Team Leader - Sterile Services

Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-site leisure facilities

Bus travel discount (Stagecoach)

Park & Ride free between sites

Staff café with free tea/coffee

Job summary

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an experienced Team Leader to supervise decontamination services. You will manage a team of 15-20, ensuring duties meet standards and quality systems, while supporting staff development and service delivery for patients and clinical users.

The role requires knowledge of decontamination processes, washer/disinfectors and ISO quality systems, with strong organisation and communication skills.

Qualifications

• Trained technician with competence in Sterile Services Practice.
• GCSE English and Maths at minimum.
• Completion of supervision/1st line management course.
• Evidence of further education.

Responsibilities

• Supervise staff in decontamination areas to required standards.
• Allocate, monitor and prioritise workloads to meet service demands.
• Support staff performance, attendance and conduct; escalate issues as needed.
• Ensure compliance with decontamination procedures, instructions and quality systems.
• Monitor equipment performance, stock levels and documentation; maintain traceability.

Skills

Team leadership

Supervision

Training & development

Problem solving

Microsoft Office

Education

GCSE English & Maths

Supervision/1st line management course

Evidence of further education

Job description

Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Team Leader - Sterile Services

The closing date is 08 November 2026

The Sterile Services Department at CUH is seeking an experienced Team Leader to support the day-to-day supervision of decontamination services.

This role involves leading and supporting a team of approximately 15-20 staff, ensuring all decontamination activities are carried out in line with national legislation, local policies, and quality standards. You will play a key role in maintaining service delivery, supporting staff development, and ensuring a high-quality service for patients and clinical users.

Main duties of the job

Key responsibilities include:

Supervising staff within decontamination areas to ensure duties are performed to the required standard

Allocating, monitoring, and prioritising workloads to meet service demands

Supporting staff performance, attendance, and conduct, escalating issues appropriately

Ensuring compliance with decontamination procedures, manufacturer's instructions, and quality systems

Monitoring equipment performance, stock levels, and documentation, including tracking and traceability records

Supporting training, induction, and ongoing development of staff

You will demonstrate:

Sound knowledge of decontamination processes and practices

Experience / Knowledge on operating washer disinfectors and Sterilisers

Experience / Knowledge on working within a quality management system (e.g. ISO standards)

Strong organisational, communication, and leadership skills

Good literacy, numeracy, and basic IT skills (experience with electronic tracking systems is desirable)

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Sterile Services technician or supervisor looking to develop their leadership skills within a specialist clinical support service.

About us

Our Trust

Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke's Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 13,000 staff and over 1100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people - patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing 'outstanding' care to our patients and rated 'Good' overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH's values - Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent - are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population.

CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people's age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background.

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.

All appointments with a start date on or after 1 October 2026 will be subject to a 12-week probationary period. This provides a structured and supportive period to help you settle into your role, with regular reviews and feedback.

As per Home Office guidelines, please be aware that, unfortunately, the Trust is unable to offer sponsorship for this particular position.

As there is a 12-week probationary period, successful candidates are expected to have the Right to Work for a period of at least 6 months from the proposed start date. Immigration and Right to Work status will be discussed with successful candidates at conditional offer. CUH will not offer sponsorship to candidates that have applied for a fee waiver.

Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:- applied for a Graduate visa- or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment- or the Trust has agreed that they will Sponsor you as a Skilled Worker and you will complete your studies within 3 months of the anticipated start date of employment

This vacancy will close at midnight on 8th November 2026

Interviews are due to be held on 17th November 2026

Benefits to you

At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.

On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only caf, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.

CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.

Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Trained technician and able to demonstrate competence in Sterile Services Practice
• English and Math at GCSE level or equivalent
• Confident user of Microsoft Office software
• Evidence of further education
• Completion of a course in supervision/1st line management

Experience

• Experience of working in a Sterile Services or a production environment
• Experience of team leading
• Experience of record keeping where a high level of accuracy is required
• Experience of planning, prioritising and organising tasks
• Experience of using an electronic database
• NHS Experience

Skills

• Able to work on own initiative without regular supervision
• Ability to train and develop others in all areas of Sterile Services
• The ability to resolve complex problems

Additional Requirements

• The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of Safe, Kind, Excellent.

Knowledge

• Understanding of decontamination process and practice including sterilisation methods
• Knowledge of quality systems and procedures
• Understanding of confidentiality and data protection

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.

Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

£28,392 to £31,157 a yearper annum pro rata