Sterile Services Technician

Transformation Unit; Banbury; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Sterile Services Technician (Band 2) at Horton General Hospital in Banbury. The role involves decontaminating and sterilising instruments, working within a quality-controlled environment, and training for progression to Band 3.

You will join a small, friendly team in the Sterile Services Department, with on-site work from 08:00 to 20:00, and potential on-call duties.

Qualifications

• Strong literacy and numeracy skills.
• Good communication skills.
• Be well organised and able to work under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Support the safe and effective reprocessing of reusable medical devices.
• Clean, disinfect, inspect, assemble and sterilise surgical instruments under supervision.
• Work within SOPs and Quality Management System.
• Be part of a team ensuring patient safety and infection prevention.
• Progress to Band 3 through in-house training and competency sign-off.

Skills

Literacy skills

Numeracy skills

Communication skills

Teamwork

Education

IDSc Technician certificate Level 2 Apprenticeship in Healthcare Sciences

Job description

Main area CLINICAL SUPPORT Grade Band 2 Contract Permanent: ESR Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday 08.00 to 20.00. On call duties on Sundays and Bank holidays.) Job ref 321-CSS-8146218-B2-PUB

Employer Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Sterile Services (Tssu) Horton General Hospital Town Banbury Salary £25,272 - £27,476 per annum pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 16/09/2026 23:59

Band 2

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research.

The Trust comprises of four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call thisDelivering Compassionate Excellenceand its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence.

Many of our recruitment programmes useValue Based Interviewingto identify those who have the skills we seek, who share our values and who are able to deliver compassionate excellence from the outset. We know that this makes a significant difference to your job satisfaction and above all the outcomes and experience of our patients and their families. For more information about our Values and Value Based Interviewing please visitwww.ouh.nhs.uk/about/vision-and-values

Job overview

Are you passionate about ensuring the highest standards of safety and effectiveness in healthcare? Do you thrive in a dynamic environment where your expertise can make a real difference? If so, we have the perfect opportunity for you!

We are looking for an enthusiastic applicant who wants to work in the challenging, changing world of sterilisation and decontamination within the Sterile Services Department (SSD) at Horton General Hospital, part of Oxford University Hospital Trust.

We are a small, friendly team committed to high standards and meeting the needs of our customers in this critical area. We clean, decontaminate, and sterilise reusable surgical instruments and equipment to support the Trust in providing surgical care for our patients. We work closely with our operating theatres and wards to provide safe, sterile surgical instruments and equipment within the required timeframes.We are accredited to ISO 13485 and constantly seek to maintain and improve our quality standards.

Therefore, we are looking for a hard-working, confident, and capable individual who wants to work in a busy but friendly environment where staff take real pride in what they do.

VBI and technical interview will be held for this post

Main duties of the job

We are looking for a Sterile Services Technician who can work equally well in a team or independently, without supervision. You must have strong literacy and numeracy skills, good communication skills, be well organised, and work well under pressure.

The post holder will start as a Decontamination Technician (Band 2)-- with a clear pathway to progress toDecontamination Technician (Band 3) through our structured internal training and competency programme. This is a link-grade role, meaning you will startat Band 2 and, upon successful completion of our in-house training and full sign-off of your competency portfolio, you will be promoted to Band 3.

As a Band 2 Decontamination Technician, you will:

Support the safe and effective reprocessing of reusable medical devices.Work under supervision to clean, disinfect, inspect, assemble, and sterilise surgical instruments.Operate within a quality-controlled environment, adhering to Standard Operating Procedures and the Quality Management System.Be part of a team that plays a vital role in patient safety and infection prevention.

As a Band 3 decontamination technician, you will:

Take on more complex tasks including robotic device processing.Provide guidance and training to new assistants.Work with greater autonomy and contribute to service development.The main tasks include cleaning, disassembly, checking, packing, sterilising, and moving surgical instruments to ensure safe reprocessing and distribution for use in theatres and other clinical departments.

You will be a valued member of our team. While previous experience in Sterile Services and decontamination practices would be desirable, we will provide full training in all aspects of the department and ISO13485:2016 quality systems.

This role involves a lot of heavy lifting / manual handling, exposure to blood and bodily fluids, and working with chemicals and machinery. There is no involvement with patients.

The post holder will need to demonstrate flexibility in their approach to cover shift variations to meet the ever-changing demands of the Service Users.

The department is open:

Monday – Friday 08.00 – 20.00

Working for our organisation

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and serves as a base for medical education, training, and research. The Trust comprises four hospitals: the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington, and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community.

We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence, and it focuses on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence.

These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we deliver compassionate excellence via theOUHYouTube channel .

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main duties of the job

To work with the management & supervisor to meet the production needs of the department & customers.

To comply with all local policies and procedures.

To check that all equipment is present and correct.

Report any discrepancies to the customer and the department manager/supervisor immediately.

Complete the relevant documents for any non-conformances.

Wash and decontaminate instruments according to the department's policies and procedures, particularly Health and Safety and Infection Control.

Identify surgical instruments belonging to different specialities.

Process instruments for theatres and other departments in accordance with work instructions, standard operating procedures, and fast-track lists.

To ensure that packs are clearly identified using the bar-coded traceability system.

The post holder will work as a member of the Sterile Service team, carrying out duties related to providing decontaminated surgical instruments and flexible scopes for the Horton Hospital theatre and external customers.

The post is 37.5 hours per week. During the training period, a dedicated training mentor will be assigned to the successful applicant at all times. Once fully competent in all duties and responsibilities, the post holder will be required to take a flexible approach to covering on-call duties, including Bank Holidays and Weekends.

Person specification

Qualifications

• IDSc Technician certificate Level 2 Apprenticeship in Healthcare Sciences

Sexual Safety Charter : In 2023NHS England launched its first sexual safety charter, and our Trust proudly signed it. We pledge zero tolerance for inappropriate sexual behaviour and commit totheten core principles

Oxford University Hospitals promotes a safe, respectful hiring environment.

If you want to make a difference with us, come and join our team. Together, we will uphold the highest standards of care and professionalism.

Vacancy Closures: Please note, this vacancy may close early if a high volume of applications are received.

Visa and Immigration: Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is able to offer Certificates of Sponsorship for all eligible roles for a Skilled Worker Visa without exception, provided the role meets the minimum salary and skill level criteria set by the Home Office (UKVI). All eligible candidates will be considered with equal consideration at all stages of the application and recruitment process.Skilled worker: Health and Care Visa | NHS Employers /Work in the UK - GOV.UK

COVID-19: The COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course our patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst COVID-19 vaccination is not a condition of employment, we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated. If you are unvaccinated there is helpful advice and information at Oxfordshire County Council Website where you can also find out more about how to access vaccination.

Probation Period: This post is subject to a 6 month probationary period. If you currently hold a contract of employment with the Oxford University Hospitals, this will not apply. This statement does not apply to Medical staff or Executive Appointments.

Referencing: When providing employment reference details please provide correct work related email addresses so references can be sought promptly when we are looking to progress your application. Your first referee will need to be your line manager, supervisor or clinical lead from your current or most recent post or place of study. Please note that if you have previously worked for the Trust we will require a reference from your last Manager, this information is essential if your offer of employment is to be confirmed.

To note: Applicants must write their own applications. If AI tools are used, the application may be rejected as this document is crucial for assessment. This does not prevent you from seeking support via AI with applications for the purposes of any disability and/or long-term health conditions.

When using AI to help write your application, it is important to personalise it, especially your supporting statement. While AI can simplify the process, it will not fully understand the job's requirements and/or be able to showcase your skills, knowledge, and experience. Write your statement to show why you are interested in the role and how you would be a valued member of the team/OUH employee.

No unsolicited recruitment agency telephone calls or emails.

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.

Application numbers

Please note that this job advertisement will close automatically once the application limit is reached, regardless of whether this occurs before the advertised closing date.