Senior Sterile Services Technician

Job Summary

Senior Sterile Services Technician

The post holder will support achieving the department's core objectives around the decontamination standard. This will require the post holder to support the Decontamination Supervisor to ensure the smooth running of the department.

The post holder will support the department with actions to maintain the accreditation certification by being expected to have extensive knowledge and skills of all Departmental quality documents and SOPs used to control the production in an ISO 13485-certified department and, as such, will be responsible for ensuring staff conform to the Sterile Services and Endoscopy Decontamination Unit quality management system, hospital policy and procedures and highlighting immediately any areas of concern.

The post holder will be responsible for assisting in training junior staff to facilitate the development of skills and reduction of risk to the product. They will give constructive feedback to the management team on an individual's performance.

The Senior Technician will occasionally deputise and bleep hold for the Supervisors when required. To undertake this role, the Senior Technician must understand all potential product risks, SOPs relating to non-conforming products, machine failures and the ability to re-allocate staff to ensure the department functions safely and efficiently.

Main duties of the job

When working in all Areas

• Be a good role model and mentor for all Band 2 staff especially staff undergoing their departmental training.
• To operate machinery safely and to lift and move instrument sets frequently in a safe and effective manner according to the departments safe systems of work. Take appropriate action when observing unsafe practice in others and give constructive feedback.
• Responsible for ensuring the work area remains clean, tidy, free from obstructions suitably stocked for the daily activity at all times
• Responsible for ensuring paperwork relating to machine checks, product control and product receipts are recorded and filed in accordance with the departmental procedures.
• Responsibility for organising day to day work tasks in all areas and report to the supervisor any changes in work load that may impact on the departmental traffic light status or skill mix requirements
  
  
  

About Us

We are proud to be part of BSW Hospitals Group - a formal partnership between Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust and Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust. With a combined workforce of over 17, 600 colleagues, and budget of 1.6 billion the Group is united by a common purpose to deliver the best possible care to over 1 million people.

We are creating a health and care system that works with the people we care for, reducing the differences people currently face in access, experience and outcomes, improving the experience of our colleagues and tackling shared challenges like sustainability and finances. Every improvement we make across our Group will be guided by what creates the greatest benefit for our colleagues, our patients, our communities and our partners.

Job Description

Job responsibilities

When working in the Clean Room

• Carry out automated washer product release duties in accordance with the appropriate SOPs reporting any failed loads immediately to the supervisor. Identify and report to the supervisor any non-conforming product or risk to product.
• Effective and robust adherence to policy in all decontamination area in accordance with HTM 01-01, HTM 01-06, ISO13484 and the department quality management system (QMS)
• Inspect check and reassemble surgical instruments across the full range of surgical specialties in accordance with the appropriate SOPs with speed and accuracy prior to sterilisation. Identifying and report any missing, damaged, or dirty instruments immediately to the supervisors.
• Planning work activity between clean areas and work closely with clinical endoscopy to ensure service delivery
• Occasionally deputise and bleep hold for the Supervisors when they are not in the work area. To undertake this role, you must have a working understanding of all SOPs relating to non-conforming products, machine failures and the ability to re-allocate staff to ensure the department functions in a safe and efficient manner. Reporting all concerns to the department manager in the absence of the supervisor
• Support supervisor and also provide leadership to the team in the organisation of the day to day work tasks in the clean room whilst also reporting to the supervisor any changes in work load that may impact on the departmental traffic light status or skill mix requirements.
  
  
  

When working in the sterile store

• Carry out steriliser product release duties in accordance with the appropriate SOPs reporting any failed loads immediately to the supervisor. Identify and report to the supervisor any non-conforming product or risk to product.
• Inspect check and prepare for dispatch products to the correct areas in accordance with the appropriate SOPs with speed and accuracy prior to final dispatch. Identifying and report any damaged products or missing products immediately to the supervisors.
• Store and rotate sterile packs to ensure effective control of product highlighting any shortages immediately to the supervisor.
• Visit the wards and departments to requisition and deliver sterile supplies deal with any day to day enquiries or requests. Check stock integrity and quality removing any non-conforming products.
  
  
  

1 28. Ensure the stock for customers outside of The Trust is picked and packed according to the T Doc picking list and ready for distribution when transport collects highlighting any shortfalls immediately to the supervisor.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Qualifications Essential

• Good general education at GCSE Level or equivalent or Level 2 Functional Skills in English and Math's or equivalent
• Level 3 (SCQF - 6): - City and Guilds 3
• NVQ 3
• BTEC National Diploma
• Experience equivalent to the above qualifications
• Completion of Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support (that maps to the Apprenticeship Standard)
• Equivalent experience together with Level 2 qualification and working towards Level 3
• Certificate in Clean Room working or equivalent in house competencies and training to this level (that maps to level 3 apprenticeship standard)
  
  
  

Desirable

• NVQ in sterile Services/ Decontamination
  
  
  

Experience Essential

• Minimum 1 year proven experience in working in Sterile Service
• Demonstrable ability to maintain the quality of your own work and of others within the Sterile Services unit according to the departmental quality management system and SOP's.
  
  
  

Desirable

• Previous experience with the development and review of existing and new SOP's to ensure continual improvement of quality.
  
  
  

Additional information

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab) .

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab) .