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Job summary

Main area
Sterile Services
Grade
Band 3
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
249-8061158
Employer
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Great Western Hospital
Town
Swindon
Salary
£25,760 - £27,476 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
02/07/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust logo

Senior Sterile Services Technician

Band 3

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is a unique organisation, serving as the sole integrated provider in the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire system. Our scope extends beyond boundaries as we oversee adult community services in Swindon and provide acute care from the Great Western Hospital. 

Our 5,500 staff have 1.2m patient contacts a year, with 13,000 operations carried out in our Theatres, around 4,000 babies born, and our emergency attendances are now well over 100,000 per year. Those numbers only tell part of our story about what an exciting time it is to join Great Western Hospitals.

We are cultivating a culture that fosters our ambitions, prioritising equality, diversion, inclusion, wellbeing, and leadership. We aim to create an environment where every member of our team can truly thrive.

Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used, then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.

If we receive a high volume of applications, we may close adverts prior to the published closing date. Therefore, we advise you to complete and submit your application as soon as possible.

Job overview

Senior Sterile Services Technician

The post holder will support achieving the department's core objectives around the decontamination standard. This will require the post holder to support the Decontamination Supervisor to ensure the smooth running of the department. 

The post holder will support the department with actions to maintain the accreditation certification by being expected to have extensive knowledge and skills of all Departmental quality documents and SOPs used to control the production in an ISO 13485-certified department and, as such, will be responsible for ensuring staff conform to the Sterile Services and Endoscopy Decontamination Unit quality management system, hospital policy and procedures and highlighting immediately any areas of concern. 

 

The post holder will be responsible for assisting in training junior staff to facilitate the development of skills and reduction of risk to the product. They will give constructive feedback to the management team on an individual's performance.

 

The Senior Technician will occasionally deputise and bleep hold for the Supervisors when required. To undertake this role, the Senior Technician must understand all potential product risks, SOPs relating to non-conforming products, machine failures and the ability to re-allocate staff to ensure the department functions safely and efficiently.  

 

 

 

Main duties of the job

When working in all Areas

 1.    Be a good role model and mentor for all Band 2 staff especially staff                   undergoing their departmental training.

2.    To operate machinery safely and to lift and move instrument sets frequently in a safe and effective manner according to the departments safe systems of work. Take appropriate action when observing unsafe practice in others and give constructive feedback.

3.    Responsible for ensuring the work area remains clean, tidy, free from obstructions suitably stocked for the daily activity at all times

4.    Responsible for ensuring paperwork relating to machine checks, product control and product receipts are recorded and filed in accordance with the departmental procedures.

5.    Responsibility for organising day to day work tasks in all areas and report to the supervisor any changes in work load that may impact on the departmental traffic light status or skill mix requirements

 

Working for our organisation

We are proud to be part of BSW Hospitals Group – a formal partnership between Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust and Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust. With a combined workforce of over 17, 600 colleagues, and budget of 1.6 billion the Group is united by a common purpose to deliver the best possible care to over 1 million people.

We are creating a health and care system that works with the people we care for, reducing the differences people currently face in access, experience and outcomes, improving the experience of our colleagues and tackling shared challenges like sustainability and finances. Every improvement we make across our Group will be guided by what creates the greatest benefit for our colleagues, our patients, our communities and our partners.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

When working in the Clean Room   

18.  Carry out automated washer product release duties in accordance with the appropriate SOP’s reporting any failed loads immediately to the supervisor. Identify and report to the supervisor any non-conforming product or risk to product.

19.  Effective and robust adherence to policy in all decontamination area in accordance with HTM 01-01, HTM 01-06, ISO13484 and the department quality management system (QMS)

 

20.  Inspect check and reassemble surgical instruments across the full range of surgical specialties in accordance with the appropriate SOP’s with speed and accuracy prior to sterilisation.  Identifying and report any missing, damaged, or dirty instruments immediately to the supervisors.

 21.  Planning work activity between clean areas and work closely with clinical            endoscopy to ensure service delivery

 22.  Occasionally deputise and bleep hold for the Supervisors when they are              not in the work area. To undertake this role, you must have a working                      understanding of all SOP’s relating to non-conforming products, machine            failures and the ability to re-allocate staff to ensure the department                        functions in a safe and efficient manner. Reporting all concerns to the                     department manager in the absence of the supervisor

 23.  Support supervisor and also provide leadership to the team in the                       organisation of the day to day work tasks in the clean room whilst also             reporting to the supervisor any changes in work load that may impact               on the departmental traffic light status or skill mix requirements.

 When working in the sterile store

 24.  Carry out steriliser product release duties in accordance with the                       appropriate SOP’s reporting any failed loads immediately to the                           supervisor. Identify and report to the supervisor any non-conforming               product or risk to product.

 25.  Inspect check and prepare for dispatch products to the correct areas in            accordance with the appropriate SOP’s with speed and accuracy prior              to final dispatch. Identifying and report any damaged products or                        missing products immediately to the supervisors.

 26.  Store and rotate sterile packs to ensure effective control of product                  highlighting any shortages immediately to the supervisor.

 27.  Visit the wards and departments to requisition and deliver sterile                        supplies deal with any day to day enquiries or requests. Check stock                  integrity and quality removing any non-conforming products.

1      28.  Ensure the stock for customers outside of The Trust is picked and                        packed according to the T Doc picking list and ready for distribution                  when transport collects highlighting any shortfalls immediately to the              supervisor.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Good general education at GCSE Level or equivalent or Level 2 Functional Skills in English and Math’s or equivalent
  • Level 3 (SCQF – 6): - City and Guilds 3
  • NVQ 3
  • BTEC National Diploma
  • Experience equivalent to the above qualifications
  • Completion of Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support (that maps to the Apprenticeship Standard)
  • Equivalent experience together with Level 2 qualification and working towards Level 3
  • Certificate in Clean Room working or equivalent in house competencies and training to this level (that maps to level 3 apprenticeship standard)
Desirable criteria
  • NVQ in sterile Services/ Decontamination

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Minimum 1 year proven experience in working in Sterile Service
  • Demonstrable ability to maintain the quality of your own work and of others within the Sterile Services unit according to the departmental quality management system and SOP’s.
Desirable criteria
  • Previous experience with the development and review of existing and new SOP’s to ensure continual improvement of quality.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveDisability confident leaderInvestors in People: GoldCare Leaver CovenantStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Step into healthArmed Forces Covenant

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Mr Richard Cornish
Job title
Operational Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01793605241
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