West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

Decontamination Technician - Sterile Services

This job is now closed

Job summary

Our department is looking for a keen motivated individual to join our busy team of Floor Managers and Technicians in preparing medical devices and associated equipment for daily use.

Technicians will be trained to carefully wash, pack & inspect all ranges of medical devices before being sterilized and processed for surgery.

Full training in decontamination, sterilisation, and quality management will be given to the successful applicant.

It is essential that applicants have good communication skills, excellent attention to detail and can work under their own initiative.

The hours of work would be 37.5 hours per week Monday to Friday between 8am & 9pm and you would be expected to work weekends and Bank Holidays on a rotational basis.

Main duties of the job

You will be introduced to the identification, classification and inspection of reusable medical devices.

Willalso cover reprocessing of specialist equipment as well as repairs and maintenance.

Used returned medical devices must be regarded as a potential infectious hazard to handlers including decontamination service personnel.

You will also cover the receipt, sorting and preparation of returned reusable medical devices for cleaning and disinfection.

You will learn the activities that you either perform yourself, or the measures you need to take to protect the medical devices that you are handling and preparing for the wash cycle.

You will gain knowledge and information on function testing, inspection and assembly of reusable medical devices, covering packaging, selection and application of packing materials, requirements for sealing and labelling of packages.

You will familiarise yourself with records and documentation that is required.

Further into the training you will cover the sterilisation of reusable medical devices.

You will learn about different sterilisation methods, equipment used, test regimes and post sterilisation.

About us

#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community

We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.

The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.

Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.

We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.

With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.

We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.

Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?

Date posted

28 November 2023

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£22,383 a year Per annum - increasing to Band 3 after 1 year training period

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

179-23-4114-F

Job locations

West Suffolk Hospital

Bury St Edmunds

IP33 2QZ

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job summary

To undertake decontamination science duties and assist (under supervision) the workforce of

Decontamination Floor Managers, in providing a specialised decontamination of medical devices service contributing to the clinical care of the patient.

To carry out the receipt, disassembly, cleaning, reassembly, packing and sterilization of reusable medical devices. Record all tasks in the Healthcare Science Information Systems (tracking and tracing) database. Work in accordance with the Departments Standard Operating Procedures and Quality Management Systems. ISO13458:2016 and HTM01 01 guidance

Job responsibilities

Policy and Service

To work in accordance with Departmental Policy, Standard Operating Procedures and Quality Management System. ISO:13485 2016

To reprocess reusable medical devices, disassemble, clean, disinfect, check, assemble, sterilize, despatch and track in a controlled environment.

Sort and identify instruments using relevant documentation. Check for functionality before choosing the appropriate decontamination process following manufacturers instructions.

Raise non-conformance reports where necessary e.g. on discovering missing or damaged instruments and equipment. Contact customer to action appropriately. Follow Trust policy (e.g. sharps) and Datix system for reporting incidents.

To take delivery of and process unique specialist surgical loan instruments, and process following the manufacturers instructions.

Undertake quality checks for cleanliness and functionality before packing reusable medical devices to agreed specifications.

Pack sets and instruments using various designs of wrapping/containers in such a way as to ensure an effective sterile field.

To provide advice and training to Trainee Decontamination Technicians effectively.

To observe good housekeeping.

Participation in staff and major emergency call out situations.

To take responsible care and safety when handling expensive equipment in the department

To undertake any duties that may be delegated which are appropriate to the grade and work of the Sterile Services Department.

To operate decontamination equipment and carry out routine tests on at least a daily basis in accordance with Planned Preventative Maintenance Schedules, Quality Standards ISO:13485:2016 and HTM01 01

Record all released sterilised medical devices using the IT tracking systems.

To maintain security of the Decontamination Department(s), equipment and chemicals in accordance with departmental policy at all times.

Planning and Organisation

To contribute to developing the service to ensure that delivery of medical device decontamination is safe, effective and follows best practice.

To follow the decontamination departments training programme and undertake training in line with the Institute of Decontamination Sciences educational framework as agreed with the line manager.

To plan daily work load against customer requirements, using Theatre operating lists.

Use computerised tracking system to establish priority equipment.

Understand and use department colour coding of first in first out when planning daily work load

Reschedule workload as priorities change

To refer appropriate issues and to raise uncertainties with senior staff.

To actively participate in the Organisations appraisal system and personal development planning process in accordance with Trust policy.

Prepare specialist loan instrumentation with appropriate decontamination certificates to ensure safe return to manufacturers or other hospitals.

Organise and plan workload around PPM of washer disinfectors and Sterilizers

Ensure all daily tests have been completed and recorded correctly and organise retests due to failures

Education, Teaching and training

To maintain compliance to all statutory and mandatory training as defined by the organisation and service needs.

To comply with the Departments training programme and undertake training in line with the development of the post, as agreed with line manager.

To continually develop and maintain a portfolio of evidence of training and CPD activities.

To understand the Departments Quality Policy, Quality Manual and Standard Operating Procedures to ensure that a high standard of work is always maintained.

To understand data protection and Caldicott issues relating to the use and storage of patient information.

To assist in the training of other decontamination personnel to perform tasks as directed by the Decontamination Floor Managers.

To operate IT systems, computerised tracking systems, Washer/Disinfectors and Sterilizers

Be able to record and interpret machinery results, demonstrate compliance, analysing data and fault finding.

To participate in the Departments audits by explaining and showing knowledge of the department procedures

To provide supervision to Trainee Decontamination Technicians within the team and explain thoroughly the departmental working procedures.

Communication and Team Working

To communicate all relevant information within the team to ensure the continual and efficient running of the service.

To communicate and liaise between, customers and other members of healthcare staff i.e. Porters, delivery drivers, housekeepers in a polite and helpful manner.

To communicate with customers of the service in the initial investigation of non-conformances.

To inform effectively both verbally and at any staff hand-over as required.

To attend and actively participate in the Departments meetings.

To work as part of a team and always liaise with the Multidisciplinary Team in a professional manner.

To undertake any other duties as requested by the SSD management team.

To work alongside organisations colleagues in order to contribute to the Organisation vision Our patients, Our hospital, Our future, together and to contribute fully towards West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trusts corporate objectives, divisional and departmental delivery plans.

Participation in the staff roster, which includes weekends and bank holidays.

To provide practical support and training to Trainee Decontamination Technicians

Respond to customer telephone queries or requests, using the computerised tracking system to establish equipment location. Escalating to senior staff if necessary

Use Datix system to report any incidents or non-conformities