Head of Sterile Services (National)

NHS; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization seeks a national Head of Sterile Services to lead operational and strategic initiatives in decontamination services. Responsibilities include overseeing quality standards, managing budgets, and ensuring compliance with healthcare regulations. Ideal candidates possess senior management experience and relevant qualifications in decontamination. This position offers a key leadership role in maintaining the highest safety and quality standards across multiple sites.

Qualifications

• Full member of the Institute of Decontamination Sciences (IDSc).
• Experience leading strategic change across multisite operations.

Responsibilities

• Assume budgetary responsibility for Sterile Services.
• Develop and maintain the decontamination clinical governance framework.
• Oversee decontamination quality standards and training needs.

Skills

Senior management experience

Knowledge of relevant legislation

Education

Relevant degree or diploma-level qualification

NVQ Level 3 or technical certificate in decontamination

Job description

Job Summary

We're seeking an experienced leader to join us as our national Head of Sterile Services. This pivotal role requires both operational and strategic leadership to provide expert guidance and assurance to the business in the safe running of our efficient and compliant decontamination services.

Main Duties

You will assume budgetary responsibility for our Sterile Services decontamination hubs, develop and maintain the decontamination clinical governance framework, and support the implementation of the decontamination strategy, including flexible endoscope decontamination. You will be responsible and oversee decontamination quality standards, training needs and service expansion, including specifying requirements for new developments and surgical instrumentation.

As Head of Sterile Services, you will ensure the quality, safety, and compliance of decontamination services across the organisation, leading on all matters relating to service provision, also acting as the subject matter expert within governance and operational committees. A key part of the role involves overseeing the integration and enhancement of the Quality Management System (QMS) and Patient Information system, with Track and Trace systems, while also developing and implementing an annual quality improvement strategy. You will be responsible for directing audits and engagement activities to ensure services meet ISO 13485 accreditation standards, leading the development of training standards and competency materials for decontamination staff, managing the dissemination of MHRA alerts and field safety notices, and overseeing the commissioning and refurbishment of TSSU service models. You will also manage third‑party contract opportunities, including negotiation, planning, mobilisation, and documentation.

About Us

Ramsay Health Care UK operates a mixed Sterile Services model, with 3 large independent Hubs (each providing service for up to 9 hospital sites), and 7 smaller hospital‑based units.

Qualifications

• Full member of the Institute of Decontamination Sciences (IDSc), relevant degree or diploma‑level qualification, and NVQ Level 3 or technical certificate in decontamination.
• Senior management experience within the healthcare industry, having led strategic change across multisite operations and a strong working knowledge of relevant legislation and guidance.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and a Disclosure and Barring Service check is required to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer Information

Ramsay Health Care UK Operations Limited
Level 18, Tower 42
25 Old Broad Street
London
EC2N 1HQ