Decontamination Technician

NHS; Carmarthen; Remote; GBP 27,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

Hywel Dda University Health Board invites applications for a Band 3 Sterile Services role based at Glangwili General Hospital in Carmarthen. The post involves preparing, sterilizing and delivering ward and theatre instrument sets in a busy unit, with formal training and potential on-call duties.

You should bring prior decontamination experience or willingness to train, a good standard of general education, and a commitment to bilingual Welsh/English service delivery.

Qualifications

• Experience in decontamination or sterile services preferred.
• Knowledge of quality management systems and documentation.
• Ability to work within a Welsh/English bilingual setting.

Responsibilities

• Provide decontaminated instruments and endoscopes to the Health Board and external customers.
• Support adherence to EC Directive 93/42 EEC and maintain required documentation.
• Prioritise own workload and assist team to maintain service quality.

Skills

Customer service experience

Self-motivation/initiative

Staff supervision

Quality management system

Education

GCSE passes or equivalent

NVQ Level 3 in decontamination or equivalent experience

Internal auditor’s qualification to ISO 13485 standards

Institute of Decontamination Sciences Technical Certificate Course

Job description

Main area Sterile Services Grade Band 3 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday - Friday from 07:00 - 20:00, Saturday - Sunday from 08:00 - 16:00) Job ref 100-ACS235-1026

Employer Hywel Dda University Health Board Employer type NHS Site Glangwili General Hospital Town Carmarthen Salary £26,813 - £27,890 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 08/11/2026 23:59 Interview date 20/11/2026

Our Hywel Dda values reflect who we are and how we behave. We continuously work together to be the best we can be as we strive to develop and deliver excellent services, putting people at the heart of everything we do. Throughout our recruitment process you will be asked to think about how you would demonstrate these values in the way that you work with us.

Hywel Dda University Health Board reserve the right to close vacancies after 24 hours if a large number of suitable applications are received. We encourage early applications to ensure consideration for a post.

Job overview

We require a self-motivated individual with a flexible approach to the needs of the service to join our busy Sterile Services Unit in Hywel Dda University Health Board. The post holder will be based at Glangwili General Hospital.

The post holder will be required to work as team members of the Sterile Service team carrying out duties related to the provision of decontaminated surgical instruments and flexible endoscopes to the Health Board and external customers.

During the training period, there will be dedicated training mentor assigned to the successful applicant at all times. When fully competent in all aspects of duties and responsibilities, the post holders will be required to have flexible approach to covering on call duties which includes Bank Holidays and Weekends.

A proven ability to manage and prioritise own workload and that of others in fast paced customer focused, and quality assured environment would be an advantage.

Previous experience of working in Sterile Services or Endoscopy decontamination is desirable but not essential as full training will be provided.

Main duties of the job

To provide a high quality service, through the preparation, production, sterilization and delivery of ward and departmental procedure packs, along with comprehensive Theatre and Day Theatre instrument sets within the Hywel Dda Health Board. Accreditation to EC Directive 93/42 EEC must be maintained at all times by ensuring all relevant documentation is completed and departmental procedures are followed.

Detailed descriptions and further information relating to duties and job requirements are defined within departmental work instructions, technical files and instrument tray contents lists, which the post holder should ensure they have reviewed and understand.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply.

Interviews will be held 20/11/2026

Working for our organisation

Hywel Dda University Health Board plans and provides NHS healthcare services for people living in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, and bordering counties.

We have over 13,000 staff and together we provide primary, community, in-hospital, mental health and learning disabilities services.

We work in partnership with the three local authorities, as well as public, private and third sector colleagues, including our valued team of volunteers.

Our services are provided in:

• Four main hospitals: Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth; Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen; Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli; and Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest
• Five community hospitals: Amman Valley and Llandovery hospitals in Carmarthenshire; Tregaron Hospital in Ceredigion; and Tenby and South Pembrokeshire hospitals in Pembrokeshire
• Two integrated care centres: Aberaeron and Cardigan in Ceredigion, and several other community settings
• 47 general practices (six of which are health board managed practices); dental practices (including four orthodontic); 97
• community pharmacies; 43 general ophthalmic practices; and 8 ophthalmic domiciliary providers
• Numerous mental health and learning disabilities services

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

You will be able to find a full job description and person specification attached within the supporting documents.

Health Board is committed to supporting its staff to fully embrace the need for bilingualism thereby enhancing patient and service user experiences. In our commitment to increase the number of staff who are able to communicate in Welsh with patients and professionals, we welcome applications from Welsh speakers.

The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post. If you do not meet the Welsh Language requirements specified, the Health Board offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal desirable requirements during the course of your employment with us.

Person specification

Experience

• Professional experience of working in and applying a quality management system within a decontamination service
• Ability to work on own initiative
• Experience of dealing with customers
• To be able to give advice, instruction, monitor staff and initiate first line corrective action
• Experience in supervising/managing staff

Qualifications and Knowledge

• Good level of general education with GCSE passes or equivalent
• Basic computer literacy
• NVQ Level 3 in decontamination or equivalent experience
• Internal auditor’s qualification to ISO 13485 standards
• Attainment of E-learning programme in decontamination practices principles
• ‘Institute of Decontamination Sciences’ Technical Certificate Course
• Ability to deliver practical work based training and assessment

Language Skills

• Welsh speaker (Level 1)

Hywel Dda University Health Board operates a bilingual policy. All applicants are invited to apply in Welsh, any application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application made in English.

By submitting your application to NHS Jobs/Trac, you are giving your consent for elements of your application data to be transferred to the NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) and other secure, internal NHS Workforce systems in order to support and manage your recruitment and employment within your employing organisation; to be used by Recruitment for purposes of checking your Professional Registration online (where applicable).

These processes are in line with Fair and Lawful processing in line with current Data Protection Legislation especially those in relation to your personal or sensitive personal data (sensitive personal data is defined as any declared physical or mental health conditions, racial or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, trade union membership, political opinion, religious beliefs). As an organisation, we ensure that the legislation defining confidentiality is observed such as use of data for specific, defined purposes, and use of data that is relevant and not excessive whilst practicing data accuracy and security of all held personal identifiable information (PII)

If you are successfully appointed, by completing the application form you authorise the UHB to obtain any previous NHS service details including all electronically held sickness information, via the Inter Authority Transfer process on the national Electronic Staff Record (ESR).

To work in the UK, all candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals require sponsorship to obtain either a Health and Care visa or Skilled Worker visa, unless you have permission to work via another route. Non UK / RoI candidates wishing to apply should self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship by visiting Work in the UK . If you are eligible for the Health and Care visa, application costs are lower and you do not need to pay the annual Immigration Health Surcharge.

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.