Trainee Sterile Services Assistant

Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust; Harlow; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 23,000; Part time

Job summary

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust is seeking a Trainee Sterile Services Decontamination Assistant in Harlow. This part-time role covers 24 hours over 4 days, Monday to Sunday, within our busy decontamination service supplying the Theatre complex and other areas with sterile packs and instruments.

We offer externally accredited training, NHS career development, and the usual reward schemes associated with NHS employment.

Responsibilities

• To reprocess reusable medical devices under supervision: disassemble, clean, disinfect, check, assemble, sterilise, despatch and track in a controlled environment.
• To provide a collection and delivery service to the Decontamination Departments' customers.
• To inform Decontamination Technician Supervisors of material shortages and ensure stock is rotated.
• To meet workload demands while maintaining high quality standards as measured by in-process checks and non-conformance reports.
• To use manual dexterity and concentration for disassembly/reassembly of devices per Manufacturer's instructions.
• To operate decontamination equipment and carry out routine tests in line with maintenance schedules and quality standards.
• To communicate with users and healthcare staff in a polite and helpful manner, seeking scientific advice where required.
• To undertake duties consistent with the responsibilities of the grade and needs of the service.
• To undertake weekend and on-call duties.

Job description

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT) provides a full range of general acute, outpatient and diagnostic services at The Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, the Herts and Essex Hospital in Bishop’s Stortford, and St Margaret’s Hospital in Epping.

Our values

Patient at heart Always holding the patient and their wellbeing at the centre of our thoughts and efforts.

Everyday excellence Sharing and celebrating our successes, being honest when we get it wrong, giving us the ability to learn from both.

Creative collaboration Knowing strength comes from diversity, we combine our experiences, skills and talents, working together to find new and better ways to care.

An exciting opportunity (Part time 24 hours over 4 days Monday to Sunday ) has arisen for a highly motivated and proactive individual to join the team who are methodical and meticulous to detail, to wash, inspect, pack and sterilise surgical instruments ensuring the best decontamination service for our customers and patients. Trainee Sterile Services Decontamination Assistant, to work in our busy department supplying the Trust Theatre complex and other areas with sterile packs and instruments.

In return you can expect to receive career development including externally accredited training, and the generous reward and benefit schemes associate with NHS employment.

Our opening hours are Monday to Friday 06.00-22.00 and Saturday and Sunday 06.00-18.00.

Job Overview

• To undertake basic decontamination science duties and assist (under supervision) the workforce of Decontamination Technician Supervisors, in providing a specialised decontamination of medical devices service contributing to the clinical care of the patient.
• To assist team members in the receipt, disassembly, cleaning, reassembly, packing and sterilisation of reusable medical devices. Record all tasks in the Healthcare Science Information Systems (tracking and tracing) database.
• Work in accordance with the Department’s Standard Operating Procedures and Quality Management Systems.
• The role involves exposure to blood and body fluids.

Main duties of the job

• To work in accordance with Departmental Policy, Standard Operating Procedures and Quality Management System.
• To reprocess reusable medical devices under supervision, disassemble, clean, disinfect, check, assemble, sterilize, despatch and track in a controlled environment.
• To provide a collection and delivery service to the Decontamination Departments' customers.
• To inform the Decontamination Technician Supervisors of any raw material shortages and ensure stock is rotated.
• Under supervision meet the demands of the Department’s workload whilst consistently achieving high quality standards which will be measured by in-process checks and non-conformance reports.
• To use manual dexterity and concentration for the disassembly and reassembly of the reusable medical devices in accordance with Manufacturer's instructions
• To operate decontamination equipment and carry out routine tests in accordance with the Planned Preventative Maintenance Schedules, Quality Standards and Guidance.
• To communicate with enquires from users, and other members of healthcare staff in a polite and helpful manner, seeking scientific advice where required.
• To undertake duties consistent with the responsibility of the grade and needs of the service.
• To undertake weekend and on call duties