Sterile Services Technician

Oxford University Hospitals; Oxford; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS teaching trust in Oxford is seeking an Apprentice Decontamination Technician to join the Sterile Services team. The role involves supporting the reprocessing of reusable medical devices and ensuring adherence to quality and safety standards. Candidates will receive full in-house training and have clear progression pathways to advanced roles within the department. This position requires teamwork, attention to detail, and a commitment to high hygiene standards.

Qualifications

• Motivated and detail-oriented individual needed.
• Ability to work under supervision.
• Commitment to patient safety and infection prevention.

Responsibilities

• Support the safe and effective reprocessing of reusable medical devices.
• Clean, disinfect, inspect, assemble, and sterilise surgical instruments.
• Adhere to Standard Operating Procedures and Quality Management System.

Skills

Attention to detail

Teamwork

Commitment to high hygiene standards

Job description

Job overview

To carry out the receipt, disassembly, cleaning, reassembly, packing and sterilization of reusable medical devices. To undertake medical device decontamination duties (under supervision) and assist Supervisors in providing a specialised medical devices decontamination service contributing to the clinical care of the patient. Work in accordance with the Department’s Standard Operating Procedures and Quality Management Systems at all times and throughout all production areas, ensuring safe systems are followed for patient safety.

We are looking for people to join our team.

Monday to Sunday (mixture of shifts available over days)

Full in-house training will be provided for this role.

The Interview for this post will be interviews, one for the technical side and one for a Trust VBI.

Main duties of the job

Are you looking to start a rewarding career in healthcare science and make a real difference behind the scenes? We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented individual to join our Sterile Services team as an Apprentice Decontamination Technician (Band ) — with a clear pathway to progress to Decontamination Technician (Band ) through our structured internal training and competency programme. This is a link grade role , meaning you will begin at Band and, upon successful completion of our in-house training and full sign-off of your competency portfolio, you will be promoted to Band . As an Apprentice 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.

Once progressed to Band , 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.

This is a hands‑on, physically active role that requires attention to detail, teamwork, and a commitment to high standards of hygiene and safety.

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 is a base for medical education, training and research. Find out more here

The Trust comprises four hospitals – the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital, 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 its focus is 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 set out to deliver compassionate excellence via the OUH YouTube channel.