Decontamination Services Supervisor

NHS; Bedford; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare provider in Bedford is seeking a full-time Decontamination Services Supervisor. The role involves leading a dedicated team in the Decontamination Unit, ensuring the safe reprocessing of instruments and compliance with quality standards. Ideal candidates will have strong leadership skills, NVQ Level 3 in a relevant subject, and experience in medical device decontamination. This position offers an exciting opportunity to impact patient care positively, working in a supportive environment with a focus on safety and quality.

Benefits

High-quality training and development

Qualifications

• Dynamic leader with a focus on infection prevention and control.
• Experience in a medical device decontamination environment.
• Ability to prioritize and delegate tasks effectively.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of technicians in the Decontamination Unit.
• Oversee the safe reprocessing of flexible endoscopes.
• Ensure compliance with departmental quality systems.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Infection Control

Team Management

Education

NVQ Level 3 in relevant subject

Tools

IT Skills

Job description

Go back Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Decontamination Services Supervisor

The closing date is 06 January 2026

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 4 Decontamination Supervisor to lead a dedicated team of technicians within the Decontamination Unit at Bedford Hospital. You will oversee a busy, friendly team responsible for the safe reprocessing of flexible endoscopes, working to ISO-accredited policies and departmental quality systems.

This role requires a dynamic, people-focused leader with excellent communication skills and a flexible approach to work. Drawing on your previous experience, you will provide senior support to technicians, ensuring smooth day-to-day operations and the delivery of high-quality service.

This is a full-time position with a three-week rotating roster: Early (07:30-15:30), Middle (10:30-18:30), and Late (14:00-22:00). Weekend cover is required every sixth weekend, with Saturday on call (12:00-20:00) and Sunday on call.

This is a fantastic opportunity to make a meaningful impact on patient care by leading a team whose work is essential to the hospital's commitment to safety and quality.

Main duties of the job

This fast paced and high patient turn over area requires passionate and forward thinking staff. You must be committed to high standards of infection prevention and control and will need to demonstrate the ability to work as a team member as well as under your own initiative with a focus and supporting and developing individuals. Having excellent communication skills, along with ability to think independently and prioritise tasks is necessary. You will work closely with Multidisciplinary Team who care for, and support patients through the service. Candidates should have Specialist Skills and experience in decontamination. Experience in training and supervision roles in Decontamination services is desirable but not essential. Development will be given to the successful applicant enabling them to gain skills in leadership roles.

A comprehensive job description is attached to this vacancy.

About us

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.

Our Values

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.

Job responsibilities

The Job Description and Person Specification are attached to this job, please review for the full details and responsibilities

• First line management of all Technicians and Porters, including annual appraisal/ return to work meetings and ensuring all aspects of their roles are conducted satisfactorily. Monitor attendance, timekeeping and behaviour, ensuring compliance with the uniform policy, escalating issues as required.
• Prioritise the departments production in order to meet customers needs, ensuring urgent requests/ trauma instruments, loan sets and any other fast track requests are dealt with efficiently and in a timely manner.
• Communicate effectively to ensure relevant information is available to all production staff. Ensure information is passed on and recorded in relation to changes to instrument set specification lists, changes in working practices, training issues etc.
• To deputise for Assistant Manager when required, dealing with all aspects of production.
• Liaising with other Departments and any problems that arise.
• To supervise all production staff within the units, ensuring that their work is of the required standard. Monitoring correct use of tracking systems and ensuring all procedures are followed correctly

Person Specification

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 3 in relevant subject (decontamination units) or equivalent

Experience

• Knowledge of tracking & traceability of instruments
• Basic IT skills
• Previous experience of working in medical device decontamination environment
• Experience of decontamination quality systems
• Previous experience in a training role
• Experience in conducting audits to ISO standards
• Experience of managing teams in complex and time pressured environments

Knowledge

• Understanding of the decontamination process
• Knowledge of surgical instruments, including their identification and decontamination requirements
• Awareness of infection control
• Ability to understand written instructions
• Knowledge of relevant statute and guidance, including ISO13485, HTM 01-01 and 01-06
• Documented training in the requirements of the relevant statute and guidance
• Formal supervisory training
• Membership of the IDSc

Physical requirements

• Ability to stand for lengthy periods
• Ability to wear protective equipment
• High level of manual dexterity
• Exposure to body fluids, tissue, sharps, heat and steam
• Able to lift weights of up to 15kg

Other requirements

• Willingness and aptitude to undertake training
• Ability to prioritize and delegate responsibilityAbility to concentrate in a busy / high activity area
• Positive approach to work and customer satisfaction
• Enthusiasm towards learning and training

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust