Sterile Services Technician

Wrightington Wigan & Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Low Bolton; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is hiring a Sterile Services Technician at the Lostock site in Bolton. No prior experience is required; training will be provided through a 6–9 month programme across four process areas including washing, disinfection, inspection, packing, sterilisation and distribution.

The role is full-time with shifts 11pm–7am or 3pm–11pm, offering NHS terms and a pension.

Qualifications

• Educated to GCSE standard or NVQ level 2.
• National Decontamination Certificate.
• NHS experience or experience in a healthcare setting.
• Ability to work in a team and follow instructions accurately.

Responsibilities

• Undertake a 6-9 month intensive training programme within the Sterile Services Decontamination unit and achieve competency.
• Decontaminate high value complex reusable medical devices including disassembly, cleaning, packing and sterilisation.
• Maintain records and use Getinge IMS Track & Trace System for traceability.
• Work across four sterile service process areas and ensure quality, health and safety compliance.

Skills

Teamwork

Attention to detail

Communication

Punctual

Education

GCSE/NVQ2

National Decontamination Certificate

Job description

Wrightington Wigan & Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Sterile Services Technician

The closing date is 11 November 2026

We are offering you the opportunity to become part of our team at the Sterile Services & Decontamination Unit, Lostock, Bolton as a Sterile Services Technician -NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE NECESSARY!

We have the following full-time vacancies available:

• x5 vacancies working Monday-Friday 11pm-7am 37.5 hours per week
• x5 vacancies working Monday-Friday 3pm-11pm 37.5 hours per week

*Applicants who have already received feedback that they are unsuitable for the position need not apply - unless they have taken steps to strengthen their application or gained further experience since that decision. *

Please note that this vacancy may close early if a sufficient number of applications are received. We encourage interested candidates to apply promptly to avoid disappointment.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS ROLE IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR SPONSORSHIP.

Main duties of the job

The Sterile Services Technician is responsible for providing effective safe and efficient decontamination (washing, disinfection and sterilisation) of a broad range of reusable medical devices with complex specialist demands including devices of varied design which are of a delicate and valuable nature (more than £75k) for use in direct patient care.

The role will require the job holder to work across four process areas, wash/disinfection; inspection and packing; sterilisation/dispatch and sterile stores.

Technicians must comply with the essential requirements of the medical device directive (1993/42/EEC).

The Unit is also accredited to BSEN ISO 13485 and maintains a quality management system to this standard and requires the Sterile Services Technician to maintain and update records and databases for traceability of reusable medical instruments in accordance with quality control and accreditation.

About us

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are the proud providers of acute hospital and community services to the people of the Wigan Borough and surrounding areas. At WWL, we value our staff believing that 'happy staff, makes for happy patients'. We have a recognised track record in staff engagement and living our values.

People at the Heart

Listen and Involve

Kind and Respectful

ONE Team

WWL are committed to placing the patient at the heart of everything we do, and in the provision of safe, effective care that acknowledges and ensures dignity. We are seeking to recruit people who share our values and beliefs.

At WWL we value the benefits a rich and diverse workforce brings to our community and therefore welcome applications from all sections of society.

Job responsibilities

• To undertake an intensive 6-9 month supported training programme within the Sterile Services Decontamination unit and achieve an appropriate level of competency and understanding of decontamination sciences.
• To be able to demonstrate appropriate knowledge, dexterity and accuracy in decontaminating high value and complex reusable medical devices which includes dismantling, oiling and reassembling; cleanliness checking, functionality of equipment; packing and sterilisation before distribution to customers in accordance with Quality Management systems, health and safety and relevant legislation.
• Undertake on-going development training as required, including annual Test Your Knowledge assessment to maintain technical knowledge and skills in-line with reusable medical device and legislative changes. Achieve the required standard of competency in the annual test your knowledge in line with Quality, health and safety and relevant legislation.
• To carry out the receipt, disassembly, cleaning, reassembly, packing and sterilization of reusable medical devices. Record all tasks using the Getinge IMS Track & Trace System.
• During the disassembly process identify any defects with the instrument set, problem solve and elevate where appropriate to the relevant manager. Receiving equipment for processing. Certify to this effect on check sheets and to the appropriate Policy.
• To identify and follow procedure for instruments in need of repair, including completion of relevant paperwork.
• Working autonomously reassemble a broad range of reusable medical devices with complex specialist demands, function checking where appropriate including lubrication and testing of power tools. Certify and sign off successful quality assurance.
• Work independently within standard operating procedures, health and safety, infection prevention and control and other relevant legislation to minimise any risks of exposure to high risk contaminated reusable medical devices.
• The operation of washer disinfectors/sterilisers plus the maintenance of production/test records for the washer disinfectors/sterilisers and other equipment records necessary for the processing of surgical instruments and equipment.
• Compile processed equipment into delivery schedules and record issues to all wards and theatres.
• Maintain the required cleanliness of workstations, sinks, trolleys and other equipment.
• To report any difficulties and infringements with machinery as they arise and elevate to Team Leader.
• To report any accidents to the Team Leader or Operational Management.
• To assist and support with the training of new starters and implementation of procedures when required.
• Ability to plan own workloads to meet the demands of customers and key performance indicators whilst consistently achieving high quality standards which will be measured by non-conformance reports.
• To operate complex decontamination equipment and carry out routine tests in accordance with the Planned Preventative Maintenance Schedule, Quality Standards and Guidance.
• Replenish raw materials to all areas and inform the managers of any raw material shortages and ensure stock is rotated.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Educated to GCSE standard or NVQ level 2.
• National Decontamination Certificate.

Experience

• Working in a team and the ability to communicate with each other effectively.
• Ability to follow instructions accurately, both verbally and written and referring to the senior decontamination staff when necessary.
• Flexible and accepting of change at short notice and with an open mind
• Experience of carrying out task related problem solving and escalating where appropriate
• Supporting new members of a team.
• Basic IT skills
• NHS experience or experience in a healthcare setting.
• Knowledge and experience in decontamination or infection prevention.
• Experience of working in process environments which conform to relevant and specific processes and procedures e.g. food or pharmaceutical

Skills

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team across four sterile service process areas.
• Ability to work accurately under pressure and have strong attention to detail.
• Ability to plan own workload to achieve departmental Key Performance Indicators (KPI's) / deadlines.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Willingness to learn and the ability to retain information.
• Ability to represent the department in a professional manner.
• Punctual.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of a working to standard operating procedures, health and safety, quality management and assurance systems
• A basic understanding of the impacts and consequences that may arise due to equipment of device failure
• Understand the impacts of providing a high standard of service.
• Understanding of infection prevention and control
• Understanding of COSHH

Additional

• Speak English to an appropriate standard relevant to their role, i.e. with confidence and accuracy, using correct sentence structures and vocabulary, and without hesitation.

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.

Employer name

Wrightington Wigan & Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Sterile Services Decontamination Unit, Unit 10, Cranfield Road, Lostock, BL6 4SB

£25,760 to £27,476 a yearper annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time,Part-time,Job share,Flexible working

Reference number

302-26-8316175E

Job locations

Sterile Services Decontamination Unit, Unit 10, Cranfield Road, Lostock, BL6 4SB