Sterile Services Technician

The Methodist Church in Britain; Leigh; Remote; GBP 17,000 - 19,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

6–9 months training

NHS environment experience

Job summary

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Sterile Services Technician to join the Sterile Services and Decontamination Unit. No prior experience is required; full training of 6–9 months will be provided.

You will work on decontamination, disassembly, reassembly and sterilisation of high-value devices across four process areas. Shifts run 11pm–7am or 3pm–11pm, Monday to Friday.

Qualifications

• Demonstrate ability to work in a team and communicate effectively.
• Follow verbal and written instructions accurately and refer to senior staff when needed.
• Adapt to change at short notice and escalate issues appropriately.
• Comfort with basic IT tasks and software systems.

Responsibilities

• Decontaminate reusable medical devices by washing, disinfecting and sterilising them in line with SOPs and safety rules.
• Receive, dismantle, clean, reassemble, pack and sterilise devices for distribution.
• Inspect devices for defects and sign off on quality checks.
• Operate washer disinfectors and sterilisers and record production data and traceability.
• Plan workload to meet KPIs and deadlines while maintaining quality.

Skills

Teamwork

Communication

Verbal & written instructions

IT basics

Attention to detail

Workload planning

Education

GCSE or NVQ2

Tools

Getinge IMS Track & Trace

Job description

A Sterile Services Technician post in the Sterile Services and Decontamination Unit of Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, with ten full-time vacancies. The work is cleaning, disinfecting, sterilising and reassembling reusable medical devices, many of them delicate and high value, across four process areas. No previous experience is needed, and training runs for 6-9 months, on 11pm-7am or 3pm-11pm shifts, Monday to Friday. Visa sponsorship is not available.

What the job involves

• Decontaminate reusable medical devices by washing, disinfecting and sterilising them, following SOPs, infection control and health and safety rules
• Receive, dismantle, clean, reassemble, pack and sterilise high-value, complex devices before distribution
• Inspect devices for defects, follow the repair procedure, upscale problems and certify check sheets
• Reassemble devices autonomously, function-check them, lubricate and test power tools, and sign off quality assurance
• Operate washer disinfectors and sterilisers and keep their production and test records
• Record all tasks on the Getinge IMS Track & Trace System and maintain traceability records and databases
• Compile processed equipment into delivery schedules and record issues to wards and theatres
• Carry out routine tests and planned preventative maintenance on complex decontamination equipment
• Plan own workload to meet customer demands, KPIs and deadlines, with quality measured by non-conformance reports
• Complete ongoing training, including the annual Test Your Knowledge assessment
• Support the training of new starters and report machinery faults and accidents to the Team Leader
• Keep workstations, sinks, trolleys and equipment clean, replenish raw materials, and rotate stock

Qualifications

• GCSE standard or NVQ level 2

Experience

• Working in a team and communicating effectively with colleagues
• Following verbal and written instructions accurately, referring to senior staff when needed
• Accepting change at short notice with an open mind
• Task-related problem solving and escalating where appropriate
• Supporting new members of a team
• Basic IT skills

Skills & knowledge

• Working independently and as part of a team across four sterile service process areas
• Working accurately under pressure with strong attention to detail
• Planning own workload to meet KPIs and deadlines
• Good written and verbal communication
• Knowledge of SOPs, health and safety, and quality management and assurance systems
• Basic understanding of the consequences of equipment failure

Other

• Willingness to learn and retain information
• Punctuality
• Speaking English to an appropriate standard for the role, with confidence and accuracy

Nice to have

• National Decontamination Certificate
• NHS or other healthcare setting experience
• Knowledge and experience in decontamination or infection prevention
• Experience of process environments such as food or pharmaceutical
• Understanding of infection prevention and control
• Understanding of COSHH