Waste Services Porter

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust; West of England; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and wellbeing

Career development

Staff training

Job summary

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Waste Services operative to join our team. You will help ensure the hospital environment is maintained by safely collecting and disposing of all waste streams and dirty linen, using the AGV system.

This role requires independence, initiative, and good organisational skills to prioritise daily tasks. You will report to the Waste Services Team Leader and work as part of a supportive team within the NHS environment.

Qualifications

• Good Level of Education
• Working in a team based environment
• Working in a busy & physically demanding multi-faceted environment
• Hotel services and Facilities activities
• Customer focused approach
• Good Communication and Interpersonal skills

Responsibilities

• Collect and remove clinical and non-clinical waste from waste hold areas across hospital levels and other designated departments.
• Collect and remove dirty linen cages from waste hold areas across hospital levels and other designated departments.
• Dispatch and receipt of AGV bulk bins and cages, ensuring the correct use of the AGV card system and maintaining the efficient movement of equipment throughout the hospital.

Skills

Teamwork

Communication

Customer focus

Physical stamina

Education

Good education level

Tools

AGV system

Job description

North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) have merged as of 1st July 2026 to become Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. This creates an exciting future that brings together the best of both organisations. As a single, strong and sustainable organisation, we will not only be able to deliver better outcomes for our patients and fairer care for our population, but it will also provide greater opportunities for our people. Bristol NHS Foundation Trust recognise the value of a healthy work-life balance. When applying, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate flexible working, so your work life fits around your home life.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the Trust.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) describes algorithms that can be used to produce new content, including audio, code, images, text, simulations, and videos. It is developing all the time and is now being used as a support mechanism for all kinds of content-based creations. Please note the use of AI is monitored and if applicants have used it then they are required to declare this.

Job Overview

The successful candidate will work as part of the Waste Services Team, helping to ensure that the hospital environment is maintained to a high standard by providing the safe and timely collection and disposal of all waste streams and dirty linen, using the AGV system.

The ability to work independently and use initiative while demonstrating an understanding of Waste Services within an NHS environment.

Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise workloads effectively to meet daily operational and service requirements.

Strong communication and customer service skills, and a commitment to delivering a reliable and responsive service while working as part of a supportive team.

The successful candidate will report directly to the Waste Services Team Leader.

Main duties of the job

You will be responsible for the collection and removal of clinical and non-clinical waste from waste hold areas across hospital levels and other designated departments.

You will be responsible for collecting and removing dirty linen cages from waste hold areas across hospital levels and other designated departments.

You will be responsible for the dispatch and receipt of AGV bulk bins and cages, ensuring the correct use of the AGV card system and maintaining the efficient movement of equipment throughout the hospital.

Working for our organisation

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.

With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom.

Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

For a more detailed job description, main responsibilities, and Person Specification, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.

Person specification

Shortlisting Criteria

Essential criteria

• Good Level of Education
• Working in a team based environment
• Working in a busy & physically demanding multi-faceted environment
• Hotel services and Facilities activities
• Customer focused approach
• Good Communication and Interpersonal skills

Desirable criteria

• Experience of AGV’s system
• Portering experience
• Waste processes

Benefits and Perks

• As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.
• The Trust is committed to investing in and caring for all our staff. We will support you in maintaining and improving your health and wellbeing, as well as your career development through management and training support - developing exceptional people for exceptional careers.
• BFT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
• To comply with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 all applicants must be able to speak fluent English to an appropriate standard which will be assessed at Interview.
• If you require sponsorship for a visa to work in the UK, to avoid disappointment, please check to ensure you are eligible under the UKVI points based system.
• The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.
• By applying for this post, you are agreeing to Bristol NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

Important

Please note that if you apply for a position with this Trust, you may be contacted via Trac or via email. This includes invites for job interviews. We therefore recommend that you regularly check your Trac account and email accounts. We may also contact you by texting the mobile number, if provided, on the application form.

Due to the high number of applications that are received for some posts we may close this vacancy before the advertised closing date. Therefore, if you are interested and you meet the requirements of the Person Specification.

Only those candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification will be shortlisted for this job.

As a guide interviews should usually take place within 3 weeks of the closing date.

When providing employment reference details, please provide correct work-related email addresses so references can be sought promptly when we are looking to progress your application. Your referee must all be known to you in a line manager or professional lead capacity.