Job overview
We are recruiting for a Sterile Services Supervisor who shares our vision to be trusted to provide consistently outstanding care and exemplary service to our patients.
In this role, the post holder will oversee the day-to-day operations of the Sterile Services and Endoscopy Decontamination Department, ensuring the highest standards of decontamination, sterilization, and distribution of surgical instruments, flexible endoscopes and medical devices.
The Sterile Services Supervisor will lead and support a team of technicians, maintain compliance with national standards and Trust policies, and work closely with clinical teams to guarantee timely and safe delivery of sterile equipment. This position requires excellent leadership, attention to detail, and a commitment to patient safety.
At the heart of everything we do are our core values: Include, Respect, and Improve. We encourage you to embrace these values throughout the recruitment process and in your role with us.
Main duties of the job
Supervise daily operations of the Sterile Services Department, ensuring all decontamination and sterilization processes meet HTM 01-01 and HTM 01-06 and Trust guidelines.
Lead and support the team, providing training, guidance, and performance management to maintain high standards of service.
Monitor workflow and resource allocation, ensuring timely turnaround of surgical instruments and equipment for clinical areas.
Conduct quality checks and audits, maintaining accurate records and reporting any non-conformances or incidents promptly.
Ensure compliance with infection prevention and control policies, health and safety regulations, and relevant legislation.
Collaborate with clinical teams, responding to urgent requests and resolving issues to support patient care.
Manage stock levels and equipment maintenance, liaising with suppliers and engineering teams as required.
Working for our organisation
At East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust, we are proud of the range of general and specialist services we provide and our 6,000 or so dedicated staff ensure our patients get the best care. Our ability to be flexible and innovative in the way in which we work and deliver our services to our catchment has never been more important than it is now.
We run the following hospitals:
* The Lister Hospital, Stevenage
* New Queen Elizabeth II (New QEII), Welwyn Garden City
* Hertford County, Hertford
* Mount Vernon Cancer Centre (MVCC), Northwood
We have ambitious plans to become an outstanding, patient-led Trust where dedicated staff provide high-quality, compassionate care to our patients. We continue to undergo significant transformation and our staff and patients are at the heart of delivering this ambitious agenda.
We are committed to a positive work life balance for our employees. This means that any employee is entitled to seek to work flexible working patterns and we are committed to listen and consider all requests. Such requests, of course, have to be made and considered formally, and will need to be balanced against service needs, but our starting point will always be to find ways to support making them happen.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification applicant pack for further detailed information regarding this role.
Person specification
Qualifications/Training
Essential criteria
* Basic operator training for washer disinfectors, sterilizers and endoscopy reprocessors
* Evidence of certified in-house training within a sterile services department
* Evidence of continued professional development for SSD/EDD or equivalent experience to vocational level 3
Desirable criteria
* 1st line supervisory or management training
* NVQ in decontamination
Previous Experience
Essential criteria
* Experience working within a busy SSD/EDD environment
* Experience in mentoring decontamination staff
* Experience in assessment methods
* Experience in maintaining attendance records and training logs
* Experience with communicating with users of the service
Desirable criteria
* Experience at a supervisory level
Skills
Essential criteria
* Good leadership skills
* Good written & verbal communication and excellent interpersonal skills including computer skills
* Good organisational skills and time management
* Able to communicate and exchange technical information, both within and outside the trust
* Able to understand and implement manufactures guidelines for the reprocessing of re-usable medical devices
* Ability to meet deadlines, be adaptive, follow procedures, and work & respond well under pressure
Desirable criteria
* Ability to work alongside and influence change through staff development
Knowledge
Essential criteria
* Knowledge of the standards expected in the Quality Assurance Systems and Medical Devices Regulations
* Knowledge of HTM01-01 and HTM01-06 guidance
* Knowledge of QMS and participation in audits
* Knowledge of testing & validation requirements for decontamination machinery
Desirable criteria
* Knowledge of performance management
* Knowledge of appraisal systems
Other Requirements
Essential criteria
* Understanding of, and commitment to, equality, diversity and inclusion
* Role model our Trust values every day
* Treat all colleagues, including porters, nurses, surgeons and fellow technicians with professionalism and courtesy
* Ability to work alongside others and influence change through staff development
* Uphold the importance of own contribution to patient safety by ensuring all instruments are accurately prepared and processed
* Maintain confidentiality and handle equipment and data with discretion and integrity
* Take pride in delivering a behind- the-scenes service that directly impacts the quality of care and patient outcomes