in clinical informatics/digital health leadership.
Commitment to ongoing professional development in digital health and leadership.
Relevant Clinical qualification (e.g. NMC) with requirement to maintain registration.
Evidence of continuing professional development developing expertise across the range of financial, performance management, staff leadership and project management disciplines.
Broad clinical experience relevant to the post.

Experience

Essential

Demonstrable awareness of national professional and education issues.
Knowledge required to manage external education contracts within contract framework.
Clinical risk management knowledge.
Demonstrable experience in clinical informatics and digital transformation within healthcare settings.
Knowledge of regulatory compliance for digital health solutions, including clinical safety standards and governance frameworks.
Experience in leading complex programmes involving digital systems change and clinical risk management.
Understanding of NHS policy, Agenda for Change principles, and digital health strategies.
Evidence of significant experience in developing, writing, and drafting policy.
Demonstrable senior level management experience in leading, motivating and developing teams.
Evidence of leading on quality initiatives.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details

Employer name

NHS Blood and Transplant

Address

England

Barnsley Blood Centre, Capitol Way, Dodworth