Sterilisation Technician

Langford Vets; Lower Langford; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 24,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Free onsite parking

Annual CPD allowance

Cycle to work scheme

Staff discounts

Job summary

Langford Vets is seeking a Sterilisation Technician to join our Theatre team on a part-time basis, three days per week. The role focuses on sterilising instruments, maintaining equipment, and supporting the theatre staff across soft tissue, orthopaedics, and neurology services.

The successful candidate will be reliable, highly organised and able to work independently while following established procedures. Opportunities exist to contribute to clinical audits and continuous improvement

Qualifications

• Proven attention to detail and reliable work habits.
• Strong organisational and stock management skills are essential.
• Experience in clinical or sterilisation settings is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Clean, inspect, pack and sterilise instruments using multiple methods.
• Maintain instrument care, quality control and equipment upkeep.
• Manage stock levels and place orders for supplies and implants.
• Coordinate with Theatre and central teams to ensure instrument availability.
• Assist with maintaining asepsis and cleanliness in the theatre area.

Skills

Attention to detail

Organised

Stock management

Independent working

Teamwork

Education

NVQ in cleaning or similar

Job description

We are looking for a Sterilisation Technician to join our Theatre team. This is a part-time position working 3 days per week, alongside our existing Sterilisation Technician within our busy multidisciplinary referral hospital., We are looking for a Sterilisation Technician to join our Theatre team. This is a part-time position working 3 days per week, alongside our existing Sterilisation Technician within our busy multidisciplinary referral hospital. The successful candidate will be a highly motivated, proactive individual with excellent attention to detail. They must be able to follow established processes and instructions while also demonstrating initiative and the ability to work independently. At Langford, we provide specialist services across a range of disciplines, and as part of the Theatre team you will work closely with services including Soft Tissue Surgery, Orthopaedics, Cardiology, Neurology and, on occasion, Internal Medicine.

Key Responsibilities

The role will include:

• Cleaning, inspecting, packing and sterilising surgical instruments using a variety of sterilisation methods, including ethylene oxide.
• Care, maintenance and quality control of surgical instrumentation and equipment.
• Stock control and ordering of surgical equipment, consumables and surgical implants.
• Managing surgeon-specific equipment requests and ensuring instrument availability.
• Liaising with the Medicine team regarding the maintenance and sterilisation of selected medical equipment and kits.
• Coordinating with our Central Operations team and Procurement Manager with maintaining relationships with external suppliers and service engineers responsible for surgical dishwashers, autoclaves and other sterilisation equipment.
• Coordinating maintenance schedules and ensuring sterilisation equipment is correctly maintained and operational.
• Supporting the Theatre team by communicating equipment issues to the Flow Coordinator and Head Theatre Nurse to minimise disruption to clinical activities.

There will also be opportunities to learn and provide support within the theatre environment, assisting with surgical cases where appropriate., To support the veterinary and support teams within the Small Animal Hospital by maintaining the highest standards of cleanliness, hygiene, and operational efficiency within the Theatre Department. The role is responsible for the cleaning, processing, sterilisation, maintenance, and organisation of surgical instruments and equipment, as well as the management of surgical laundry and theatre stock levels. The post holder will assist with the cleaning and preparation of clinical areas, ensuring theatres and associated facilities are fully equipped, compliant, and ready to support the delivery of safe and effective patient care.

Principal Accountabilities

• Cleaning, inspection and sterilisation of surgical instrumentation and kits.
• Assist with maintenance and organising instruments/power tools to be sent for servicing or repairs, to include communicating with the team on available equipment. Coordinating with the Procurement Manager where necessary.
• Processing surgical instruments and equipment through the various sterilising processes, to include autoclaves and Ethelyne Oxide.
• Surgical laundry - to include washing, drying and folding of surgical scrubs and shoes, drapes and table cover's, mops and cleaning cloths.
• Maintaining stock levels by regular stock ordering and stock checks, including participation in the annual stock check.
• Maintaining a high level of cleanliness within the sterilisation area - to include cleaning of surfaces and floors, ensuring washing machine/tumble dryers and autoclaves are clean and well-maintained according to instructions.
• Participate in maintaining a high level of asepsis throughout the theatre area, to include assisting with daily/weekly and monthly cleaning duties as required.
• Assisting with stocking up of theatre area and patient prep area as required
• Disposal of clinical waste and general waste.
• Maintaining a good working relationship with all team members.
• Communicating in an effective and pleasant manner with clients and colleagues.
• Assisting with setting up surgical kits as per requests and checklists as required.
• Assist with the setting up of theatres for surgery, to include damp-dusting theatres, setting up kits, cleaning theatres between surgeries, cleaning and packing instruments, where suitable.
• Share knowledge and conduct in house training to colleagues where directed by your line manager.
• Produce and regularly update any SOP's relative to sterilising equipment and processes as directed by your line manager.
• Carry out all other reasonable duties as requested by the line manager.
• Proactively identify and act upon opportunities for business improvement. Openly identify and discuss problems in order to implement and sustain improvements that increase the value we deliver to our, clients, employees, and students.

The successful candidate will:

• Be reliable and organised.
• Have excellent attention to detail.
• Possess strong organisational and stock management skills.
• Be able to prioritise tasks effectively and manage their workload efficiently.
• Demonstrate problem-solving abilities and a proactive approach.
• Work well both independently and as part of a team.
• Be committed to maintaining high standards of patient care and clinical support.

There may also be opportunities to participate in clinical audits and continuous improvement initiatives within the service.

Previous cleaning experience

• Previous experience of working with surgical instrumentation and autoclaves
• Previous experience of working within a clinical environment or similar setting where strict rules of hygiene are applied
• NVQ in cleaning or similar
• Communicating effectively with clients
• Health and Safety or hygiene certificate or similar
• Ability to work within a team
• Ability to act independently
• Flexible approach to work

Our people are at the heart of what we do

and as your employer we want to ensure we offer flexibility, support and staff development, where possible, through:

• Time off - 6.6 weeks holiday per year, inclusive of bank holidays
• Additional holiday entitlement for Long Service
• Wellbeing - On site Mental Wellbeing Champions
• EDI committee
• Employee Forum - to ensure all employees voices can be heard
• Menopause Café
• Wellbeing talks and events
• Cycle to work scheme
• Family friendly policies, including enhanced maternity and paternity pay (after 2 years' service)
• Health - SimplyHealth Cashplan membership
• Free annual flu vaccination
• Free Specsavers eye test voucher
• General - Free onsite parking
• U2 bus service link to Bristol
• Annual CPD allowance
• Employee discount
• Generous pension scheme - we match up to 8% pension contributions
• Reimbursement of one professional membership fee per year