SSD/EDU Team Leader

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; London; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading healthcare provider as a Team Leader in Decontamination Services, where you will supervise a dedicated team ensuring the highest standards of care and safety. This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the clinical care of patients by overseeing the reprocessing of reusable medical devices. You will play a key part in training staff, monitoring compliance with quality management systems, and maintaining a safe working environment. With a commitment to professional development, this position is ideal for those looking to grow their career while making a significant impact in healthcare. If you are passionate about quality and safety in medical services, this is the role for you.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Professional development opportunities

Supportive work environment

Diverse workplace

Health and safety training

Qualifications

• Experience in supervising staff and managing decontamination processes.
• Understanding of ISO 13485 and quality management systems.

Responsibilities

• Supervise daily operations of the decontamination services.
• Ensure compliance with departmental policies and quality standards.
• Train and develop staff in decontamination procedures.

Skills

Supervisory skills

Knowledge of ISO 13485

Decontamination processes

Quality Management Systems

Communication skills

Education

Relevant management training

Experience in healthcare

Tools

Decontamination equipment

Autoclave

Washer disinfector

Job description

We are an award winning organisation providing care at two main hospital sites—Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital—and a number of community-based services across London, such as sexual health and HIV clinics.

With 6,700 members of staff, we are proud to care for a diverse population of one million people. We are committed to ensuring that our workforce is just as diverse with a strong mix of skills and abilities.

Our staff are at the very heart of our organisation and we recognise the valuable contribution that each and every person working at the Trust makes. One of our Trust priorities is to be an employer of choice—a place where people want to start their career and to grow with us through continued education, professional development and support.

Main area SSD/EDU Team Leader Grade NHS AfC: Band 4 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Thursday-Friday-Saturday-Sunday-Monday- (7am-3pm/ 8am-4pm/ 2pm-10pm)) Job ref 289-CSS-1600-B

Site Chelsea & Westminster Town London Salary £31,944 - £34,937 per annum incl. HCAS Salary period Yearly Closing 02/01/2025 23:59

Job overview

To supervise staff within Decontamination Services department (EDU and SSD) on a day to day basis, ensuring the high quality, safe and timely provision of a specialized decontamination service contributing to the clinical care of the patient.

To ensure Departmental Standard Operating Procedures are adhered to in accordance with the Quality Management Systems.

Monitor the daily autoclave, washer disinfector, sterrard, ultrasonic machine and endoscopy washers readings and sign reports as “User”, managing any discrepancies with the assistance of the Manager and Engineer.

To assist in the training of new staff and the continued training and development of existing staff.

To work in all areas of the decontamination facilities at both hospitals (Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital) as and when required.

Main duties of the job

To communicate all relevant information within the team to ensure the continual and efficient running of the service. To communicate and liaise between decontamination personnel, customers and other members of healthcare staff in a polite and helpful manner. To organize, attend and actively participate in the Department’s meetings to chair daily team briefing. To inform effectively both verbally and at any staff hand-over as required. To communicate with customers of the service in the initial investigation of non-conformance. To participate in departmental and Trust initiatives or audits, related to quality improvement, achieving quality objectives and compliance with the ISO 13485. To monitor compliance with QMS and take appropriate actions by raising corrective actions. To support management in training of new and/or less experienced/qualified staff. To provide training to theatres staff allocated in decontamination services.

Working for our organisation

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of England's top-performing and safest trusts. We operate two main acute hospital sites—Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital—along with award-winning clinics across North West London.

Our nearly 7,500 staff care for a diverse population of 1.5 million, providing full clinical services, including maternity, A&E, and children’s services, plus specialist HIV and sexual health clinics. The Care Quality Commission rates us 'Good' in safety, effectiveness, care, and responsiveness, and 'Outstanding' in leadership and resource use.

We continually invest in our facilities, including a £30m expansion of critical care at Chelsea and Westminster and an £80m Ambulatory Diagnostic Centre at West Middlesex.

We welcome applications for flexible working arrangements, accommodating requests where possible to support our staff and patient needs.

The Trust is committed to equality and welcomes applications from all, regardless of background. Adjustments can be made for disabled candidates. Early application is advised as vacancies may close once sufficient applications are received. If you haven’t heard from us within three weeks of the closing date, your application was likely unsuccessful. Employment is subject to a six-month probationary period.

Some roles may require weekend shifts at multiple sites.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1. To direct the reprocessing of reusable medical devices: disassembly, cleaning, disinfection, checking, assembly, sterilization, despatch and tracking in a controlled environment.
2. To work in accordance with Departmental Policy, Standard Operating Procedures and Quality Management Systems.
3. To actively participate in the production process working without supervision and supervise other staff in the overall production process, ensuring quality standards are attained and procedures are adhered to.
4. To prioritise work based on known or probable needs of Theatres/Departments, and deal with problems as they arise.
5. To ensure routine testing of decontamination equipment at the appropriate intervals to analyse and take appropriate action on any malfunction.
6. To allocate staff ensuring that all areas are covered and reorganising the working practices when necessary to meet the service demands.
7. Contribute to the monitoring and recording of sickness and absence details in accordance with Trust policy, thus ensuring continuity of service and that persistent sickness problems are addressed appropriately and in the interests of individual staff members. This will involve back to work sickness interviews, sickness absence meetings with staff and their representatives and allocation of targets as appropriate.
8. To assist in the induction and training of new staff, and the continued training and development of existing staff. Motivate staff identifying opportunities for development and assist management with Personal Development Plans and staff appraisals.
9. To regularly inspect and check workstations and equipment, ensuring cleanliness, reporting any hazards to the Manager.
10. To operate decontamination equipment and carry out routine tests in accordance with Planned Preventative Maintenance Schedules, Quality Standards and Guidance.
11. To take immediate action when discrepancies are reported in order to rectify the situation using judgment and analysis to determine and report trends to the quality manager, highlighting potential problems.
12. To monitor time keeping of the staff at the start and end of each shift. To roster tea and lunch breaks, ensuring that staff go and return on time.
13. To communicate with other supervisors, staff, theatres, managers, infection control, engineers and representatives as appropriate, handle sensitive staff matters maintaining confidentiality at all times. Deal with conflict in a positive professional manner responding politely and courteously at all times.
14. To monitor stocks of raw materials as requested and to take appropriate action on any deficiencies, assist in the evaluation of new products.
15. To ensure that correct raw materials are being used in the production process and that all materials used have been booked out in accordance with the departments stores procedure. Investigate discrepancies in sets, contacting relevant users if necessary and report all non-conformances to the manager.
16. To undertake initial investigation into non-conformance reports as instructed. To deal with telephone and other enquiries and alter output as needed. Resolve any problems/issues not requiring management input. To attend regular meetings with management to communicate issues/changes within Decontamination Service Department, including changes within the Quality System and/or Department Policies and Procedures. To attend any training as required. To undertake duties consistent with the responsibility of the grade and needs of the service. To contribute to developing the service to ensure that delivery of medical device decontamination is safe, effective and follows best practice.
17. To maintain high standards of department safety ensuring the health, safety and welfare of self and others. To demonstrate agreed standards of personal and professional development within defined timescales.

Person specification

Shortlisting

• Years of experience
• Supervisory and or management training
• Proven professional knowledge relevant to the decontamination service & understanding of ISO 13485 systems

Important

• The closing date given is a guide only. There may be some occasions when we have to close a vacancy once sufficient applications have been received. You are therefore advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
• Please check your emails regularly as this is how we will communicate with you throughout the recruitment process.
• If you have not heard from us within 3 weeks after the closing date, we regret that this usually means your application was not successful.
• In submitting an application, you authorise the Trust to confirm any previous NHS service details via the Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process, should you be appointed to the post.
• During the recruitment process your identity documentation (i.e., passport, driving licence, visa etc) will be scanned using a device which recognises UV, infrared and machine-readable zone security features of the documents provided.
• Employment at the Trust is offered subject to successful completion of a six month probationary period.

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.

• Looking for flexible work? Why not join our StaffBank.

The recruitment team are available to provide support from 9am–5pm, Mon–Fri. To contact the team please call the Trust switchboard and ask for ‘Recruitment team, Human Resources Department’.