Senior Retrieval Assistant

NHS; Greater London; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A national health service organization seeks a Senior Retrieval Assistant to support tissue donation processes. This role involves retrieving tissues from deceased donors, maintaining records, and working flexible shifts including weekends. Applicants should have either an HND or NVQ Level 3 in a relevant science field and a driving license. Extensive training is provided to ensure competency. Join a committed team that significantly impacts lives through tissue donation.

Benefits

Extensive learning and development opportunities

Defined career pathways

Generous leave policy

NHS Pension Scheme

Qualifications

• Possess a valid full (manual) UK driving licence with no more than 6 penalty points.
• Evidence of continuous professional development.

Responsibilities

• Assist in tissue retrieval from deceased donors.
• Support surgical tissue donation programs.
• Maintain accurate records and productivity.

Skills

Competence in PC use

Word processing

Spreadsheet experience

Data management

Education

HND in Health Care Science

NVQ Level 3 in Health Care or Science

Job description

At NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) we work with more than just blood and solid organs. Our donors also donate multiple types of tissue and its within our Tissue and Eye Services team that you could play your role in significantly transforming hundreds of lives each year.

As a Senior Retrieval Assistant, you would be responsible for supporting the work of the Retrieval team, performing a range of routine tasks which relate to the donation, transport, and follow-up of deceased and live tissue donors.

You will be involved in retrieving multiple types of tissues including skin, eye, bone, heart and tendons from newly deceased donors, so its essential that you are comfortable with this aspect of the job. We understand that this is a unique role, and we dont expect you to be fully trained initially. Hence, we offer a comprehensive training program, detailed below. However, you do need to have either a Higher National Diploma or NVQ Level 3 in healthcare or Science or relevant science field.

If you are interested in this unique and rewarding career where you will have a direct and positive impact on the tissue recipients and donor families lives, this is the role for you!

In order to obtain a fascinating insight into the role, applicants are advised to watch The Human Tissue Squad this can be found online here https://vimeo.com/132804485.

Main duties of the job

You will work flexibly across the range of activities as rostered and will additionally assist in developing the service in anticipation of future clinical needs. Responsibilities will include:

• Assist the Retrieval Team in the tissue donation process, performing tissue retrievals from deceased donors in various settings such as hospitals, Hospices and funeral homes.
• Retrieve tissues (eye, bones, tendons, skin, heart) from deceased donors, assisting in their reconstruction under the supervision of a senior team member.
• Support, assist with the maintenance of the Surgical Tissue Donation programmes.
• Be a proactive member of the Tissue and Eye Services team.
• Integral to the provision of a 7 days a week tissue retrieval service.
• Ensure efficient working and productivity maintaining accurate records.
• This role requires the ability to drive a manual vehicle.
• You will be required to travel extensively, including overnight stays, spend time away from base when required (with appropriate prior notice).
• The retrieval teams operate from 08:00 to 21:00, 7 days a week, with a 7.5-hour working day. Shifts typically run from 08:00-16:00, 10:00-18:00, or 13:00-21:00 on a rotational basis, including weekends. Flexibility in working patterns is essential, as retrievers work 5 out of 7 days.

At NHSBT, we prioritize your personal development and take training seriously. To give you a better understanding of what to expect in this role, heres an overview of what your initial training program will cover:

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 positively encourage applications from all sectors of the community.

Job responsibilities

What we offer you:

• Extensive Learning and Development Opportunities – refer to the detailed training program outlined above.
• Career pathway – There are defined career pathways covering both scientific and leadership/management routes. Within Tissue and Eye Services it is possible to progress through Senior Retrieval Assistant, Retrieval Team Leader, Retrieval Supervisor and Retrieval Team Manager roles depending on experience, qualifications gained and the vacancies arising. There are also opportunities to learn about other areas of NHSBT via ‘a day in the life’ sessions for staff wanting to work across departments and directorates.
• Leave:27 days per year plus 8 bank/public holidays
  • Pro rata if part-time. Leave increases to 29 days after 5 years’ service and 33 days after 10 years’ service.
• Pension: The NHS Pension Scheme is a defined benefit scheme (not dependent on investment returns). Further details and outline of benefits can be found at: www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/pensions

To learn more, please see our recruitment profile, which provides a summary of the job description and person specification. This can be accessed via the link below, or by clicking ‘Apply’ if you are viewing this advert on another site.

This vacancy will close at 23:59 on 4th January 2026. NHSBT reserves the right to close the job early if a high volume of applications is received.

Interview date(s) to be confirmed.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Educated to HND level or equivalent either by:
• Possession of HND in Health Care Science or relevant science field
• Possession of NVQ level 3 award in Health Care or Science and equivalent experience working in a blood / tissue banking field
• Equivalent knowledge of science or health care work, acquired through formal training and experience.
• Possess a valid full (manual) UK driving licence with no more than 6 penalty points
• Evidence of continuous professional development

Experience

• Competence in the use of a PC and mainframe computer packages.
• Word processing, spreadsheet and data management experience.

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.