Decontamination Assistant (Endoscopy)

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; England; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare trust in the UK is looking for a Decontamination Assistant to join their Sterile Services Department. Candidates will work to ensure reusable medical devices are meticulously decontaminated, while adhering to ISO standards. This role requires attention to detail, a commitment to quality, and flexibility in working hours, including weekends. Join a friendly team dedicated to healthcare service excellence.

Qualifications

• Focused on providing safe and compliant decontamination services.
• Willingness to complete relevant training.
• Ability to work flexible hours including weekends.

Responsibilities

• Receipt, sorting and preparing reusable medical devices.
• Inspection, re-assembly, function testing, packaging of devices.
• Carry out independent checking of instrument trays.
• Maintain awareness of types and categories of instruments.
• Inspect instruments and equipment on receipt into Decontamination area.
• Dismantle/assemble instrumentation according to recommendations.
• Ensure packaging and labelling meets legislation.

Skills

Attention to detail

Ability to work in a team

Flexibility in working hours

Motivation for training

Job description

As a Decontamination Assistant, you will be working as part of a team to complete decontamination and sterilisation process for reusable medical devices including endoscopes, following the ISO accredited policies, procedures and work instructions within the department's quality system.

You will play a key role in delivering all decontamination related duties based within the Sterile Services Department and Endoscope Decontamination Unit at Bedford Hospital.

The post holder will work in line with the departmental work instructions, whilst adhering to the ISO accredited policies and procedures in all aspects of the Sterile services department and Endoscope Decontamination Unit.

The successful candidate should be focused on providing safe, compliant decontamination service to our customers and all stakeholders. You will be highly motivated, have a flexible approach to working hours and shift patterns including weekends. A willingness to complete relevant training is a key requirement of the role.

Key Responsibilities:

• Receipt, sorting and preparing of reusable medical devices including endoscopes for cleaning and disinfection.
• Inspection, re-assembly, function testing, packaging, sealing and labelling of reusable medical devices that have been satisfactorily washed, disinfected and dried.
• Carry out required independent checking of instrument trays (for others) ensuring the contents are correct and reporting any discrepancies.
• Maintaining an awareness of the basic types and categories of instruments, flexible scopes according to their function and identify the points for inspection and test procedures.
• Inspection of instruments and equipment on receipt into Decontamination area and at various stages throughout production, storage and distribution, immediately reporting damaged or missing items/components.
• Dismantle/Assembly of instrumentation following the cleaning and disinfection process and manufacturers recommendations.
• Ensuring that the packaging, wrapping and labelling of instrument sets and supplementary items is done in accordance with legislation and guidance to meet the service needs.
• Understand the different types of sterilisation/disinfection methods used, and the importance of product liability regarding the re-use of these items.
• Carry out quality checks on items to ensure that the devices have been correctly decontaminated and are safe for patient use.
• Carry out the correct action required if the decontamination function is in doubt and report/document any failure to the Decontamination Services Manager.

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff.

We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when a sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required.