Decontamination Assistant (Sterile services)

Bedfordshire Hospitals; Bedford, Luton; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Decontamination Assistant (Sterile services) to join the Bedford Hospital Sterile Services Department. You will help clean, disinfect and sterilise reusable medical devices, including endoscopes, following ISO-aligned procedures and safety guidelines.

The role involves shift patterns across Early, Middle and Late duties, weekends, and on-call rotas, with 37.5 hours per week.

Qualifications

• Excellent English – written and verbal communication.
• Good organisational skills with attention to detail.
• Basic IT skills and manual dexterity are desirable.

Responsibilities

• Receiving, sorting and preparing reusable medical devices for cleaning and disinfection.
• Inspecting, reassembling, testing, packaging and labelling devices after decontamination.
• Carrying out quality checks on instrument trays and reporting discrepancies.
• Maintaining knowledge of sterilisation methods and safety requirements.
• Ensuring compliance with ISO standards and health and safety requirements.
• Participating in efficient department operation with high quality and service delivery.

Skills

Excellent English

Organisational skills

Attention to detail

Manual dexterity

Basic IT skills

Job description

Decontamination Assistant (Sterile services)

NHS AfC: Band 2

Main area Support Services Grade NHS AfC: Band 2 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (3 weeks rota Early 7.30-15.30, Middle 10.30-18.30 and Late 14.00-22.00, every sixth weekend Saturday 12.00-20.00 and on call, Sunday on call.) Job ref 418-COR13293-SSJ

Site Bedford Hospital Town Bedford Salary £25,272 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 24/11/2026 23:59

Job overview

As a Decontamination Assistant, you will be part of a dedicated team responsible for the cleaning, disinfection, and sterilisation of reusable medical devices, including endoscopes, in line with ISO-accredited policies, procedures, and departmental work instructions. Based within the Sterile Services Department and Endoscope Decontamination Unit at Bedford Hospital, you will play an important role in ensuring medical equipment is processed safely, effectively, and in compliance with regulatory standards.

The successful candidate will be committed to delivering a high-quality decontamination service and maintaining the highest standards of patient safety. You will be motivated, reliable, and flexible, with the ability to work a range of shifts, including weekends, and be willing to undertake all necessary training to develop within the role.

At Bedford Hospital, we are dedicated to providing safe, compassionate, and high-quality care for our patients. We strive to be an excellent place to work, ensuring we have the right people in the right roles to deliver outstanding patient care and experience.

This is a full-time position working a three-week rotating shift pattern:

• Early Shift: 7:30am to 3:30pm
• Middle Shift: 10:30am to 6:30pm
• Late Shift: 2:00pm to 10:00pm

The role also includes working every sixth Saturday (12:00pm to 8:00pm) and participation in a Sunday on-call rota.

Main duties of the job

The Decontamination Service at Bedford Hospital NHS Trust includes the Sterile Services Department and the Endoscopy Decontamination Unit, which are responsible for providing sterile and disinfected reusable medical devices to wards, departments, and theatres across the Trust. The service supports patient care through the collection, decontamination, inspection, preparation, packaging, sterilisation or disinfection, and distribution of reusable medical devices.

Key responsibilities include:

• Receiving, sorting, and preparing reusable medical devices, including endoscopes, for cleaning and disinfection.
• Inspecting, reassembling, testing, packaging, sealing, and labelling medical devices following successful decontamination processes.
• Carrying out independent quality checks on instrument trays prepared by colleagues, ensuring accuracy and reporting any discrepancies.
• Developing and maintaining knowledge of surgical instruments, reusable medical devices, and flexible endoscopes, including their functions, handling requirements, and key inspection and testing points.
• Ensuring all work is carried out in accordance with departmental procedures, ISO-accredited standards, and relevant health and safety requirements.
• Contributing to the efficient operation of the department by maintaining high standards of quality, safety, and service delivery at all times.

Working for our organisation

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. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. 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 sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Job Description and Person Specification are attached to this vacancy; please review them for full details and responsibilities.

• Inspecting instruments and medical equipment upon receipt into the decontamination area and throughout the decontamination, storage, and distribution process, promptly reporting any damaged, defective, or missing items.
• Dismantling, cleaning, reassembling, and preparing instruments in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions and departmental procedures.
• Ensuring all instrument sets and supplementary items are correctly wrapped, packaged, labelled, and prepared in line with legislation, national guidance, and service requirements.
• Maintaining knowledge of sterilisation and disinfection methods and understanding the importance of product safety and liability in the reprocessing of reusable medical devices.
• Performing quality assurance checks to verify that instruments and devices have been effectively decontaminated and are safe for patient use.
• Identifying and escalating any concerns regarding the effectiveness of the decontamination process, reporting and documenting failures in accordance with departmental procedures.
• Reviewing and verifying process records and cycle data before products are approved for release and distribution.
• Using appropriate packaging materials and packing techniques to protect instruments and minimise the risk of damage during storage and transport.
• Following procedures for the management of non-conforming devices and equipment following failed washer-disinfector or steriliser cycles, ensuring unsuitable items are quarantined and not released for clinical use.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Excellent English – communication skills, written and verbal

Experience

• Previous experience in a Healthcare Environment

Knowledge

• Good Organisational Skills
• Basic I.T Skills
• Manual Dexterity
• Attention to Details
• Knowledge of Quality Management System – ISO 13485 / ISO9001

Personal Skills

• Good Timekeeper, changed as per policy and commence shift as indicated
• Ability to stand for lengthy periods of time
• Team focussed
• Reliable, Adaptable and Dependable
• Willing to undertake training as required
• Proactive approach and participation in the Quality Management System
• Ability to be Self directional

It is an exciting time to join Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We run two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Our 7,500 staff provide high quality care for a growing population of around 700,000 across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas.

You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. Travel between hospital sites may be required. We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post.

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.