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Job summary

Main area
Instrument Co-Ordinator
Grade
Band 3
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (working 5 x days Monday to Friday alternating weekly shift - 07:00 - 15:00 / 10:00 - 18:00)
Job ref
287-CEF-385-25-A
Employer
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Broadgreen Sterile Services
Town
Liverpool
Salary
£24,937 - £26,598 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
07/04/2026 08:00

Employer heading

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust logo

Instrument Co-Ordinator

Band 3

Job overview

 To provide day to day logistical management of all the Surgical instruments, used with the Trust, which directly contributes to the smooth and efficient running of the Operating Theatres and quality patient care by ensuring that all surgical instruments, used with the various theatres areas are made available for use in a timely manner. 

In addition, the post holder will also order new instruments and oversee the repair and replacement of instruments, to ensure instruments are always available and in exceptional working order. High standards of quality and safety and excellent communication skills are vital to this role.

Main duties of the job

Daily communication with the Sterile Services Decontamination team to identify instruments needed as a priority or next day use.

Daily communication with other instrument coordinators within the other hospital theatre areas for to arrange transport of instrument between the hospitals on an ad hoc basis and their return following use.

To oversee that any surgical instruments which are broken, blunt or defective are sent off to specialist repairs companies and following their return are put back immediately into circulation without delay.

To receive “Loaned In” surgical instruments for specialist surgery and ensure these are sent to the Decontamination unit for cleaning, sterilization and returned ready for use. 

Maintain records on instrument repairs, and activity of both Trusts owned and loan instrument use.

Although based at Aintree it is required flexibility to work across all sites - RLH, B/G & Aintree, covering for Staff Leave.

Post is a weekly alternating shift - one week work 07:00 - 15:00 following week work 10:00 - 18:00

Working for our organisation

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was created on 1 October 2019 following the merger of two adult acute Trusts, Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust.

The merger provides an opportunity to reconfigure services in a way that provides the best healthcare services to the city and improves the quality of care and health outcomes that patients experience.

The Trust runs Aintree University Hospital, Broadgreen Hospital, Liverpool University Dental Hospital and the Royal Liverpool University Hospital.

It serves a core population of around 630,000 people across Merseyside as well as providing a range of highly specialist services to a catchment area of more than two million people in the North West region and beyond.

To hear more about our achievements, click here

https://www.liverpoolft.nhs.uk/media/13089/1606-annual-report-booklet_final.pdf

Follow us on social media:

Facebook – Liverpool University Hospitals Careers

Instagram - @LUHFTcareers

Twitter - @LUHFTcareers

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Daily commination with theatres teams to ensure that instrument needs for surgery are available for use in a timely manner.

Arrange for instruments to be transferred as required between hospitals across Liverpool University Hospital sites and returned following use.

Daily liaison with sterile services to identify and prioritise equipment for next day use known as Fast-tracking.

Receive, record and manage loan instruments both into the trust in a timely manner and also to arrange for these to be returned safely and in a timely manner back  to the loner company following use while maintain record of all Loan instrument use for cost and quality analysis.

Manage all instrument repairs to ensure that instruments which are broken, require sharpening or need replacing are done so swiftly to that these instruments are always available for use.

Carryout expiry date checks on all instruments and return out of fate items when expired for reprocessing.

Maintain storage areas for sterile instruments as per trust requirements in line with regulatory and infection control requirements.

Refer to full job description and responsibilities

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Recognised qualification in a relevant healthcare science NVQ Level 2, pertaining to instrument or theatre support worker coordination, procurement or relevant experience in a similar role.
  • Experience in the implementation of Manual Handling regulations, PPE, COSHH and completion of risk assessments.
Desirable criteria
  • Understanding of regulatory requirements such for medical devices, MDA/ MHRA and Department of Health CJD requirements

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Minimum 2 years in a Theatre, Hospital Procurement or SSD environment in a recognised Band 2 or equivalent support role. Knowledge and understanding of instruments and clinical demands essential to role
  • Excellent technical and communications skills and the ability to inspire motivate and lead staff.
  • Ability to provide clear and precise detailed explanations on the essential quality and safety requirements for the handling and storage and ordering of surgical instruments form service providers and expertise in the use of instrument Tracking & Traceability systems.
Desirable criteria
  • Experience in dealing with both undertaking internal quality audits and author and present reports to management on effective solutions on best management of instrument assets.

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the operation of “Permit to Work” systems pertaining to device decontamination equipment.
  • Provide a detailed knowledge of the actions and limitations within SSD for the reprocessing of instruments and the complexities and timescales involved.
  • Be fully conversant with the Department of Health requirements for the processes to minimise the spread of Prions such as CJD with regards to endoscope decontamination.
  • Have a detailed understanding of Department of Health, Health Building Notes for the storage of sterile goods in the preoperative environment.
Desirable criteria
  • Ability to review technical data from instrument manufacturers, against specified and pre agreed parameters set by the trust for reprocessing requirements.

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Ability to plan and set objectives to maximise instrument utilisation and efficiency delivered through exceptional communication with both theatre management and clinicians alike.
Desirable criteria
  • Ability to come up with effective and innovation to changes in responses to clinical need in line with current regulations.

Other

Essential criteria
  • Be flexible to meet the needs of the service and staff. Manage own time effectively as needed. Working on own initiative and drive. Self-motivating and has a positive can do attitude. Creative thinker and inspirational role model and as part of a Team
  • Has own driving licence or ability to access transport easily. Ability to work across different Trust sites as needed and when required to drive Trust transport.
  • Lead by example at all times. Work in a manner which always demonstrates safety to self, other staff, visitors and patients.
  • Working within a strict quality driven governance framework to national objectives and department of Health requirements
Desirable criteria
  • Responsive to change and positively review and adept to new technology or methods of working.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Fair Employment Charter Status - Aspiring LevelNHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardTrust IDVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyPositive about disabled peopleInvestors in PeopleArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Carer confident logo, the employers for carers confident schemeDisability confident committedStep into health

Application numbers

This vacancy may close early if it receives a high number of applications. Please complete and submit your application in good time to avoid disappointment.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Deborah Evans
Job title
Quality manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
0151 706 2111
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