Sterile Services Technician

The Sterile Services (HSDU) at the Great Western Hospital supports the activity of the operating theatres, endoscopy, clinic areas, community dentistry, podiatry services and external customers. The individuals who work for us are some of the best available; we now have an opportunity to expand our team. This is not a patient facing role but is very much patient focused and the patient is at the core of everything we do. The environment is busy and active and you will need to be able to respond to the 'peaks and troughs' of the work to support the service. The instruments are used in operations and so an ability to deal with the sight of blood is necessary.

Please note: This Band 2 role is not available to support sponsorship for skilled worker visas.

• The team are responsible for the decontamination, checking, assembly, packing, sterilization and delivery of surgical instrument packs to both internal and external customers.
• You will need to be able to enjoy detailed work, be prepared and able to learn the names of surgical instruments, work within a department that uses standard operating procedures and a Quality Management System and become part of a committed, strong team.
• Any experience of working in a decontamination, cleaning or sterilization environment will be an advantage but not a necessity as we provide a very extensive training package.
• A full UK driving licence is required as we also provide transportation for some external customers.
• Collection, Decontamination, Packing, Sterilizing and dispatch of Medical Devices throughout the Trust site.

Our STAR values - Service, Teamwork, Ambition and Respect - are a golden thread running through everything we do. These values serve as a guiding principle, driving us towards our vision of delivering great joined up services to our local community. Whether at home, in the community, or within the hospital, our goal is to empower individuals to lead independent and healthier lives.

There are benefits of working with us which include:

• Onsite training and support
• The opportunity to gain a nationally recognised Qualification in Decontamination.
• Pension scheme
• Occupational Health service
• NHS Discounts

• Collecting, receiving, checking and washing of all surgical instruments/medical devices from clinical areas.
• Delivering and collecting clean and used Endoscopes from local sites using Trust vehicle.
• The checking and assembly of medical devices across the full range of surgical specialties using Departmental Standard Operating Procedures with speed and accuracy prior to sterilization.
• Providing and receiving routine information and working co-operatively with your work colleagues in exchanges of information.
• To carry out all duties in accordance with Departmental Policies.
• Demonstrate activities to new staff during their training.
• Responsibility for organising one's own day-to-day work tasks and making judgement on job related facts and situations.
• Work within the departmental quality management system ensuring accurate record keeping and written process is followed correctly.
• Visit the wards and departments to requisition and deliver sterile supplies and to cover when necessary the delivery of External customers packs.
• To store and rotate sterile packs in the Sterile Store to ensure rapid turnover.
• Putting up of stock for customers outside of The Trust.
• To be aware of the Health & Safety at Work Act etc. ensuring that as an employee the provisions of the Act are met.
• It will be required that all employees comply with the Trust's Immunisation Policy which includes immunisation against Hepatitis B.

• Essential: Good general education at GCSE Level or equivalent
• Desirable: NVQ in Decontamination, Certificate in Clean Room working

• Essential: Packaging and assembly and/or customer services experience, Working in a Hospital environment, Previous experience of working with a Quality Management system using Standard operating procedures.
• Desirable: Use of Wassenburg AER's, Experience in the disinfection of flexible endoscopes

• Essential: Basic IT skills, Proven record of dexterity, Able to concentrate on tasks for long periods of time, Able to identify faults and damage to products, Ability to learn and retain names and information relating a large volume of complex products, Able to manage own work and produce constant quality product within a designated time frame, Ability to understand and operate a bar code tracing system and recognise risk to product if the scanning process is missed.
• Desirable: Previous experience of decontaminating medical equipment, Decontamination Training Portfolio

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.