Endoscopy Decontamination Technician in Gateshead

The post holder will undertake decontamination and sterilisation duties according to equipment requirements and assist the supervisors and manager in providing a high‐quality accredited (EN ISO 13485:2016 & JAG) service. This will be inclusive of logistical responsibilities and store management processes of reusable medical devices utilised within clinical care.

The post holder will be required to receive, disassemble, clean, disinfect, sterilise and store endoscopes within controlled environments, ensuring comprehensive records of all tasks are maintained for tracking traceability purposes. This will necessitate the operation of specific computer and database applications. Because some tasks expected within this role are governed by regulation (UK MDR), the employee must work in accordance with national guidance and published research, the department's Standard Operating Procedures and quality management systems to ensure an effective and compliant service is delivered.

• Inform senior staff if asked or expected to work unsupervised without the relevant training or level of competence.
• Attend training courses and partake in any other training strategies, mandatory and non‐mandatory, as required to maintain knowledge and skills.
• Assist with the supervision and teaching in decontamination practices.
• Support departmental needs to ensure monitoring, maintenance and servicing requirements of the endoscopes are undertaken in a way that offers little service disruption and report accordingly to senior staff.
• Ensure routine tests are undertaken and recorded in accordance with the Planned Preventative Maintenance Schedules, Quality Standards and Guidance.
• Undertake regular audits of decontamination and sterilisation processes and action any discrepancies to departmental guidelines in accordance with JAG IHEEM standards.
• Adhere to the recommendations for the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) and risk assessments appropriate to the clinical area.
• Inspect equipment within the decontamination cycle to ensure processes are effective.
• Recognise devices by name and ensure endoscopes are repacked correctly with correct instruments and ancillary items, responsible for checking loan devices and ensuring the correct items delivered prior to clinical use.
• Support the development or refreshing of standard operating procedures according to service change and modernisation.
• Will come into contact with remnants of blood, body tissue or offensive by‐products as part of the cleaning cycles.

• Education to GCSE or equivalent, including Maths and English.
• Willingness to attend training throughout the duration of being in post.
• NVQ3, Technical Certificate Decontamination, or equivalent level of knowledge and experience through decontamination training.
• Familiar with Wassenburg Washer and Dryer, however essential training will be given.
• 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.