Decontamination Assistant (Sterile services)

Job description

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Job Description and Person Specification are attached to this vacancy; please review them for full details and responsibilities.

Key duties include:

• Inspecting instruments and medical equipment upon receipt into the decontamination area and throughout the decontamination, storage, and distribution process, promptly reporting any damaged, defective, or missing items.
• Dismantling, cleaning, reassembling, and preparing instruments in accordance with manufacturers' instructions and departmental procedures.
• Ensuring all instrument sets and supplementary items are correctly wrapped, packaged, labelled, and prepared in line with legislation, national guidance, and service requirements.
• Maintaining knowledge of sterilisation and disinfection methods and understanding the importance of product safety and liability in the reprocessing of reusable medical devices.
• Performing quality assurance checks to verify that instruments and devices have been effectively decontaminated and are safe for patient use.
• Identifying and escalating any concerns regarding the effectiveness of the decontamination process, reporting and documenting failures in accordance with departmental procedures.
• Reviewing and verifying process records and cycle data before products are approved for release and distribution.
• Using appropriate packaging materials and packing techniques to protect instruments and minimise the risk of damage during storage and transport.
• Following procedures for the management of non-conforming devices and equipment following failed washer-disinfector or steriliser cycles, ensuring unsuitable items are quarantined and not released for clinical use.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Excellent English - communication skills, written and verbal

Experience

Desirable criteria

• Previous experience in a Healthcare Environment

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Good Organisational Skills
• Basic I.T Skills
• Manual Dexterity
• Attention to Details

Desirable criteria

• Knowledge of Quality Management System - ISO 13485 / ISO9001

Personal Skills

Essential criteria

• Good Timekeeper, changed as per policy and commence shift as indicated
• Ability to stand for lengthy periods of time
• Team focussed
• Reliable, Adaptable and Dependable
• Willing to undertake training as required
• Proactive approach and participation in the Quality Management System
• Ability to be Self directional

It is an exciting time to join Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We run two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Our 7,500 staff provide high quality care for a growing population of around 700,000 across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas.

You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. Travel between hospital sites may be required. We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post.

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