Sterile Services Deputy Manager (Oxford)

Employer Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Oxford John Radcliffe Hospital Town Headington, Oxford Salary £32,073 - £39,043 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 16/09/2026 23:59

Sterile Services Deputy Manager (Oxford)

Band 5

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research.

The Trust comprises of four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence.

Many of our recruitment programmes use Value Based Interviewing to identify those who have the skills we seek, who share our values and who are able to deliver compassionate excellence from the outset. We know that this makes a significant difference to your job satisfaction and above all the outcomes and experience of our patients and their families. For more information about our Values and Value Based Interviewing please visit www.ouh.nhs.uk/about/vision-and-values

Job overview

To assist in the coordination and management of the provision of a specialised service undertaking the decontamination of medical devices contributing to the clinical care of the patient.
To coordinate the resources, work allocation and staffing of the department on a day-to-day basis and ensure the provision of a high quality and timely service to all service users/customers.

Main duties of the job

Main Tasks and Responsibilities

Managerial
To work in accordance with Departmental Policy and Quality Management Systems to ensure compliance by other staff.
To assist in the development and regular review of Standard Operating Procedures and department’s policies.
To supervise, record and analyse production activity.
To monitor and control the stocks of raw materials and to take appropriate action on any deficiencies, and assist in the evaluation of new products.
To use manual dexterity and concentration for the disassembly and reassembly of the reusable medical devices in accordance with Manufacturer’s instructions.
To communicate and supervise enquiries from staff, users, and other members of healthcare staff in a polite and helpful manner, seeking advice from Decontamination Quality Manager where required.
To be responsible for maintaining high standards of department safety ensuring the health, safety and welfare of self and others.
To be responsible for maintaining the security of the Decontamination Departments, equipment and chemicals in accordance with the Departmental Policy.
To communicate all relevant information within the team to ensure the continual and efficient running of the service.
To communicate complex, technical information and advice to customers/services users and other healthcare professionals, in a polite and helpful manner.
To communicate with customers/services users in the investigation of non-conformances.

Working for our organisation

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community.

We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence, and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence.

These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via the OUH YouTube channel .

In 2023 NHS England launched its first sexual safety charter, and our Trust proudly signed it. We pledge zero tolerance for inappropriate sexual behaviour and commit to the ten core principles

Oxford University Hospitals promotes a safe, respectful hiring environment.

If you want to make a difference with us, come and join our team. Together, we will uphold the highest standards of care and professionalism.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Scientific and Technical
To apply standards to the reprocessing of reusable medical devices, including disassembly,
cleaning, disinfection, checking, assembly, sterilization, despatch and tracking in a controlled environment. Required to use knowledge and skills when making decisions with regard to nonconformances.
To undertake investigations into non-conformance reports as required.
To ensure routine testing of decontamination equipment at the appropriate intervals to analyse and take appropriate action on any malfunction.
To supervise, record and analyse the operation of the decontamination equipment ensuring routine tests are completed in accordance with Planned Preventative Maintenance Schedules, Quality Standards and Guidance.
To assist in developing a safe, effective, efficient service by following current and best practice.
To ensure the reprocessing (disassembly, cleaning, disinfection, checking, reassembly, packing and sterilisation) of routine and complex medical devices is undertaken in accordance with essential quality and regulatory requirements and in accordance with manufacturers instructions.
To ensure the staff safe handling of transportation trolleys and reusable medical devices.
To assist in the evaluation, implementation and operation of new equipment/processes.
Quality Assurance
To communicate with customers/services users in the investigation of non-conformances.
To assist the development of the Department's Quality Policy, Quality Manual and Standard Operating Procedures to ensure that a high standard of work is maintained at all times.
To assist in internal and external quality assurance auditing as required. Assist in the development and maintenance of activities in support of external ISO and Medical Device Regulation accreditation schemes.
Education and Training
To provide practical support, guidance and training to new and /or less experienced/qualified staff.
To develop and apply the decontamination departments training programme and undertake training in line with the Institute of Decontamination Science’s educational framework as agreed with the line manager.
To actively participate in the Organisation’s appraisal system and personal development planning process for self and others in accordance with Organisational Policy.
To continually develop and maintain a portfolio of evidence of competence and CPD activities.
To train others on the decontamination IT systems to the authorised guidelines and protocols for use, verification of data, input of data, and staff information.
To carry out competency assessments on less trained/qualified staff.
The role directly influences the following key dimension of the service,

• Supply of Sterile Medical devices to 26 operating theatres and 10 clinical departments on an acute hospital site
• Direct supervision of 36.92 WTE
• Department budget of £1.8m

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The effort required from job holders in order to fulfil the job responsibilities, and the environment in which these responsibilities are carried out. This may include

General Conditions
Risk Management
The management of risk is the responsibility of everyone and will be achieved within a progressive, honest and open environment.
Staff will be provided with the necessary education, training and support to enable them to meet this responsibility.
Staff should be familiar with the
• Major Incident Policy
• Fire Policy
• Information governance
and should make themselves familiar with the ‘local response’ plan and their role within that response.
Responsibilities for Health and Safety
The post holder is responsible for ensuring that all duties and responsibilities of this post are carried out in compliance with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, Statutory Regulations and Trust Policies and Procedures. This will be supported by the provision of training and specialist advice where required.
Infection Control
Infection Control is everyone’s responsibility. All staff, both clinical and non-clinical, are required to adhere to the Trusts’ Infection Prevention and Control Policies and make every effort to maintain high standards of infection control at all times thereby reducing the burden of Healthcare Associated Infections including MRSA.
All staff employed by OUH have the following key responsibilities:
• Staff must wash their hands or use alcohol gel on entry and exit from all clinical areas and/or between each patient contact.
• Staff members have a duty to attend mandatory infection control training provided for them by the Trust.
• Staff members who develop an infection (other than common colds and illness) that may be transmittable to patients have a duty to contact Occupational Health.
Child Protection
The post holder will endeavour at all times to uphold the rights of children and young people in accordance with the UN Convention Rights of the Child.
Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults
The Trust is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults throughout the organisation. As a member of the trust there is a duty to assist in protecting patients and their families from any form of harm when they are vulnerable.
Information Governance
All staff must complete annual information governance training. If you have a Trust email account this can be completed online, otherwise you must attend a classroom session. For further details, go to the Information Governance intranet site.
Data Quality
Data quality is a vital element of every member of staff’s job role. Oxford University Hospitals recognises the importance of information in the provision of patient care and in reporting on its performance. Data quality is therefore crucial in ensuring complete, timely and accurate information is available in support of patient care, clinical governance, performance management, service planning, and financial and resource planning and performance.
All staff should ensure that they have read and understood the Trust’s Data Quality Policy.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Member Chartered of Institute of Decontamination Sciences
• Degree in medical device decontamination or equivalent level of knowledge.
• Management/Supervisory Management Qualification
• Health & Safety Training

Experience

• Practical experience in medical device decontamination >5 years.
• Experience of supervision and training of a decontamination team
• Experience of ISO audit and Quality Management Systems

Personal Skills

• Knowledge of decontamination specific procedures and policies.
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Ability to communicate with colleagues and service users on both routine and complex matters.
• Ability to participate in the planning of day-to-day procedures and processes.
• Ability to organise and manage personal responsibilities in a timely and efficient manner with referral to senior staff when required.
• Ability to multitask within decontamination systems.

Behavioural Skills

• Aligned to the Trust values.
• Conducts themselves in a professional manner at all times.
• Positive attitude to all tasks and stakeholders.
• Demonstrates a professional manner at all times.
• Ability to work on own initiative.
• Demonstrates logical thinking to help troubleshooting.
• Ability to motivate others.
• Adaptable to changing situations.

Technical Skills

• Detailed knowledge of reusable medical devices (surgical instruments/equipment).
• Understanding of Quality Management processes.
• Understanding of Health and Safety Processes.
• Computer literate with experience of working with the Microsoft Office package.
• Advanced keyboard skills.
• Understands the fundamentals of data quality, data protection and the confidential use of patient information.
• Experience of department tracking information systems.

Analytical Skills

• Ability to undertake and report on departmental investigations.
• Ability to recognise and monitor parameters of quality, accuracy and non-conformance according to departmental standard operational procedures.
• Ability to participate in the production and interpretation of audit data.
• Ability to review and interpret technical data.

Sexual Safety Charter : In 2023 NHS England launched its first sexual safety charter, and our Trust proudly signed it. We pledge zero tolerance for inappropriate sexual behaviour and commit to the ten core principles

Oxford University Hospitals promotes a safe, respectful hiring environment.

If you want to make a difference with us, come and join our team. Together, we will uphold the highest standards of care and professionalism.

Vacancy Closures: Please note, this vacancy may close early if a high volume of applications are received.

Visa and Immigration: Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is able to offer Certificates of Sponsorship for all eligible roles for a Skilled Worker Visa without exception, provided the role meets the minimum salary and skill level criteria set by the Home Office (UKVI). All eligible candidates will be considered with equal consideration at all stages of the application and recruitment process.Skilled worker: Health and Care Visa | NHS Employers /Work in the UK - GOV.UK

COVID-19: The COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course our patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst COVID-19 vaccination is not a condition of employment, we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated. If you are unvaccinated there is helpful advice and information at Oxfordshire County Council Website where you can also find out more about how to access vaccination.

Probation Period: This post is subject to a 6 month probationary period. If you currently hold a contract of employment with the Oxford University Hospitals, this will not apply. This statement does not apply to Medical staff or Executive Appointments.

Referencing: When providing employment reference details please provide correct work related email addresses so references can be sought promptly when we are looking to progress your application. Your first referee will need to be your line manager, supervisor or clinical lead from your current or most recent post or place of study. Please note that if you have previously worked for the Trust we will require a reference from your last Manager, this information is essential if your offer of employment is to be confirmed.

Employer certification / accreditation badges The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Application numbers Please note that this job advertisement will close automatically once the application limit is reached, regardless of whether this occurs before the advertised closing date.