Cornea Donation Co-ordinator in Sheffield

The Cornea Donation Co‑ordinator supports the identification and referral of potential cornea donors across Sheffield Teaching Hospitals. Working within Bereavement Services, the role involves sensitively approaching families for consent, liaising closely with the National Referral Centre, and ensuring the donation process runs smoothly and efficiently. The post holder maintains accurate records, promotes eye donation within the Trust and local community, and collaborates with clinical teams and external partners. Operating as part of a 7‑day service, they help ensure every suitable donation opportunity is recognised and managed with compassion, professionalism and adherence to national standards.

Main duties of the job:

• Identify potential cornea donors by reviewing patient records and following national and local guidelines.
• Approach bereaved families with sensitivity to discuss eye donation and obtain consent.
• Liaise closely with the National Referral Centre to ensure timely and effective progression of the donation pathway.
• Maintain accurate records and data on donation activity using Trust systems.
• Provide specialist advice on eye donation to families, clinical staff, funeral directors and Coroner’s services.
• Work collaboratively with clinical teams, Medical Examiners, Mortuary staff and NHS Blood and Transplant.
• Support the promotion of eye donation across the Trust and within the community, including involvement in awareness campaigns.
• Assist with service development to improve quality, referrals and donation outcomes.
• Represent the Eye Donation Service at relevant meetings locally, regionally and nationally.
• Provide cover and support within the Bereavement Service to ensure delivery of a compassionate, efficient service.
• Supervise bereavement staff, contribute to rota management and support staff development.
• Ensure high standards of governance, including incident reporting, feedback collection and adherence to Trust policies.
• Maintain own professional development and participate in training and education across the organisation.
• Work flexibly as part of a 7‑day service rota.

Qualifications:

• 3 A-Levels or NVQ Level 3 (or equivalent relevant education at level 3) or equivalent experience.
• ILM Level 3 or equivalent management experience.
• Evidence of ongoing professional development.
• Willingness to undergo further training necessary for the role provided by NHBT.

Experience and Knowledge:

• Working in an NHS Hospital or other large organisation.
• Knowledge of the after-death pathway and an awareness of stakeholders (such as HM Coroners and Funeral Directors) and their role in care after death or a willingness to undergo role specific training provided by the Bereavement Manager.
• Knowledge and understanding of tissue retrieval services and related medical terminology or a willingness to undertake role specific training provided by NHSBT.
• Knowledge of local and national guidelines around organ donation or a willingness to undertake role specific training provided by NHSBT.
• Experience of problem solving and knowledge/experience of resolving issues that may include developing additional or alternative procedures.
• Evidence of developing and maintaining effective working relationships with a variety of professionals and service users.
• Experience of and ability to manage staff to organisational policies.
• An awareness of the challenges currently facing the NHS.
• Knowledge/experience of using a range of patient EPR systems including: Cerner, SystmOne, Ulysses etc to review patient information and maintain accurate records to be used for performance reporting.
• Experience of compiling and presenting numerical KPI, and governance data or a willingness to undergo role specific governance, data compilation and presenting training.
• Knowledge of NHS data protection standards and an ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Experience of managing change.

Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to speak compassionately and empathetically with the bereaved and a willingness to undertake role specific training on conducting sensitive phone calls.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Highly developed organisational skills including the ability to multitask and work under pressure in a fast paced environment.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of professionals and service users.
• Ability to motivate, influence, persuade and direct across all grades and disciplines of staff.
• Good standard of I.T. literacy and keyboard skills including the use of Microsoft Office software packages.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to be flexible and sensitive and able to cope with the changing needs of the role.
• Ability to review and analyse data and make recommendations to increase output based on findings.
• Ability to deal effectively with conflict and to minimise its escalation.
• Full Driving Licence.

Please note that in order to comply with the UK Government’s rules on Skilled Worker sponsorship, any applicants who do not meet the eligibility requirements or concessions on salary thresholds under the Skilled Worker visa will not be eligible to receive sponsorship from the Trust.

The Trust is committed to its obligations in accordance with the Equality Act 2010, and we positively encourage applications from all sections of the community.