Decontamination Technician inGateshead inGateshead PUBLISHED MON 18 NOV 2024

Depending on experience £24,831 Pro Rata PERMANENT GOOD SALARY

QE Facilities rzFKfCp2

The Decontamination Technician at QE Facilities in Gateshead is primarily responsible for the safe sterilisation and disposal of waste generated by the pathology laboratory at Queen Elizabeth Hospital. This role involves closely collaborating with laboratory staff to manage compliance with sterilisation protocols, safely handling Category 3 waste, and operating sterilizers while adhering to departmental and national regulations. The technician will also engage in sterile services, endoscopy decontamination, and theatre logistics during sterilisation downtime.

In addition, the technician is expected to report any incidents or equipment failures, maintain cleanliness and safety in work areas, attend training, and participate in the development of standard operating procedures. The role requires dealing with hazardous substances and potentially unpleasant odors, as well as significant manual handling efforts, ensuring a responsive and effective decontamination service in alignment with established quality standards.

Previous applicants need not apply.

Summary of the Role:

The post holder will mainly be responsible for the safe sterilisation then disposal of waste produced by the pathology laboratory at Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

The post holder will be required to work closely with the pathology laboratory staff to compliantly load the sterilisers, safely collect CAT 3 waste from the laboratory whilst being accompanied by laboratory staff, correctly run a steriliser cycle, sign off a successful cycle and escalate any cycle failures appropriately.

Some tasks required within this role are governed by regulations therefore the employee must work in accordance to such regulations and the departments Standard Operating procedures to ensure an effective and compliant service is delivered.

The role within pathology decontamination is restricted due to the run time of the sterilisers, whilst the sterilisers are in operation the post holder will be expected to work in sterile services, Endoscopy decontamination, and theatre logistics.

Main duties will be within the pathology decontamination area and all other areas will be secondary to this role.

To work in accordance with Departmental & National Policy, Standard Operating Procedures and Quality Management Systems to provide a responsive service.

Able to demonstrate ability, and apply knowledge and competence to all tasks required to supply and support the provision of pathology, decontamination of endoscopes and theatre instruments respectively; and consequently efficient store management protocols and timely delivery according to customer needs.

Report untoward incidents, non-conformities and any other relevant information to a senior member of staff using the Trust Incident reporting system.

Take responsibility for logging and escalating failures of equipment to relevant stake holders and management.

Responsible for keeping all work areas clean and tidy and maintain a safe, pleasant environment following departmental procedures.

Ensure that maintenance problems are reported to Estates promptly and liaise with clinical teams accordingly to inform of possible delays.

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Attend training courses and partake in any other training strategies (mandatory and non-mandatory) as required to maintain knowledge and skills as required, this may involve overnight stay away from home.

Participate in own 1:1 meetings and PDP development.

Support departmental needs to ensure monitoring, maintenance & servicing requirements of endoscopes and theatre instruments 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.

To adhere to the recommendations for the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) and risk assessments appropriate to the area.

Inspect equipment within the decontamination cycle to ensure processes are effective.

Recognise devices by name and ensure theatre trays endoscopes are repacked correctly with correct instruments ancillary items, responsible for checking loan devices/trays and ensuring the correct items delivered prior to clinical use.

Attend and participate in departmental meetings.

Support the development or refreshing standard operating procedures according to service change and modernisation.

Post holder will come into contact with remnants of blood, body tissue or offensive by-products.

Whist working in pathology decontamination you will be subject to foul smells.

The role is physically demanding and requires significant amounts of manual handling

JOB DESCRIPTION WILL EVOLVE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF A DEVELOPING SERVICE

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Useful skills for a Decontamination Technician: Click to view

To work as a Decontamination Technician in the UK, you'll need a mix of technical, practical, and interpersonal skills. Here are some key competencies and qualifications that are typically important for this role:

1. Understanding of Infection Control: Knowledge of infection control principles and practices is essential to ensure safe decontamination processes.

2. Attention to Detail: A high level of attention to detail is crucial for ensuring that all equipment and surfaces are thoroughly decontaminated according to protocols.

3. Technical Skills: Familiarity with decontamination equipment and sterile techniques is important. This may include understanding the operation of autoclaves and other sterilization equipment.

4. Health and Safety Awareness: Knowledge of health and safety regulations, particularly those related to handling hazardous materials and biological waste, is necessary.

5. Manual Dexterity: Good hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity are essential for carrying out decontamination tasks effectively.

6. Communication Skills: Strong interpersonal skills are important for working within a team and communicating effectively with colleagues and other healthcare professionals.

7. Problem-Solving Skills: The ability to troubleshoot equipment issues and address challenges that may arise during the decontamination processes is valuable.

8. Physical Stamina: The role may involve physically demanding tasks, so good physical fitness and stamina are important.

9. Time Management: The ability to prioritize tasks and manage time effectively is essential in a fast-paced healthcare environment.

10. Training and Certifications: completion of relevant training programs, such as those offered by the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) or other reputable institutions, can enhance your qualifications. Employers may also require specific qualifications such as:

- National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) in Decontamination or related fields.

- Certificate in Healthcare Decontamination.

11. Understanding of Regulations and Standards: Familiarity with relevant legislation and standards, such as those issued by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and the National Health Service (NHS), is important for compliance.