Job summary
Band 6 Nurse specilaist - SWAN Team-Eye Donation Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (LUHFT)In partnership with NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT)
Are you a Band 5 Registered Nurse with at least five years' post-registration experience and a passion for end-of-life and bereavement care, with a special interest in organ and tissue donation?
We are seeking a compassionate, motivated Registered Nurse to join the SWAN Team, in a specialist role supporting the NHS Blood and Transplant Eye Donation Scheme.
This is a unique opportunity to work in a highly specialised area of practice, providing expert end-of-life and family support at some of the most sensitive moments in care.
We are looking for a nurse who:
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Has significant post-registration experience, ideally within end-of-life care, critical care, acute care, or bereavement services
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Demonstrates excellent communication and interpersonal skills
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Is able to work flexibly, including participation in an on-call or rota system if required
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Is emotionally resilient and able to support families during highly sensitive and complex conversations
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Has a strong commitment to NHS values and to organ and tissue donation
Experience within donation services or eye retrieval is desirable; however, full training and ongoing support will be provided
Main duties of the job
As a Band 6 Nurse, you will be an integral member of the LUHFT SWAN Team, playing a vital role within theNHSBT Eye Donation Scheme, combining clinical expertise, compassionate communication, and specialist nursing skills.
In additon delivering exceptional end-of-life care and bereavement support to patients and families
- Providing high-quality, compassionate nursing care as part of the SWAN Team.
- Acting as a specialist nurse for eye donation within LUHFT.
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Approach and support bereaved families sensitively and professionally to discuss eye donation in a timely and appropriate manner.
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Undertake eye retrieval procedures in accordance with NHSBT and Trust policies, following full training and competency sign-off.
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Collaborate effectively with NHSBT teams, mortuary services, and clinical staff across the Trust.
- Participate in audit, service development, and quality improvement initiatives.
- Ensure accurate documentation and compliance with governance, infection control, and consent frameworks.
Key skills
- Excellent communication skills and emotional intelligence.
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Ability to work autonomously in complex, sensitive, and high-pressure situations.
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Compassionate, professional, and patient- and family-centred approach.
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Commitment to NHS values and quality standards in end-of-life care and organ/tissue donation.
About us
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust comprises Aintree University Hospital, Broadgreen Hospital & Royal Liverpool University Hospital.
We are part of NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, formed on 1 Nov 2024 from the coming together of LUHFT and Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust. The Group was born from a shared aim to improve the care we provide our patients.
UHLG is one of the largest employers in the region, with over 16,800 colleagues dedicated to caring for our communities - from birth and beyond.
For the 630,000 people across Merseyside, we are their local NHS. We provide general and emergency hospital care, alongside highly specialised regional services for more than two million people in the North West.
Aintree University Hospital is the single receiving site for adult major trauma patients in Cheshire and Merseyside and hosts a number of regional services including an award-winning stroke facility. Broadgreen Hospital is home to elective surgical, diagnostic and treatment services, together with specialist patient rehabilitation. Liverpool Women's Hospital specialises in the health of women and babies, delivering over 7,200 babies in the UK's largest single site maternity hospital each year. The Royal Liverpool University Hospital is the largest hospital in the country to provide inpatients with 100% single bedrooms and focuses on complex planned care and specialist services.
For roles at Liverpool Women's, visit their careers page.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The SWAN end of life and bereavement model is patient and family focused and aims to provide excellent, individualised care to every patient and their families.The role of the SWAN Nurse centres on meeting the unique needs of each individual and their loved ones after death.This role will include working with patients and bereaved next of kin to facilitate donation wishes and offer the option of eye/tissue donation.This will be working across Aintree and the Royal Sites
This role requires specific knowledge, skills and experience with advanced Communication skills for approaching recently bereaved people to offer opportunity for donation and recognised NHSBT training course for eye retrieval.
The SWAN Nurse Specialist will act as a positive role model providing nursing leadership withinthe speciality area. Demonstrating the highest professional standards and support the development of clinical expertise.
The role involves staff supervision, practice development and case work management within specific sphere of practiceThe SWAN Nurse Specialist for eye donation will be the lead for the defined area of practice, accepting, managing and discharging referred cases based on the criteria for the specialist area. They will work as anautonomous practitioner and within the SWAN and multidisciplinary teams including mortuary and ophthalmology.
Key responsibilities
Communicates complex/sensitive information with patients, carers and the wider disciplinaryteam on condition related information to ensure their active involvement in the care planning,treatment delivery and informed consent process. Assist patients and carers to develop understanding of health condition and promotes self management. Acknowledge and accommodate barriers to communication and understanding including speech, hearing, language and emotion. The provision of specialist advice to a range of health care professionals within the scope of specialist practice. Compiles comprehensive nursing records in accordance with Trust guidelines. Liaise with other nursing staff and members of the multidisciplinary team in order to achieve optimum levels of care in relation to specialised area of practice. Access external networks with peers to share good practice. Present complex and sensitive information within a variety of both formal and informal settings to individuals and group at different professional levels. Communicates with patients, carers and the wider multi-disciplinary team. Receives and delivers complex, confidential and sensitive information (e.g. child protection or adult safeguarding).Will contribute to the assessment of complex issues and facilitates decision making relating to patient care, safety treatment options and outcomes. Communicates with other wards and departments as well as external agencies. Maintains accurate and up to date nursing and medical records and ensures others do so.
Contributes to the provision of specialist advice to individual patients and carers, members of clinical team and the MDT.
Will be expected to contribute to education and training programmes.
Ensure the service meets the expectations and key performance indicators within the contract with NHSBT Promote and champion tissue and eye donation
Job description
Job responsibilities
The SWAN end of life and bereavement model is patient and family focused and aims to provide excellent, individualised care to every patient and their families.The role of the SWAN Nurse centres on meeting the unique needs of each individual and their loved ones after death.This role will include working with patients and bereaved next of kin to facilitate donation wishes and offer the option of eye/tissue donation.This will be working across Aintree and the Royal Sites
This role requires specific knowledge, skills and experience with advanced Communication skills for approaching recently bereaved people to offer opportunity for donation and recognised NHSBT training course for eye retrieval.
The SWAN Nurse Specialist will act as a positive role model providing nursing leadership withinthe speciality area. Demonstrating the highest professional standards and support the development of clinical expertise.
The role involves staff supervision, practice development and case work management within specific sphere of practiceThe SWAN Nurse Specialist for eye donation will be the lead for the defined area of practice, accepting, managing and discharging referred cases based on the criteria for the specialist area. They will work as anautonomous practitioner and within the SWAN and multidisciplinary teams including mortuary and ophthalmology.
Key responsibilities
Communicates complex/sensitive information with patients, carers and the wider disciplinaryteam on condition related information to ensure their active involvement in the care planning,treatment delivery and informed consent process. Assist patients and carers to develop understanding of health condition and promotes self management. Acknowledge and accommodate barriers to communication and understanding including speech, hearing, language and emotion. The provision of specialist advice to a range of health care professionals within the scope of specialist practice. Compiles comprehensive nursing records in accordance with Trust guidelines. Liaise with other nursing staff and members of the multidisciplinary team in order to achieve optimum levels of care in relation to specialised area of practice. Access external networks with peers to share good practice. Present complex and sensitive information within a variety of both formal and informal settings to individuals and group at different professional levels. Communicates with patients, carers and the wider multi-disciplinary team. Receives and delivers complex, confidential and sensitive information (e.g. child protection or adult safeguarding).Will contribute to the assessment of complex issues and facilitates decision making relating to patient care, safety treatment options and outcomes. Communicates with other wards and departments as well as external agencies. Maintains accurate and up to date nursing and medical records and ensures others do so.
Contributes to the provision of specialist advice to individual patients and carers, members of clinical team and the MDT.
Will be expected to contribute to education and training programmes.
Ensure the service meets the expectations and key performance indicators within the contract with NHSBT Promote and champion tissue and eye donation
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
Experience
Essential
- 5 years B5 post registration experience within related specialist area of practice.
- Extended clinical practice underpinned by training supervision & assessment
Desirable
- Experience in donation services or eye retrieval
- Research/audit experience
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge and understanding of relevant NHS policy or project specific policy context
- Knowledge of adult/child safeguarding
Skills
Essential
- Developed communication skills
- Full driving licence
- Effective report writing skills
- Time management skills
- IT skills
Desirable
- Change management skills
- Evidence of effective leadership skills/knowledge
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
Experience
Essential
- 5 years B5 post registration experience within related specialist area of practice.
- Extended clinical practice underpinned by training supervision & assessment
Desirable
- Experience in donation services or eye retrieval
- Research/audit experience
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge and understanding of relevant NHS policy or project specific policy context
- Knowledge of adult/child safeguarding
Skills
Essential
- Developed communication skills
- Full driving licence
- Effective report writing skills
- Time management skills
- IT skills
Desirable
- Change management skills
- Evidence of effective leadership skills/knowledge
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
