Job summary
DECONTAMINATION TECHNICIAN (HSDU)
Band 2
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
The Decontamination Unit provides a vital service reprocessing surgical instruments for use in all wards and departments within the trust.
You will be involved in the cleaning, inspecting, assembling, packing, sterilising and distributing surgical equipment for supply to Wards, Departments, Theatres and Endoscopy.
Successful candidates will require attention to detail & an eagerness and ability to learn.
A comprehensive in house training programme is in operation which successful candidates will be expected to take part in and complete.
The role is physically demanding, lifting and handling heavy instrument sets and long periods of standing. It is necessary to transport theatre equipment around the hospital using trolleys.
As a clinical support service the department is operational 6 days a week, supported by an on-call service to meet the demands of the hospital.
The hours of work are 37.5 a week on a two-tier shift system covering an early and late shift and working one Saturday in two. In line with the department objectives hours are to be reviewed regularly and may be subject to change.
Other requirements for this role are:
- Literacy and numeracy skills
- Good organisational skills
- Confident, outgoing, punctual and flexible
- Basic IT skills
- Insight into the care of delicate and expensive equipment
Main duties of the job
To assist in the reprocessing and sterilisation of reusable instrumentation for patient use in theatres, wards and departments these products are classed as medical devices and are subject to regulatory control during manufacture.
The unit is compliant to ISO13485 Quality Management System. Previous experience working with a Quality System is desirable but not essential.
For further information contact Marea Lawford, Head of Decontamination Services on extension 86683.
About us
You can expect a warm welcome at Milton Keynes University Hospital, our staff are friendly and welcoming. We listen to each other and work together to embed our Trusts values and behaviours. At MKUH we appreciate our staff and reward them with an outstanding benefits package including:
- Free on-site parking
- Free tea and coffee
- Great flexible workingopportunities
- Discounted gym membership
- Lease car scheme
- Generous annual leave and pension scheme
- On site nursery (chargeable)
- Extensive staff health and well-being programme
Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (MKUHFT), in partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital; we conduct research and teaching on site to improve the care of our patients. The hospital is undergoing significant investment, and we are proud to be rated good by the CQC. Visit our website to catch up on our latest news.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Communication & Relationship Skills
- To communicate with customers at all levels both face to face and by telephone.
- To deal with telephone enquires as necessary in a concise and appropriate manner, recording all relevant information and acting as appropriate
- To ensure that verbal and written communication is maintained within the departments
Analytical & Judgemental Skills
- Monitor and record daily checks on decontamination equipment ensuring that any anomalies are escalated to the senior team.
- Isolating faulty equipment for further investigation and recording non-conformances in the approved manner.
Planning & Organisational Skills
- Adjust workplan/pattern based on information from main users (theatres) and prioritise tasks and inform colleagues/senior team of changes.
- Test and record all daily checks in line with local policy.
Responsibility for Patient/ Client Care
- Ensure that the appropriate PPE is worn and used in the workplace.
- Inspect equipment, check for completeness & prepare for the decontamination process
- Operate washer disinfectors/sterilisers and interpret the parameters in conjunction with the product release procedures.
Responsibility for Policy/ Service Development
- The department is ISO Accredited to ISO 13485. Staff ensure that policy and procedure is followed at all times.
- Staff are encouraged to suggest changes to policies or working practises via our recommendation for improvement register.
Please refer to the job description for further details.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Communication & Relationship Skills
- To communicate with customers at all levels both face to face and by telephone.
- To deal with telephone enquires as necessary in a concise and appropriate manner, recording all relevant information and acting as appropriate
- To ensure that verbal and written communication is maintained within the departments
Analytical & Judgemental Skills
- Monitor and record daily checks on decontamination equipment ensuring that any anomalies are escalated to the senior team.
- Isolating faulty equipment for further investigation and recording non-conformances in the approved manner.
Planning & Organisational Skills
- Adjust workplan/pattern based on information from main users (theatres) and prioritise tasks and inform colleagues/senior team of changes.
- Test and record all daily checks in line with local policy.
Responsibility for Patient/ Client Care
- Ensure that the appropriate PPE is worn and used in the workplace.
- Inspect equipment, check for completeness & prepare for the decontamination process
- Operate washer disinfectors/sterilisers and interpret the parameters in conjunction with the product release procedures.
Responsibility for Policy/ Service Development
- The department is ISO Accredited to ISO 13485. Staff ensure that policy and procedure is followed at all times.
- Staff are encouraged to suggest changes to policies or working practises via our recommendation for improvement register.
Please refer to the job description for further details.
Person Specification
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential
- Willing to train further in Decontamination sciences
Desirable
- GCSE grades A-C or equivalent in 3 core subjects
- Decontamination qualification
- Familiar with a process driven environment
Experience
Desirable
- Previous sterile services experience
- Experience of interpreting results for product release
- Familiar with medical devices / surgical instrumentation
Skills
Essential
- Ability to work in a team
- Ability to perform routine tasks in specified standards
- Ability to work accurately
- Ability to achieve strict deadlines
- Ability to problem solve
- Ability to communicate with all levels of staff
- Work to standard operational procedures
- Ability to work independently
Desirable
- Knowledge of decontamination protocols
- Knowledge of the requirements of a QM system
- Knowledge of equipment including computerized tracking system
- Knowledge of surgical equipment
Personal and people development
Essential
- Participate in personal development
- Complete training assessments in a timely manner
Communication
Essential
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Ability to absorb and act on instruction
Specific requirements
Essential
- Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations
Person Specification
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential
- Willing to train further in Decontamination sciences
Desirable
- GCSE grades A-C or equivalent in 3 core subjects
- Decontamination qualification
- Familiar with a process driven environment
Experience
Desirable
- Previous sterile services experience
- Experience of interpreting results for product release
- Familiar with medical devices / surgical instrumentation
Skills
Essential
- Ability to work in a team
- Ability to perform routine tasks in specified standards
- Ability to work accurately
- Ability to achieve strict deadlines
- Ability to problem solve
- Ability to communicate with all levels of staff
- Work to standard operational procedures
- Ability to work independently
Desirable
- Knowledge of decontamination protocols
- Knowledge of the requirements of a QM system
- Knowledge of equipment including computerized tracking system
- Knowledge of surgical equipment
Personal and people development
Essential
- Participate in personal development
- Complete training assessments in a timely manner
Communication
Essential
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Ability to absorb and act on instruction
Specific requirements
Essential
- Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations
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.
