Head of Decontamination and Sterile Services, GMS Band E2
Please note: this role is NOT appointed on Agenda for Change terms and conditions.
Gloucestershire Managed Services (GMS) is seeking an experienced and motivated senior leader to take on the role of Head of Decontamination and Sterile Services.
This is a key leadership position responsible for ensuring the safe, compliant and efficient delivery of decontamination and sterile services across Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, Cheltenham General Hospital and associated facilities.
The postholder will act as the organisation's professional lead for medical device decontamination, providing expert technical advice, maintaining robust quality management systems and ensuring alignment with statutory requirements, national guidance and governance frameworks. The role includes providing assurance to senior leadership and Board-level committees.
GMS delivers services to Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust under agreed service arrangements, alongside a growing portfolio of external customers. The role will contribute to the development of a resilient, high-quality and commercially sustainable service.
This is an excellent opportunity for a credible and confident leader with strong technical expertise and a commitment to patient safety, governance and continuous improvement.
Please note this job will attract GMS Terms and Conditions of Service (TCS)
Please see attached TCS for reference
Main duties of the job
The postholder will lead the strategic, operational and governance oversight of decontamination and sterile services across multiple sites, ensuring services remain safe, compliant and aligned with national standards.
Key responsibilities include maintaining quality management systems, overseeing validation and audit processes, monitoring performance against SLAs and KPIs, and ensuring effective governance, assurance and risk management.
You will provide expert technical and regulatory advice to senior leaders, clinicians and operational teams, supporting decision-making, service planning and organisational assurance. The role includes responsibility for workforce leadership, performance management, training and succession planning.
You will support capital planning, equipment lifecycle management and procurement activity, ensuring investment decisions reflect service requirements and regulatory compliance.
The postholder will also contribute to the development and delivery of external service contracts, supporting commercial growth and stakeholder relationships.
About us
Gloucestershire Managed Services (GMS) is a wholly owned subsidiary delivering a range of non-clinical services in support of Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and external customers.
We play a vital role in enabling high‑quality patient care by providing safe, reliable and effective services under agreed service arrangements.
As part of the Strategic Asset Services directorate, you will join a collaborative leadership team focused on service improvement, governance, operational resilience and long‑term sustainability.
We work closely with clinical teams, Estates, senior managers and system partners, ensuring strong relationships and effective cross‑organisational working. Our decontamination and sterile services teams are critical to patient safety, and we are committed to investing in our people, infrastructure and quality systems.
GMS also delivers services to external customers, with a growing commercial portfolio. The successful candidate will play a key role in strengthening our external offer and supporting our reputation as a trusted provider.
We are committed to creating a professional, inclusive and supportive working environment where staff feel valued and empowered. We actively encourage continuous professional development and support flexible and hybrid working where service needs allow.
Job responsibilities
The Head of Decontamination and Sterile Services is responsible for the strategic and operational leadership of decontamination and sterile services delivered by Gloucestershire Managed Services (GMS) to Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (GHNHSFT) and to external customers.
The postholder will act as the organisations professional lead for medical device decontamination, ensuring services are safe, compliant, efficient and aligned with statutory requirements, national guidance and professional standards.
Technical and Operational Responsibilities
* Lead and oversee the delivery of decontamination and sterile services across all sites, ensuring services support patient safety and clinical priorities.
* Provide expert technical and professional advice on all aspects of medical device decontamination, ensuring alignment with regulatory frameworks including UKCA Medical Devices Regulations and Health Technical Memoranda (HTM 01-01).
* Maintain and develop quality management systems, validation processes, audit programmes and associated documentation to ensure robust compliance and assurance.
* Monitor service performance against SLAs, KPIs and efficiency standards, producing reports and assurance information for senior leadership and governance committees.
* Ensure decontamination and sterile services requirements are embedded within procurement, contract management and equipment investment planning.
* Support the development of business cases, service specifications and capital planning relating to decontamination infrastructure and equipment.
* Represent GMS during regulatory inspections, audits and external reviews, providing specialist input and ensuring appropriate follow up actions.
Professional Leadership and Development
* Maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, regulatory requirements and national standards relevant to decontamination and sterile services.
* Promote a strong professional culture, embedding continuous improvement, safety leadership and accountability.
* Support the development and delivery of training, briefings and professional advice to enhance organisational capability.
* Contribute to workforce development, succession planning and the long term sustainability of the decontamination and sterile services function.
Workforce, Financial and Operational Management
* Provide line management and leadership to decontamination and sterile services teams, ensuring clear objectives, effective workload allocation and delivery of organisational priorities.
* Lead workforce planning, performance management and talent development to ensure a resilient and capable service.
* Hold responsibility for the departmental revenue and operational budget, ensuring effective financial governance and value for money.
* Prepare reports, briefings and presentations for senior leadership, governance groups and Board level forums.
* Coordinate audit activity, assurance actions and service improvement initiatives arising from internal and external reviews.
External Business and Stakeholder Engagement
* Support the delivery and development of services provided to external customers, ensuring high standards of service quality, compliance and customer satisfaction.
* Contribute to the growth and resilience of the external business, supporting contract development, service planning and relationship management.
* Work collaboratively with GHNHSFT, regulators, auditors, suppliers, contractors and professional bodies to maintain effective governance and assurance arrangements.
Additional Requirements
* Regular cross site working across Cheltenham and Gloucester hospital sites.
* Frequent presence in sterile processing and clinical environments, with appropriate use of PPE.
* Participation in the senior manager on call rota, including leadership support during incidents or periods of heightened risk.
* Flexible working may be required to meet operational and governance deadlines.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Educated to Master's Degree in a relevant scientific, engineering or technical discipline, with specialist qualifications or experience in decontamination or sterile services
* Evidence of senior-level leadership or management training, or equivalent experience
* Chartered or professional membership of a relevant body (e.g. IDSc, HSSA, IHEEM or equivalent)
* Formal training in project or programme management methodologies
Experience
* Significant senior leadership experience within decontamination, sterile services or a comparable regulated technical service
* Experience managing complex, multi-site services
* Experience leading compliance, audit and assurance activity within a regulated environment
* Experience of working with senior stakeholders, including contributing to Governance and Board committee-level reporting
Knowledge
* In‑depth knowledge of decontamination and sterile services governance, regulatory compliance and risk management within a healthcare environment
* Strong understanding of quality management systems and standards relevant to decontamination and sterile service (e.g. ISO frameworks, Health Technical Memoranda) processes
* Ability to provide expert professional and technical advice to senior leaders, Clinicians and governance forums
* Strong strategic and operational leadership capability within a safety‑critical, Regulated service environment
* Sound financial and commercial awareness, including budget management and value‑for‑money decision‑making
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
£67,993 to £78,542 a year(pa pro rata if part‑time)
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