Distribution and Autoclave Attendant

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organization in Newcastle upon Tyne is seeking a Distribution and Autoclave Attendant to manage the delivery and collection of surgical instrumentation. Candidates should have strong communication skills and basic IT knowledge, and must possess a valid driving license. Training will be provided. This is a permanent position with rotating shifts including weekends and holidays.

Qualifications

• Experience in Sterile Services or hospital settings.
• Must have a valid Driving Licence.
• Willingness to train in Transportation of Dangerous Goods.

Responsibilities

• Deliver and collect surgical instrumentation across hospital environments.
• Manage stock control and general housekeeping.
• Work alongside steriliser technicians and assist in Endoscopy duties.

Skills

Good communication skills verbal and written

Health & Safety Knowledge

Driving experience

Education

GCSE / NVQ level 2 (or equivalent)

Job description

Overview

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Distribution and Autoclave Attendant. This permanent role is within the Sterile Services Department based at the Dental Hospital, Royal Victoria Infirmary and Freeman Hospital. The role involves working under direction as part of a team that delivers and collects surgical instrumentation from various wards and theatres within the hospital environment and in the community setting in line with set procedures and timings.

This is a permanent post and will cover weekends, Bank Holidays and night shift working; the shift pattern rotates over a 4 day/7 day basis. The successful applicant will have good communication skills, basic IT knowledge, health and safety knowledge, customer care experience and an enthusiastic willingness to learn.

PREVIOUS APPLICANTS NEED NOT APPLY

NO AGENCIES PLEASE

Closing date: 30 November 2025

Main duties of the job

The main duty is to distribute sterilised equipment across hospital sites and may involve a rota of off-site driving duties for pre-scheduled collections and deliveries across Newcastle. After 8pm and on weekends, the dispatch attendant may be asked to carry out unscheduled collections from Freeman Hospital as directed by a supervisor.

Other duties include stock control, general housekeeping, record keeping and working as part of the larger Sterile Services team in the reprocessing of endoscopes and reusable instruments. The successful applicant will be trained in all aspects of the role.

Must be able to drive; driving licence is essential.

About us

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

Our staff oversee over 6,500 patient contacts every day, delivering high standards of healthcare from the following sites:

• Freeman Hospital
• Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)
• Health Innovation Neighbourhood (on the former Newcastle General Hospital and Centre for Ageing and Vitality site)
• Newcastle Dental Hospital
• Newcastle Fertility Centre
• Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria
• Northern Genetics Service

These include a range of flagship services which deliver cutting-edge care (supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic services in both radiology and pathology) and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS.

We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.

Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under "Documents to download" or "Supporting documents".

For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Job responsibilities

• To work as part of a team of distribution and autoclave attendants.
• To provide a reliable distribution and collection service of reusable instruments and stock items to the operating theatres, wards and departments throughout the Trust and Community in line within set procedures and timings. This may involve driving to collect surgical trays from off site and distributing surgical trays to and from the main sterile service department.
• To work alongside sterile service department technicians operating sterilisers and carrying out the required recording procedures.
• To work as part of the Endoscopy Team reprocessing endoscopes as and when required to the needs of the department. Staff will be required to carry out duties across all of the Sterile Services Departments; therefore it is essential that they have knowledge of all clinic/wards theatres equipment.

Person Specification

Knowledge

• Health & Safety Knowledge
• Staff may be required to work at all sterile service departments; including the Endoscopy Department, therefore it is essential that they have knowledge of all clinic/wards theatres equipment.
• An insight into the use and care of machinery

Skills

• Good communication skills verbal and written

Experience

• Sterile Services or hospital experience
• Driving experience

Qualifications

• GCSE / NVQ level 2 (or equivalent) standard to be achieved
• Driving Licence
• Certified in Transportation of Dangerous Goods in accordance with the act or willing to train

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.

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust