NHS Blood and Transplant
Senior Retrieval Assistant
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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 it’s 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 it’s 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!
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
Responsibilities
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).
Training Programme Overview (6 Months)
At NHSBT, we prioritize your personal development and take training seriously. To give you a better understanding of what to expect in this role, here’s an overview of what your initial training program will cover:
- Eye and Tissue Retrieval: Includes bone, skin, heart valves, tendons, and arteries.
- Vehicle Familiarisation: Training in driving NHSBT liveried vehicles, including a driving assessment. Our vehicles are manual.
- Mortuary Work: Acclimation to working in mortuary settings and with deceased patients.
- Regulatory Knowledge: Understanding Human Tissue Authority regulations, consent requirements, and the Human Tissue Act.
- Tissue Retrieval: Training in dissection and tissue removal, with basic anatomy instruction.
- Clinical Pathway Insight: Overview of the process from referral and consent to tissue preparation for transplantation.
- Virology Testing: Basic understanding of virology testing on deceased donors.
- Support Functions: Training in stock ordering, retrieval kit preparation, and other support areas.
- Competency Assessments: Completion of competency assessments in eye and tissue retrieval around the 6-month mark.
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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, who provide site supervision at non-NHSBT locations.
About You
Experience and Knowledge
- Competence in the use of a PC and mainframe computer packages.
- Word processing, spreadsheet and data management experience.
Qualifications And Training
- 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 manual driving licence, allowing you to drive in the UK
- Evidence of continuous professional development
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.
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What We Offer
- Extensive Learning and Development Opportunities - refer to the detailed training program outlined above.
- Flexible working options – we promote flexible working where the role allows. We’re 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 - we’ve 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. It’s 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:
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
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.
For Informal Enquiries Please Contact
Name: Antony Aning-Brown
Job Title: Retrieval Team Manager (Barnsley)
Contact Details: Email – antony.aning-brown@nhsbt.nhs.uk and Phone – 07384919175
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