Senior Retrieval Assistant

NHS Blood and Transplant; Hanley; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) seeks a Senior Retrieval Assistant to support the Retrieval team in tissue donation, transport, and follow-up of donors. You will retrieve multiple tissue types from newly deceased donors and work under supervision before performing retrievals independently once competent.

Training is comprehensive, and the role requires a manual driving licence. The position is full-time, involves travel including overnight stays, and is part of the Tissue and Eye Services team

Qualifications

• Educated to HND level or NVQ level 3 in healthcare or science or a relevant field.
• Possess a valid manual driving licence to drive in the UK.
• Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD)

Responsibilities

• Assist the Retrieval Team in tissue donation; perform tissue retrievals from deceased donors in hospitals, hospices and funeral homes.
• Retrieve tissues (eye, bones, tendons, skin, heart) from deceased donors under supervision.
• Support maintenance of Surgical Tissue Donation programmes.
• Be an active member of the Tissue and Eye Services team.
• Contribute to a 7-days-a-week tissue retrieval service.
• Maintain accurate records and ensure efficient, productive work.
• Travel extensively, including overnight stays, with prior notice.

Skills

PC and mainframe competence

Word processing & spreadsheets

Data management

Education

HND in Health Care Science or NVQ3 in Health Care/Science

Tools

Mainframe packages

Job description

Job summary

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 don't 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!

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. Your 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 and 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).

At NHSBT, we prioritize your personal development and take training seriously. Throughout the training programme, supervision is provided during retrieval activities. Only after demonstrating competence will you conduct retrievals independently. For multi-tissue retrievals, a minimum of two NHSBT team members are always present, along with third-party professionals, such as healthcare staff and mortuary technicians.

About us

It takes all types of people to deliver the kind of service that saves and improves lives. At NHS Blood and Transplant, you'll 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

To learn more, please see the job description and person specification. These can be accessed via the link below,

• Extensive Learning and Development Opportunities - refer to the detailed training program outlined above.
• 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.

Next steps

We have two full time, fixed term positions available for 12 months. For internal staff wishing to apply for the role as a secondment, please discuss with your current line manager before submitting an application. The normal working hours for this role will be 37.5 hours per week on a rota basis, which covers 7 days per week. This vacancy will close at 23:59 on Thursday 15th October 2026. However, this vacancy may close sooner than the advertised deadline if we receive a high volume of applications. Interviews are anticipated to be held week commencing 26th October 2026 subject to confirmation.

Qualifications

Essential

• 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. OR Equivalent knowledge of science or health care work, acquired through formal training and experience.
• Possess a valid manual driving licence, allowing you to drive in the UK
• Evidence of continuous professional development

Experience

Essential

• 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.

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.