Sterile Services Technical Assistant

Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Crewe; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

An NHS healthcare provider in Crewe is seeking a dedicated individual to join their decontamination unit. This role involves ensuring thorough decontamination processes for surgical instruments while adhering to ISO standards and Trust policies. The ideal candidate will have strong communication skills, attention to detail, and relevant health qualifications. A commitment to continuous improvement and high standards of quality is essential.

Qualifications

• Must adhere to ISO 13485:2016 standards for medical devices.
• Active registration status is required.
• Must maintain up-to-date skills and knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Assist in comprehensive decontamination procedures.
• Dismantle, clean, assemble, and package surgical instruments.
• Ensure compliance with Trust policies and COSHH regulations.

Skills

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Adherence to standards

Education

Relevant health or medical qualifications

Job description

The individual in this position will play a vital role within the decontamination unit, assisting the team in executing comprehensive decontamination procedures for both the trust and community service users. This will involve strict adherence to local policies, work instructions, and ISO 13485:2016 standards for medical devices, ensuring that the quality system of the department is rigorously maintained.

Responsibilities

• Dismantle, clean, assemble, and package surgical instruments in compliance with ISO 13485:2016.
• Communicate with service users on a daily basis in a clear and constructive manner.
• Effectively utilise the Fingerprint Tracking and Traceability System.
• Ensure proper functioning of all major departmental equipment, including washer disinfectors and sterilisers.
• Deliver medical devices to service users in a clean and sterile condition.
• Adhere to quality standards and maintain compliance with the trust’s policies.
• Take on board training deemed necessary to attain/maintain competency, including trust mandatory training.

Service Delivery

• Ensure the supply of sterile instruments and kits to twelve theatres, outpatient departments, and external service users.
• Comply with all local policies and standards.
• Communicate effectively with the SSD team and liaise with service users.
• Sort, verify, and manage used surgical instruments and additional items with the aid of the correct machinery.
• Assemble, package, and label instrument sets and additional items in compliance with ISO 13485:2016 standards.
• Develop an understanding of surgical instruments and their applications and exhibit the capability to disassemble and reassemble instruments in preparation for surgical procedures.
• Verify that quality standards are upheld and that the products manufactured are suitable for their intended use.
• Utilise the Fingerprint Tracking and Traceability System effectively.
• Dispatch sterile packs and trays to departments and wards as required.
• Grasp the principles of stock management and the importance of expiry dates.
• Ensure that the products provided to the service users are delivered in a clean and sterile condition.
• Operate washer disinfectors, transfer hatches, and sterilisers according to specified work instructions.
• Undertake porter duties and the delivery of equipment being processed as instructed.
• Engage in necessary training to develop and uphold competency, particularly mandatory training associated with the trust.

Governance

• Ensure compliance with Trust policies and guidelines for self and others, alerting senior management if practice appears to contravene policy.
• Ensure that COSHH regulations are strictly adhered to.
• Apply ISO 13485:2016 for medical devices.
• Maintain the tracking and traceability process, resolving discrepancies and reporting unresolved issues to the Senior Decontamination Technician.
• Establish and maintain effective communication while maintaining confidentiality of information.

Managerial / Leadership

• Ensure effective and efficient use of resources.
• Maintain a healthy, safe, and secure working environment; ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, maintaining accurate documentation, and reporting any concerns.

Continuous Improvement

• Support the Trust’s commitment to developing a continuous improvement culture by making everyday improvements as part of your job using Improvement Matters.
• Role model the behaviours of an improver displaying curiosity, humility, compassion, reflective practice, openness to try new ideas, and self-discipline.
• Take personal responsibility for contributing to a culture that promotes learning and supports colleagues to embrace change.
• Coach and enable others to innovate and make improvements happen in their area of work using Improvement Matters.

General Staff Responsibilities

• Maintain active registration status.
• Act in accordance with professional Codes of Conduct and guiding documents.
• Adhere to the Code of Conduct for NHS Managers, where applicable.
• Maintain up‑to‑date skills and knowledge.
• Maintain awareness of patient‑led service issues.
• Maintain a professional/personal portfolio.
• Adhere to all Trust policy, procedures, and guidelines.
• Adhere to Trust values, standards of behaviour and expected performance.
• Comply with Infection Prevention and Control (IP&C) policies and procedures and be personally accountable for actions.
• Work in accordance with local procedures and report health and safety risks and issues.
• Participate in and provide data on the efficacy of treatment, where applicable.
• All Managers should undertake the online IOSH Managing Safely course (mandatory for clinical staff above a band 6 who manage people).

Key Messages

• Not all NHS roles are eligible for sponsorship. Candidates requiring sponsorship should check the Government website for up‑to‑date, job‑specific information. The salary threshold for sponsorship is £25,000 for Health and Care Visas and £41,700 (with limited exceptions) for Skilled Worker visas. The Trust will not sponsor where the starting salary does not meet these immigration rules.
• Workers must be able to discuss any adjustments to the recruitment process; the Trust is happy to consider adjustments.
• The Trust promotes flexible working; please discuss any requirements with us.
• Secondments will be considered for fixed‑term positions if both parties agree; candidates should seek approval from their current line manager before applying.
• All correspondence will be sent via the email address you have registered as your TRAC account. Selection is based on the Trust’s values and the criteria outlined in this Job Description.
• Staff recruited from outside the NHS will usually be appointed at the entry point (bottom) of the pay band.
• Appointments are subject to a 6‑month probationary period; LED Doctors are subject to a 3‑month probationary period.
• Applicants may be asked to pay for a DBS disclosure where the post requires one; applicants are encouraged to join and remain registered with the DBS update service.
• The Trust does not reimburse travel to interview expenses.
• Some posts may affect existing NHS Pension Scheme arrangements; further information can be found at https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/nhs-pensions.