Sterile Services Technical Assistant

NHS; Crewe; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Crewe is seeking a Sterile Services Technical Assistant. The role involves dismantling, cleaning, assembling, and packaging surgical instruments while ensuring compliance with ISO standards. Ideal candidates will have GCSEs in Math, English, and Science, strong communication skills, and experience in a fast-paced setting. This position plays a crucial role in maintaining the quality of medical devices for various service users.

Qualifications

• Experience in using a tracking and traceability system.
• Previous experience of working in a team or similar quality led production environment.
• Knowledge of medical devices.

Responsibilities

• Dismantle, clean, assemble, and package surgical instruments.
• Ensure proper functioning of departmental equipment.
• Deliver medical devices in a clean and sterile condition.

Skills

Good communication skills

Ability to prioritize workload

Self-motivated

Experience in fast-paced environments

Education

GCSE's Math's, English and Science Grade C or above

Tools

Tracking and traceability system

Knowledge of ISO13485:2016

Job description

Overview

Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Sterile Services Technical Assistant.

Closing date: 28 September 2025

Main duties of the job

• 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 sterilizers.
• Deliver medical devices to service users in a clean and sterile condition.
• Adhere to quality standards.
• Take on board training deemed necessary to attain/maintain competency including trust mandatory training.

About us

Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides comprehensive hospital and community services for East Cheshire (population 399K) and West Cheshire and Chester (population 357K). Our services include planned and unplanned/emergency care, cardiac and critical care, child health, maternity, and intermediate care across Leighton Hospital in Crewe, Victoria Infirmary in Northwich, and Elmhurst Intermediate Care Centre in Winsford. Through our community arm, Central Cheshire Integrated Care Partnership, we deliver extensive services in 26 medical centres and schools in collaboration with Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS FT and the South Cheshire and Vale Royal GP Alliance. With 500 beds and around 5,500 staff, we are one of the area's largest employers.

Since the formation of Integrated Care Systems in July 2022, the Trust has become a key partner in Cheshire East & Cheshire West and Chester and in two provider collaboratives, aligning our strategic goals with the Cheshire & Merseyside Integrated Care System. As part of the national New Hospital Programme, we're reimagining Leighton Hospital to create a new health and care neighbourhood, transforming healthcare delivery for a Healthier Future. Learn more on our Healthier Futures website.

At Mid Cheshire, our mission is to inspire hope and provide unparalleled care for the people and communities of Cheshire, helping them to enjoy life to the fullest.

Job responsibilities

Job Purpose

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 and work instructions, as well as compliance with the ISO 13485:2016 standards for Medical Device, ensuring that the quality system of the department is rigorously maintained.

Service Delivery

• You will play a vital role in the team by ensuring the supply of sterile instruments and kits to twelve theatres, along with outpatient departments and external service users.

To comply with all local policies and standards.

Communicate effectively with the SSD team and liaise with service users.

• Your duties will involve sorting, verifying, and managing used surgical instruments and additional items with the aid of the correct machinery.
• The process involves the assembly, packaging, and labeling of instrument sets and additional items in compliance with ISO13485:2016 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.
• To comprehend and effectively utilise the Fingerprint Tracking and Traceability System.

To despatch sterile packs and trays to departments and wards as and when required.

• Grasp the principles of stock management and the importance of expiry dates.
• It is essential to guarantee that the products provided to the service users are delivered in a clean and sterile condition.
• To ensure proper functioning of all major departmental equipment, including washer disinfectors, transfer hatches, and sterilisers—these must be operated according to the specified work instructions.

To undertake porter duties and the delivery of equipment being processed as instructed.

• Engaging in the necessary training to develop and uphold competency is imperative, particularly the mandatory training associated with the trust.

Governance

Ensure compliance with Trust policies and guidelines for self and others, by taking action/alerting senior management team if practice appears to contravene policy.

Ensure that COSHH regulations are strictly adhered to.

Working knowledge and application of ISO medical devices 13485:2016.

Ensure that tracking and traceability process is always adhered to, resolving any discrepancies, and reporting unresolved issues to the Senior Decontamination Technician.

Establish and maintain effective communication, maintaining confidentiality of information.

Ensure effective and efficient use of resources.

Ensure a healthy, safe, and secure working environment, ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, maintaining accurate documentation, and reporting any concerns.

Take responsibility for own learning and development by recognising and taking advantage of all opportunities to learn, including full participation in Motiv8/Appraisal.

To take on board training necessary to attain/ maintain competency, including trust mandatory training.

This job description is an outline of the role and function. It is not intended to describe all specific tasks.

Support the Trusts commitment to developing a continuous improvement culture by making everyday improvements as part of your job using Improvement Matters, the Trusts single continuous improvement approach.

Role model the behaviours of an improver displaying; curiosity, humility, compassion, reflective practice, open-mindedness to try new ideas, self-discipline.

Take personal responsibility for the role you play in actively contributing to creating a culture which promotes learning as opposed to blame and supports colleagues to embrace change.

Coach and enable others to innovate and make improvements happen in their area of work using Improvement Matters as the Trusts single improvement approach.

All staff at MCHFT have a responsibility to:

Maintain active registration status.

Always act in accordance with professional Codes of Conduct and guiding documents.

Where applicable, always act in accordance with the Code of Conduct for NHS Managers,

Maintain up to date skills and knowledge.

Maintain an 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.

Where applicable to participate in and provide data on the efficacy of treatment.

All Managers should undertake the online IOSH Managing Safely course. This is mandatory for clinical staff above a band 6 who manage people.

Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is looking to ensure that we provide equity of services across seven days of the week. This post may be reviewed in line with this plan and in some cases an element of weekend working may be required.

Person Specification

Qualifications, Knowledge and Previous Experience

• GCSE's Math's, English and Science Grade C or above.
• Experience of working in a fast-paced environment.
• Knowledge of medical devices.
• Experience in using a tracking and traceability system.
• Previous experience of working in a team or similar quality led production environment.
• Knowledge of ISO13485:2016
• Knowledge of HTM's 01-01

Skills

• Self-motivated, good communication skills and a good standard of written and spoken English.
• Ability to retain information, and cope with frequent change. Dexterity.
• The ability to prioritize own workload.
• Experience of working to timeframes.
• To train in all processes of the department.
• Ongoing training with medical device and decontamination processes.

Values

• A commitment to quality and safety.
• A recognition of the importance of showing respect, dignity and compassion to patients and colleagues
• A listening, learning and leading approach.
• A commitment to work together to create the best outcomes.
• Must demonstrate the Trust's values around both raising concerns at work, and how to treat others who raise concerns.

Behaviours

• Must be willing to act as a role model.
• Must be willing to take personal responsibility.
• Must have the courage to speak up.
• Must value and appreciate the worth of others.

Physical Requirements

• Occupational Health cleared to perform the duties of the role
• Ability to perform a wide range of duties according to the Job Description
• Able to work while standing for prolonged periods.

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.

Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust