Decontamination Technician
Job overview
Applications are invited for a decontamination technician to work as a member of a busy team in all aspects of reprocessing surgical equipment, medical devices, instruments sets and endoscopes, including disinfection, sterilisation and delivery.
***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as ‘Priority’ and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***
Main duties of the job
To undertake Decontamination Science duties and assist the Decontamination Technician Section Lead, in providing a specialised decontamination of medical devices service contributing to the clinical care of the patient
Responsible for the receipt, disassembly, cleaning, reassembly, packing and distribution of Sterile Goods and Surgical Instruments, in one of the main sections of the Decontamination and Sterilisation unit
Working with soiled items returned from Theatres for Decontamination and Sterilisation or under Clean Room conditions working to Quality First instructions
To be flexible in working in different sections of the Decontamination and Sterilisation unit
To work in accordance with the Department’s Standard Operating Procedures and Quality Management Systems
This is a crucial area of the hospitals work, supporting the Operating Theatres, Wards, and local health centres in caring for the patient.
Working for our organisation
We are a people business – where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care.The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY.
If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment team on 01752 432100. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles.
Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams.
It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
COMMUNICATION- To communicate, both verbally and electronically with other members of Staff and Management to
- To assist in receiving Customer requests and progressing high priority items
- Ability to train other staff in aspects of decontamination
- Communicates with Theatres and other Departments when necessary to inform them of the status of
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
- To gain and use their knowledge of Surgical Instruments in Producing a Quality First service to Theatres,
- To Support and enhance the continual quality initiative ensuring ‘Quality First’ approach to all aspects
- Understanding of the procedure for Loan items
- Acceptance to work towards the NVQ Level 3 qualification in Infection Control & Decontamination
- To have the knowledge of the complete Decontamination Process
- To have a knowledge of the Endoscope reprocessing process
- Working towards or already have a Diploma in Decontamination
For further details please see the attached JD & PS
Person specification
Knowledge & Experience
Essential criteria- Previous demonstrable experience in a Production Environment
- Basic IT skills
- Able to deal with Complex assembly
- Demonstrable Supply or Retail experience
- Basic mechanical or electrical assembly
- Demonstrable experience and proven knowledge required of Surgical Instruments and Endoscopes and of the necessary Decontamination procedures
Qualifications
Essential criteria- Educated to GCSE Standard in English and Maths and a science subject grade 4 -9 (A-D) or equivalent demonstrable experience in decontamination
- Able to work towards apprenticeship NVQs at level 2 and 3
- Must have excellent administrative and numerate skills
- Completed Risk Assessment training
- NVQ Level 2 and 3 in Decontamination support service
- IDSc Technical certificate in Decontamination or relevant demonstrable experience in Decontamination
Aptitude & Abilities
Essential criteria- Good communication skills, written and verbal, with ability to demonstrate clarity and understanding
- Good Customer Service skills
- Attention to detail
- Demonstrable experience in a demand and supply, customer-based environment
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY INCLUDING YOUR JUNK FOLDER.
If you need support with the online application process or require reasonable adjustments with the application and/or interview process please contact the Recruiting Manager for this post.
We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants about less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. We recommend contacting the manager of the role prior to applying and we commit to giving requests full consideration.
We welcome and encourage applicants who identify with all protected characteristics to apply for our roles. We believe that diversity strengthens our teams and improves our patients' experience. At UHP we aim to create an inclusive workplace and hospital where everyone feels they belong and included.
It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Providing false information is an offence & could result in the application being rejected or summary dismissal/police action if an applicant is successful.
Please note that if you are successful in your application & accept the position you agree that the Staff Health and Wellbeing Department can access your health records from your current/previous employer in order to check the status of your inoculations & screening tests.This is an automated process & the information will only be used for these purposes prior to your taking up the position with us.
For Doctors Roles:
Unsolicited CVs and Candidate Profiles/Details
University Hospitals Plymouth has a commitment to sourcing candidates directly and as such we do not accept speculative CVs from agencies.
We do, however, work with a defined list of preferred HTE Framework suppliers who may be invited to support us in sourcing candidates for particular roles.
In line with our preferred supplier list, we only pay agency fees where we have a signed agreement in place and an agency has been instructed by a member of the Trust’s Medical Workforce team.
We do not pay agency fees where speculative and unsolicited CVs are submitted to the Trust or Trust employees by any other means than the official route above. Where this is not observed the Trust reserves the right to contact these candidates directly and initiate discussions without payment of any agency fee.
Any candidate details (whether written or spoken) or CVs that are referred directly will not constitute an introduction. The Trust will under no circumstances be responsible for any recruitment fees in relation to these contacts.
Submission of any unsolicited CVs, candidate’s details and/or proposals to the Trust will not be considered further and will be deemed evidence of full and unlimited acceptance of this Agency Protocol.
In order to establish and maintain good working relationships with the Trust’s agency suppliers, we ask that this Protocol is adhered to and thank you for your co-operation.