Sterile Services Technician

Transformationunitgm; Ashford; On-site; GBP 40,000 - GBP 60,000; Full time

Job description

Employer Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site St Peter's Hospital Town Chertsey Salary £26,240 - £27,928 pa, inc. HCAS Salary period Yearly Closing 01/03/2026 23:59

NHS AfC: Band 3

Job overview

A vacancy has arisen in the Sterile Services Department at St. Peter’s Hospital for a Technician for a 12 Month Fixed Term Contract. A Sterile Services Technician is responsible for providing effective safe and efficient collection, decontamination (washing, disinfection and sterilization) and distribution of re-usable medical devices with complex speciality demands, including devices, of varied design which are of a delicate and valuable nature for use in direct patient care. You should have a working understanding of health and safety at work act, C.O.S.H.H and be computer literate to undertake on-line training where required. You are also required to have a clear understanding of consequences that may arise due to equipment or devices failure and a good level of understanding concerning the clinical use of the equipment undergoing decontamination.

Main duties of the job

The Decontamination and Sterile Services Technician is responsible for providing effective safe and efficient collection, decontamination (washing, disinfection and sterilization) and distribution of re-usable medical devices with complex speciality demands, of a delicate and valuable nature for use in direct patient care. The Sterile Services Department maintains a quality management system ISO 13485:2016. Technicians must comply with the essential requirements of the UK Medical Devices Regulations 2002 (SI618 as amended). Maintaining and updating records and database, for traceability of re-usable medical instruments. To test, validate and operate highly technical and sensitive decontamination equipment within the department recording and reporting faults to ensure timely repairs and maintenance. To undertake quality checks for cleanliness and functionality of equipment, before distribution to customers in accordance with Legislation, Quality Systems and Health and Safety; both Trust wide and for external customers. To collect and accept delivery of used equipment from all customers including external agencies. To deal with all levels of customer queries via; telephone and direct personal contact, including clinicians, nurses and other practitioners. To check equipment, instructions and other documentation before choosing correct decontamination processes. To adhere to policies and procedures, currently operating within the Department/Trust.

Working for our organisation

Ashford and St. Peters Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust serves a population of more than 410,000 people living in North-West Surrey, parts of Hounslow and beyond.

Over 3,700 highly trained doctors, nurses, midwives, therapists, healthcare scientists and other support staff make up our workforce, providing a wide range of services across our two hospital sites, Ashford, Surrey and St Peter's, Chertsey, Surrey.

We also run many specialist clinics in the community and local community hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

Our vision is to be one of the best healthcare Trusts in the country. There has never been a better time to join us in the NHS at ASPH. We are committed to providing continuous professional development and flexibility to shape our workforce around our patient care.

We are expanding our theatres at Ashford Hospital and moving towards this becoming our dedicated elective centre. We want to create a state-of-the-art centre for excellence for planned surgical procedures.

We can offer you the full range of NHS benefits/discounts and in addition:

• Excellent pension scheme and annual leave entitlement
• On-site Nurseries
• On-site staff cafes
• On-site parking
• Salary Sacrifice schemes including wage stream, lease cars, Cycle to Work schemes and home electronics

Adverts may close early, so applicants are encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Wash Room

To test and operate highly technical and sensitive disinfection equipment within the department.

To diagnose daily test results on washer disinfectors. Receive and record sets and instruments using manual and I.T. Systems. Sort and identify instruments using relevant documentation, check for functionality following manufacturer’s instructions. Raise non-conformance reports where necessary. Follow Trust policy (e.g. sharps) and report incidents. To take delivery of and process unique specialist surgical loan instruments following the manufacturers’ instructions. Ensure correct and safe handling, using appropriate decontamination processes for sensitive and fragile equipment and instruments. Deal with customers queries and reschedule work load as fast track items are received. To use manual recording and IT systems, in order to provide traceability of

instruments and devices throughout the Trust. Mentoring / training of new colleagues and less experienced members of staff.

To test and operate highly technical and sensitive disinfection equipment within the department.

To diagnose daily test results on machinery.. To record and process the test results and demonstrate compliance. To decontaminate Endoscopy apparatus of varied design which are of a delicate and valuable nature. Prioritise work load depending on customer requirements to ensure minimal disruption to patient care. Pushing/manoeuvring trolleys, manual handling of endoscopes and stock. Receive and document equipment, check documentation against equipment delivered for accuracy and record non-conformances where necessary.

Clean room

Test and record results of heat sealer function. Undertake quality checks for cleanliness and functionality before packing to agreed specifications ensuring an effective sterile field. Deal with customers queries and reschedule workload as required. Visual checks are carried out on all wash cycles to ensure correct parameters are achieved, if these are not achieved wash load is failed on IT systems and returned for reprocessing. To record and process the test results and demonstrate compliance. Comply with Gowning room procedure.

Test all sterilizers within the department in accordance with the departmental Quality Control Procedures. To record and process the test results and demonstrate compliance. Raise decontamination documents for returned loan sets and repairs. To process and deliver fast track sets to meet customer demands. Receive and record sets and instruments using manual and I T systems.

Sterile Stores / Check and delivery

Receive and document goods and equipment, check delivery notes against goods delivered for accuracy and record non-conformances. Keep areas clean and tidy; maintain a safe and compliant environment. Prioritise work load depending on customer requirements. Categorise all sets instruments into appropriate areas of stores for dispatch. Ensure rotation of stock. Decontaminate all equipment going for repair.

Training

SSD staff will receive practical and theoretical decontamination training. In order to develop an extensive knowledge of medical devices and their functions to include decontamination, principles, practical application and technical aspects of the service. Training will also include the Internal Programme and any other relevant training required for this position.

Communication

Staff will be required to communicate with colleagues/customers at all levels, including senior clinicians and management. Required to deal with telephone enquires as necessary in a concise and appropriate manner. Verbal and written communication is maintained within the department such as quality system documents and Trust safe code reporting system. Demonstrate a courteous and helpful approach to visitors and colleagues. Required to report untoward incidents and relevant information, to a supervisor, immediately. Taking part and representing others in working group sessions relating to health and safety, quality system, personnel, training, innovations and dealing with changes and challenges.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Educated to GCSE Standard or Equivalent
• E- Learning in Decontamination of Flexible Endoscopes

Experience

• Experience of working as part of a team
• Some experience of maintaining job specific equipment
• Broad knowledge of equipment cleaning, decontamination and sterilisation procedures
• Understanding of consequences that may arise due to equipment or devices failure.
• Understanding of infection control
• A good level of understanding concerning the clinical use of the equipment undergoing decontamination

Skills

• Attention to detail for packing and checking

Other requirements

• Clear written and spoken English.
• Willingness to work in unpleasant working conditions including exposure to bodily fluids
• Ability to work all shifts including weekends

Employer certification / accreditation badges

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.