Theatre Sterile Services Technician

NHS; Gobowen; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent NHS Foundation Trust in Gobowen is hiring a Theatre Sterile Services Technician to join their team. Responsibilities include sterilizing surgical instruments and maintaining high standards through decontamination processes. This position offers various weekly hours, including flexible shifts and on-call commitments, rewarding teamwork and communication skills. Ideal candidates should have a good education standard and experience in sterile services, enhancing patient care in a dynamic hospital environment.

Qualifications

• Good standard of education including literacy and numeracy skills at GCSE level.
• Computer literate commensurate with duties of role.
• Able to organize own workload and work as part of a team.
• Understanding of hospital environments.
• Knowledge of sterile services.
• Experience of working within sterile services.

Responsibilities

• Ensure safe, high-quality standards throughout the decontamination process.
• Perform decontamination and processing of surgical instrumentation.
• Communicate effectively with the Theatre and other departments.
• Support the efficient running of the TSSU department.
• Meet Health and Safety requirements and training obligations.

Skills

Computer literacy

Teamwork

Organizational skills

Education

Good standard of education (GCSE level A-C or equivalent)

Job description

Theatre Sterile Services Technician

The closing date is 30 January 2026

The Theatre Unit at RJAH comprises 12 Theatres; 10 located in the main theatre unit and 2 in the 'Menzies' unit, alongside a Recovery unit, an HDU and an on-site TSSU. We cover a wide spectrum of primarily elective Orthopaedic surgery including, but not exclusively, Revision & Primary Arthroplasty, Upper limb, Lower Limb, Sports Injuries, Spines, Tumour and Paediatrics.

We are looking for individuals to join the team at our onsite Sterile Services Unit. The successful applicant will work alongside all members of the Theatre team and will be responsible for the cleaning, processing and sterilisation of theatre instruments.

Various weekly hours are available

Working week comprises of varying shifts – Monday‑Friday 0700‑1500, 0900‑1700, 1100‑1900 & 1400‑2200 with on‑call as rostered. Saturday 0700‑1500, 0900‑1700 & 1100‑1900. Saturday & Sunday on‑call as required/rostered.

Evening shifts and weekends attract enhancement payment for hours worked.

There is also opportunity for appointed candidates to join the TSSU Bank for additional shifts when available, pending completed training.

Under current Home Office Immigration Rules, this role does not meet the UK Visas and Immigration criteria and the position is not therefore eligible for skilled work‑sponsor. Applications from candidates that require skilled work‑sponsor will NOT be shortlisted.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will act as a member of the TSSU team, responsible for ensuring safe, high‑quality standards are maintained throughout the decontamination process, utilising all available resources to optimum effect including promoting good relationships, communication and team‑work within the TSSU unit and the wider multi‑disciplinary team within the trust.

Job responsibilities

1. Works under supervision in a specialist Orthopaedic TSSU, carrying out the decontamination and processing of all surgical instrumentation used within the trust.
   Works unsupervised managing own workload at night and on call.
2. Demonstrate a level of communication and relationship skills to promote and maintain effective liaison between TSSU and Theatre (both nursing and medical) and other wards/departments serviced by the TSSU.
3. Support the TSSU Supervisor and Manager in the effective and efficient running of the department.
4. Ensure own Health and Safety requirements are met, reporting all incidents/accidents near misses to TSSU Manager or supervisor.
5. Maintain an understanding of and adhere to all Trust and Unit policies and procedures, ensuring own mandatory training is completed annually as required (manual handling/CPR/fire).

General duties and responsibilities

1. Act as a mentor for new members of staff as necessary, once they have completed the in‑house training programme.
2. Ensure Trust policies and procedures are met in relation to personal responsibilities and maintaining confidentiality where necessary.
3. Participate in the prioritisation of instrumentation in the event of an untoward incident/non‑conformance in Theatre, resulting in the need for fast‑tracking these sets (including evaluating an approximate throughput time) through the decontamination process to minimise anaesthetic time for patients.
4. Ensure operating instrumentation is in good working order. Identify damaged instruments, send instrumentation for repair whilst documenting any tray non‑conformance and filling in the appropriate forms to alert the Theatre staff, informing the TSSU Supervisor or Manager of any trays/instruments needing to be taken out of action or implants needing re‑stocking.
5. Ensure all traceability documentation, electronic or handwritten, is completed for their area of work within the unit during a shift. Basic computer skills required.
6. Routine morning checks for washers/disinfectors, autoclaves, ultrasonic and heat sealers as per department policies.
7. Maintain knowledge of instrumentation including participation in in‑house training for new equipment carried out by company representatives.
8. Keep TSSU Supervisor or Manager informed of departmental changes which may affect the smooth running of the department.
9. Responsible for ensuring usage of autoclaves and washers/disinfectors with policy, including daily testing and reporting of breakdowns to supervisor, TSSU Manager and maintenance staff directly.
10. Responsible for sterilising, storage and dispatch of instrument trays and sterile stock, maintaining the store room in a neat and tidy order.
11. Responsible for receiving dirty instruments into wash room liaising with Theatre staff regarding any non‑compliance of instruments or power tools.
12. Responsible for cleaning, checking, inspecting and assembly of instruments and instrument trays.
13. Responsible for cleaning, checking and general servicing of power tools and other specialised equipment.
14. Remove clinical rubbish bags as necessary, replacing with clean ones.
15. Maintain department in a clean and tidy order.
16. Update and maintain tray lists written and electronically.
17. Participate in internal rotation (day and night staff) on a rotational basis and provide an on‑call service for the department.
18. Work unsupervised during the mid‑night shift, prioritising emergency trays and trays required for the morning list.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Good standard of education including literacy and numeracy skills at GCSE level (A‑C or equivalent)

Skills and competencies

• Computer literate commensurate with duties of role
• Able to organise own workload and work as part of a team

Knowledge

• Understanding of hospital environments
• Knowledge of sterile services

Experience

• Experience of working within sterile services

Other

• Works well as a team member
• Able to meet on‑call commitment and flexible working hours.
• Demonstrates commitment to the Trust's published values
• Good time keeping

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

Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital