Main area Facilities Grade A Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Over 5 days Roster shifts 14:00-22:00 but could include a mixture of early, late starts and weekends) Job ref 203-SWFTCS245
Employer SWFT Clinical Services Ltd Employer type NHS Site Warwick Hospital Town Warwick Salary £28,484.53 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 05/06/2026 08:00 Interview date 16/06/2026
Job overview
Please be advised that once qualified and trained the salary will be revised.
As a Sterile Services Team Leader you make a valuable and important contribution to the delivery of a high-quality decontamination service. Your role is to support the departmental needs of reprocessing and delivery of all instruments and equipment used to provide medical and surgical procedures.
Responsible for the daily co-ordination of the workload and allocation of or amendment to work duties of SSD Technicians in line with changing service requirements during each shift
Main duties of the job
The Decontamination and Sterile Services Team Leader is responsible for providing supervision of staff within the unit. They will ensure the effective safe and efficient collection, decontamination (washing, disinfection and sterilisation) and distribution of re-usable medical devices for use in direct patient care with complex speciality demands, including devices of varied design which are of a delicate and valuable nature for use in patient care
The Sterile Services department maintains a quality system (ISO 13485:2016). The Team Leader must comply with the essential requirements of the UKCA Medical Devices Regulation.
Maintaining and updating of records and database for traceability of re-usable medical Devices in accordance with quality control and accreditation
To test, validate and operate highly technical and sensitive decontamination equipment within the department, recording and reporting faults to ensure timely repairs and maintenance
To undertake quality checks for cleanliness and functionality of equipment before distribution to customers in accordance with Legislation, Quality Systems and Health and Safety both Trust wide and for external customers
To prepare and record appropriate documentation, e.g. labelling and recording for traceability in accordance with quality control and accreditation
To collect and accept delivery of used equipment from all customers including external customers
Working for our organisation
SWFT Clinical Services is a wholly owned subsidiary of the South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust (SWFT). The company provides a number of services such as outpatient pharmacy facilities at Warwick and Stratford and Nuneaton hospitals; estates and facilities management at Stratford hospital, Acorn House and Lillington Health Hub; private patient service and consultancy services to NHS Trusts.
Subject to the Company and individual’s performance, an annual discretionary bonus will be awarded.
There is automatic enrolment to the Company pension scheme, with the Company contributing 5%.
A benefits package is available to the appointed candidate upon successful completion of the six month probationary period. This gives access to benefits such as a car lease scheme; Home & Electronics scheme; discounted leisure and travel; retail discounts and a cycle to work scheme.
Where is also access to a 24/7, 365 days a year Employee Assistance Programme to support colleagues who may be facing some tough times or they need extra support with their mental well-being.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Responsible for ensuring that sterile service production meets clinical service user needs, to be taking prime responsibility for and control of the co-ordination of staff duties/services/user communication and equipment resources on a daily basis
Responsible for the daily co-ordination of the workload and allocation of or amendment to work duties of SSD Technicians in line with changing service requirements during each shift
Responsible for monitoring of daily preparation and maintenance procedures in production areas
Responsible for ensuring high standards of departmental housekeeping are maintained
Responsible for ensuring that work patterns and practices conform to the departmental procedures and safety requirements for clean rooms and dirty areas within the department
Responsible for monitoring staff usage of resources to ensure that materials are used in a cost efficient and appropriate manner
Responsible for acting as the primary contact with service users for management of daily product requirements and liaising with senior SSD managers in the event of production difficulties or anticipated risks
Responsible for immediately reporting plant equipment malfunctions or suspected anomalies to senior SSD managers
Responsible for understanding and assuming supervisory staff responsibilities under the Trust and Departmental Health & Safety Policies to minimise and control workplace risk
Responsible for ensuring that Personal Protective Equipment is always available and is used by all staff working in the department, with any continuing noncompliance reported to the department Manager
Responsible for ensuring staff adherence to SSD procedures for dealing with missing instrumentation
Responsible for conducting appraisals (PDR) of SSD Technicians and supporting them in meeting their objectives
Responsible for undertaking activities and monitoring as required by SSD managers to ensure that mechanisms to reduce production errors are followed
Responsible for advising senior SSD managers where behavioural, reliability, technical ability or other issues are identified in relation to individual SSD Technicians, ensuring that confidentiality is maintained
Responsible for maintaining contact with key users during times of peak workload where prioritisation is necessary and keeping other Team Leaders and Technical staff up to date with current priorities
Responsible for taking responsibility for specific elements of departmental management as agreed with the senior management team
Responsible for undertaking training of new staff and updating of existing staff on new or revised equipment and procedures
Responsible for identifying and developing in conjunction with senior SSD managers, changes to existing procedures and working practises in order to enhance departmental efficiency
Responsible for working flexibly across the whole department to ensure consistency of service quality and covering the work of colleagues during times of absence and during peak workload
Responsible for effectively communicating operational issues with other members of the SSD team using departmental routes of communication
Responsible on a rotational basis to carry out duties include receiving, disassembly and cleaning of contaminated equipment
Responsible for the inspection, testing, assembly, packing, sterilisation and distribution of instruments and equipment for supply to customers, wards, departments, theatres and external customers
Responsible for ensuring that the recording of all essential stages of the decontamination/sterilisation process is carried out
Responsible for ensuring daily tests are carried out as per agreed schedule and results on equipment are within set parameters and to inform the relevant personnel if results are contrary to the required standards
Responsible for carrying out functionality tests on all re-usable medical devices
Responsible for ensuring all records and process test results demonstrate compliance so as to enable audits and facilitate analysis
Responsible for carrying out all duties in line with the Trusts Health and Safety policies
Responsible for carrying out all duties in line with the Departments Accredited Quality System
Responsible for carrying out assigned clerical tasks as required which will include but not limited to placing orders via Integra, goods receiving and invoicing
Responsible for keeping areas clean and tidy to maintain a safe and compliant environment
Responsible for delivering the workload within the agreed time and to the required customer service level agreement Responsible for the collection, processing and distribution of essential medical devices and sterile packs throughout the trust including clinics and outside agencies in accordance with legislation and quality systems
Responsible for adhering to specified levels of Personal Protective equipment at all times including Pushing/manoeuvring trolleys, manual handling of instrument sets and stock
A high degree of physical effort will be required to undertake these duties on a regular basis
Responsible for dealing with customer enquiries in a professional manner at all times
Responsible for helping in the training of new staff
Person specification
Qualifications
* NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) Level 3 in Decontamination Sterile Services or equivalent experience
* Willingness to undertake Institute of Decontamination Sciences (IDSc) Technical certificate
* Institute of Decontamination Sciences (IDSc) Technical certificate
Experience
* Previous experience in all sections of decontamination department
Skills
* Understanding of concept and management of urgent /priority medical devices and nonconformances
* Experience of supervising less experienced/qualified staff
* Can demonstrate the ability to work to strict standards of quality and safety
* Ability to work as part of a team
* Ability to work accurately under pressure
* Excellent communication skills, relates to colleagues in an effective and positive manner on routine matters
* Use of quality management system
* Use of department tracking information systems
Personal Qualities
* Willingness to act in a manner conducive to our Trust Values
* Ability to work to high standards under pressure
* Flexible
* Ability to work to strict standards of quality and safety
* Demonstrates a professional manner at all times
* Ability to motivate others
* Use of Word and PC systems including operation of Windows-based software and good keyboard skills
* Use of hospital information systems
* Understand the fundamentals of data quality, data protection and the confidential use of patient information
Other
* Able to work to given schedules and rotas
* Able to organise and manage personal responsibilities
Employer certification / accreditation badges
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
#J-18808-Ljbffr