Decontamination Technician (A.T.O) in Bristol

Job overview

Based within Southmead Hospital

We are looking for motivated and reliable individuals to join our CSSD (Central Sterile Services Department) Decontamination Team. No previous experience is required as full training will be provided.

This is an important role helping to ensure medical equipment and surgical instruments are cleaned, disinfected and sterilised to the highest standards, supporting safe patient care across the hospital.

About you:

• Good attention to detail
• Able to work well within a team
• Reliable and motivated
• Physically able to undertake a demanding role involving standing, bending and lifting
• Willingness to learn new skills

What we offer:

• Full training provided – no experience necessary
• Excellent NHS benefits package
• Apprenticeship opportunities available
• Great career progression opportunities within Decontamination Services
• Supportive team environment
• Opportunity to develop specialist skills and qualifications

Apply now and become part of a team dedicated to patient safety and high-quality care

Advert

Previous applications, need not apply.

What the role involves:

· You will be required to use keyboards, touch screens and scanners.

• Cleaning and decontaminating medical equipment and surgical instruments
• Inspecting instruments with a high level of attention to detail
• Working in a fast-paced clinical environment
• Following strict infection prevention and safety procedures
• Standing for long periods, bending and lifting throughout shifts
• Working flexibly across a variety of shift patterns
• Initially there will be 3 weeks of induction training during day time shifts, you will then complete all other training on the allocated shift patterns

Working for our organisation

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.

With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer. Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Job Purpose

To provide a high-quality decontamination and sterilisation service for reusable medical devices, flexible endoscopes, surgical instruments, and associated equipment in accordance with Trust policies, ISO standards, Health Technical Memoranda (HTMs), infection prevention standards, and Health & Safety regulations.

The post holder will support the safe and effective delivery of patient care by ensuring medical devices are cleaned, disinfected, inspected, assembled, sterilised, tracked, and distributed to required standards and within agreed service levels.

Key Responsibilities

General Duties

• Maintain and develop professional working relationships with colleagues, theatres, wards, departments, and external customers.
• Behave professionally and courteously at all times.
• Participate in a rotational working system across all areas of the department.
• Receive, disassemble, clean, inspect, disinfect, assemble, sterilise, pack, and distribute reusable medical devices and flexible endoscopes.
• Carry out functionality testing on reusable medical devices and equipment.
• Operate departmental equipment safely and effectively in accordance with departmental procedures and manufacturer instructions.
• Record all stages of the decontamination and sterilisation process using electronic traceability systems and manual documentation where required.
• Assess and approve work completed by colleagues where appropriate.
• Identify, diagnose, and report failures or abnormalities in equipment test results in accordance with ISO 13485, HTMs, Medical Devices Directive (MDD 93/42/EEC), and Health & Safety requirements.
• Escalate equipment failures, process deviations, and emergencies to Team Leaders, Production Coordinators, or Managers.
• Participate in departmental and Trust-wide audits and support implementation of service improvements.
• Assist with Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) activities.
• Maintain compliance with departmental Quality Management Systems and Health & Safety policies.
• Report customer complaints, incidents, and non-conformances to the appropriate manager.
• Mentor, train, and support new or less experienced staff members.
• Attend mandatory and role-specific training as required.
• Participate in appraisal, performance reviews, and continuous professional development.
• Contribute to the Trust’s vision, values, and operational objectives.

Raw Material Store & Endoscopy Storerooms

• Process stock orders and deliveries using correct documentation and inventory systems.
• Maintain stock rotation and ensure removal of external packaging where required.
• Monitor and maintain agreed stock levels and raise replenishment requests/orders.
• Participate in stock takes and inventory audits.
• Ensure compliance with storage requirements relating to temperature, humidity, COSHH, and manual handling regulations.
• Safely manoeuvre trolleys and undertake manual handling of instrument sets and supplies.

Washrooms / Decontamination Areas

• Perform daily testing and maintenance checks on Washer Disinfectors, Ultrasonic Cleaners, Trolley Washers, Automatic Endoscope Reprocessors (AERs), and associated equipment.
• Record and review test results to demonstrate compliance and support audit requirements.
• Follow washroom protocols, standard operating procedures, infection prevention, and Health & Safety requirements at all times.
• Log incoming instruments, sets, and endoscopes into the traceability system and prioritise workloads appropriately.
• Verify equipment completeness and report discrepancies immediately.
• Complete non-conformance documentation where required.
• Process specialist loan instrumentation in accordance with manufacturer instructions.
• Recognise and appropriately dispose of single-use devices.
• Respond to customer queries and prioritise urgent/Fast Track requests.
• Handle contaminated devices safely using appropriate PPE and universal precautions, including compliance with Cytotoxic, NICE, and CJD policies.
• Safely dispose of clinical waste, sharps, linen, and fluids in accordance with policy.

Inspection, Assembly & Packing (IAP) / Endoscopy Clean Room

• Conduct environmental monitoring and record air handling unit checks.
• Perform testing and recording of heat sealers and diathermy testers.
• Inspect instruments and devices for cleanliness, functionality, and damage prior to packing.
• Assemble and pack surgical trays and instruments to agreed specifications ensuring sterility maintenance.
• Apply tamper-evident seals, sterilisation indicators, and approved wrapping systems.
• Sign tray lists and traceability documentation, accepting accountability for work completed.
• Perform visual checks on wash cycle parameters and reprocess failed loads as required.
• Comply with gowning procedures and clean room standards.
• Prioritise workloads to minimise disruption to patient care and theatre schedules.
• Process and dispatch endoscopes in line with departmental traceability and accountability procedures.

Sterilisation Services

• Test sterilisers in accordance with departmental quality control procedures.
• Record and analyse steriliser test results to demonstrate compliance.
• Operate sterilisers safely and effectively using correct PPE and safe systems of work.
• Inspect sterilised loads to confirm integrity and sterility indicators have achieved required parameters.
• Raise non-conformance reports (NCRs) where necessary.
• Categorise and prepare instruments and sets for dispatch.
• Produce decontamination certificates for loan sets and repaired instruments.
• Process urgent/Fast Track items to meet clinical demand.
• Use low-temperature sterilisation systems, including Sterrad gas plasma sterilisation equipment, where trained and competent.

High Level Disinfection / Endoscopy Decontamination

• Decontaminate flexible endoscopes in accordance with manufacturer instructions, HTMs, JAG guidance, and departmental standard operating procedures.
• Undertake all stages of the endoscope decontamination cycle including:
  • Visual inspection
  • Manual cleaning
  • Leak testing
  • High-level disinfection
  • Drying
  • Storage
  • Tracking and tracing
  • Transportation and dispatch
• Safely operate Endoscope Washer Disinfectors (EWDs), drying cabinets, and associated equipment.
• Carry out routine testing and quality assurance checks on endoscopes and decontamination equipment.
• Maintain accurate electronic and paper tracking documentation.
• Identify and report equipment faults, process failures, and non-conformities promptly.
• Work safely with chemicals and disinfectants in accordance with COSHH regulations and departmental PPE requirements.
• Support safe storage and transportation of endoscopes in compliance with infection prevention standards.

Quality, Compliance & Health and Safety

• Ensure all duties are carried out in line with:
  • ISO 13485
  • Health Technical Memoranda (HTMs)
  • Trust policies and procedures
  • Infection Prevention & Control standards
  • Health & Safety legislation
  • COSHH regulations
  • Medical Devices legislation
• Maintain accurate records to support audits, traceability, and quality assurance activities.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives and compliance monitoring.

• Maintain and develop professional working relationships with colleagues, theatres, wards, departments, and external customers.
• Behave professionally and courteously at all times.
• Participate in a rotational working system across all areas of the department.
• Receive, disassemble, clean, inspect, disinfect, assemble, sterilise, pack, and distribute reusable medical devices and flexible endoscopes.
• Carry out functionality testing on reusable medical devices and equipment.
• Operate departmental equipment safely and effectively in accordance with departmental procedures and manufacturer instructions.
• Record all stages of the decontamination and sterilisation process using electronic traceability systems and manual documentation where required.
• Assess and approve work completed by colleagues where appropriate.
• Identify, diagnose, and report failures or abnormalities in equipment test results in accordance with ISO 13485, HTMs, Medical Devices Directive (MDD 93/42/EEC), and Health & Safety requirements.
• Escalate equipment failures, process deviations, and emergencies to Team Leaders, Production Coordinators, or Managers.
• Participate in departmental and Trust-wide audits and support implementation of service improvements.
• Assist with Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) activities.
• Maintain compliance with departmental Quality Management Systems and Health & Safety policies.
• Report customer complaints, incidents, and non-conformances to the appropriate manager.
• Mentor, train, and support new or less experienced staff members.
• Attend mandatory and role-specific training as required.
• Participate in appraisal, performance reviews, and continuous professional development.
• Contribute to the Trust’s vision, values, and operational objectives.