Decontamination Technician - Sterile Services inBury St Edmunds inBury St Edmunds PUBLISHED WED 8 JAN 2025

Band 2: £23,615 to £25,674 a year Per annum - increasing to Band 3 after 1 year training period PERMANENT GOOD SALARY

NHS WEEKEND

West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust rVOQEPg8

The West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust is seeking motivated individuals for the role of Decontamination Technician - Sterile Services in Bury St Edmunds. The position involves preparing medical devices and equipment for use by performing tasks such as washing, packing, inspecting, and sterilizing reusable medical devices. Applicants will receive comprehensive training in decontamination processes, sterilisation methods, and quality management. Strong communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work independently are essential. The role includes a 37.5-hour workweek, Monday to Friday, with weekends and bank holidays on a rotational basis.

Key responsibilities include the receipt, disassembly, cleaning, reassembly, packing, and sterilisation of medical devices, as well as maintaining accurate records in the Healthcare Science Information Systems. Technicians will work under the supervision of Floor Managers, adhering to departmental Standard Operating Procedures and Quality Management Systems, following ISO13458:2016 and HTM01 01 regulations. This role contributes significantly to patient care by ensuring the proper handling and sterilisation of medical equipment.

Our department is looking for keen motivated individuals to join our busy team of Floor Managers and Technicians in preparing medical devices and associated equipment for daily use.

Technicians will be trained to carefully wash, pack & inspect all ranges of medical devices before being sterilized and processed for surgery.

Full training in decontamination, sterilisation, and quality management will be given to successful applicants.

It is essential that applicants have good communication skills, excellent attention to detail and can work under their own initiative.

The hours of work would be 37.5 hours per week Monday to Friday between 8am & 9pm and you would be expected to work weekends and Bank Holidays on a rotational basis.

You will be introduced to the identification, classification and inspection of reusable medical devices.

Willalso cover reprocessing of specialist equipment as well as repairs and maintenance.

Used returned medical devices must be regarded as a potential infectious hazard to handlers including decontamination service personnel.

You will also cover the receipt, sorting and preparation of returned reusable medical devices for cleaning and disinfection.

You will learn the activities that you either perform yourself, or the measures you need to take to protect the medical devices that you are handling and preparing for the wash cycle.

You will gain knowledge and information on function testing, inspection and assembly of reusable medical devices, covering packaging, selection and application of packing materials, requirements for sealing and labelling of packages.

You will familiarise yourself with records and documentation that is required.

Further into the training you will cover the sterilisation of reusable medical devices.

You will learn about different sterilisation methods, equipment used, test regimes and post sterilisation.

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Job summary

To undertake decontamination science duties and assist (under supervision) the workforce of

Decontamination Floor Managers, in providing a specialised decontamination of medical devices service contributing to the clinical care of the patient.

To carry out the receipt, disassembly, cleaning, reassembly, packing and sterilisation of reusable medical devices. Record all tasks in the Healthcare Science Information Systems (tracking and tracing) database. Work in accordance with the Departments Standard Operating Procedures and Quality Management Systems. ISO13458:2and HTMguidance

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More about the NHS

The National Health Service (NHS) is a cornerstone of healthcare in the United Kingdom, established in 1948 with the simple yet profound principle of providing healthcare to all citizens, free at the point of use. This revolutionary system aimed to ensure that access to medical services would not depend on an individual’s financial situation, a concept that has since become fundamental to British societal values. Learn more...

Useful skills for a Decontamination Technician - Sterile Services: 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.

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