Sterile Services Supervisor
The closing date is 14 May 2026
A vacancy has arisen in our busy Decontamination department. We require a person with experience in decontamination of medical devices and/or supervision in a busy production environment.
Applicants should have a good knowledge of surgical instruments and their decontamination requirements; previous supervisory or training experience would be desirable but not essential.
We are looking for someone with a proactive customer‑service focus with skills in prioritising and delegating tasks in a busy department to ensure high levels of customer satisfaction and deliver a quality service.
Main duties of the job
To support the Decontamination Services management team in the provision of a quality decontamination service.
To assist the Manager / Assistant Manager in the day‑to‑day running of the Department, taking responsibility for the first‑line management of all Band 2 staff and day‑to‑day supervision of staff in the Sterile Services and Endoscope decontamination units, ensuring the smooth operation and delivery of service within the Trust.
Responsible for production management of the service and management of the Department’s production staff.
Responsible for all aspects of staff training, in line with relevant statute and guidance.
About us
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas at two busy hospital sites, in Bedford and Luton. Both sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics‑led Maternity and Paediatrics.
You will be joining a friendly, high‑performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and well‑being of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high‑quality training and development to help you grow your career.
We have state‑of‑the‑art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting‑edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
Job responsibilities
First‑line management of all Technicians and Porters, including annual appraisal / return‑to‑work meetings and ensuring all aspects of their roles are conducted satisfactorily. Monitor attendance, time‑keeping and behaviour, ensuring compliance with the uniform policy, escalating issues as required.
Prioritise the department’s production to meet customer needs, ensuring urgent requests / trauma instruments, loan sets and any other fast‑track requests are dealt with efficiently and in a timely manner.
Communicate effectively to ensure relevant information is available to all production staff. Ensure information is passed on and recorded in relation to changes to instrument set specification lists, changes in working practices, training issues and so forth.
To deputise for the Assistant Manager when required, dealing with all aspects of production and liaising with other Departments and any problems that arise.
Supervise all production staff within the units, ensuring that their work is of the required standard, monitoring correct use of tracking systems and ensuring all procedures are followed correctly.
Organise staff rotas and be responsible for the allocation of duties to all staff. Monitor attendance and time‑keeping of all production staff. Ensure sufficient staff are available in both SSD and EDU.
Ensure all daily, weekly and monthly checks / tests are carried out and recorded correctly, any faults recorded and corrective actions put in place.
Take part in the department’s on‑call rota as required.
Be responsible for all aspects of staff training, ensuring all staff are competent to fulfil their role; appropriate records are maintained and mandatory training takes place when required. Provide training arising from non‑conformances / appraisal / changes to practice / complaints and audit issues.
Ensure department training records are maintained in line with procedures and the requirements of ISO13485, developing training plans as required.
Communicate closely with the departments and customers, establishing demand levels and priorities, and dealing with problems and non‑conformances as required.
Ensure all staff operate machinery and tracking systems correctly, giving adequate training and reporting problems to the appropriate person.
Liaise with the Estates department and contractors as required to ensure the compliant operation of all equipment, reporting faults as required and ensuring customers are made aware when capacity is affected.
Monitor and ensure adherence to all quality control procedures and assist in implementing the Quality Management System in respect of ISO 13485, including conducting internal audits and assisting in external audits as required.
Supervise weekends / bank holidays as required.
Represent the department at selected meetings as required.
Deal with all non‑conformances, ensuring records are completed fully and instruments are dealt with promptly, ensuring problems are resolved / instruments quarantined or concession raised as appropriate, informing customers if instruments are out of circulation.
Ensure that instrument repairs and replacements are handled correctly, in line with policy and procedures.
Manage loan equipment, including all relevant documentation, addition to the tracking system, ensuring compatibility with the process, etc.
Manage quarantine and concession in line with department procedures.
Monitor stock levels, ensuring procedures are followed, stock rotated correctly and shortfalls notified to the appropriate person, dealing with product recall and quarantine as required.
Assist in the completion of risk assessments, including COSHH.
Person Specification
Knowledge
* Understanding of decontamination process
* Knowledge of surgical instruments, including their identification and decontamination requirements
* Formal supervisory training
* Knowledge of relevant statute and guidance, including ISO13485, HTM 01‑01 and 01‑06
Experience
* Previous experience working in a medical device decontamination environment
* Experience of decontamination quality systems
* Basic IT skills
* Experience of electronic track‑and‑tracing systems
* Experience of a wide range of surgical instruments / flexible endoscopes
* Previous experience in a training role
* Experience of managing teams in complex and time‑pressed environments
Physical requirements
* Ability to stand for lengthy periods
* Ability to wear protective equipment
* High level of manual dexterity
* Able to lift weights of up to 15kg
Personal characteristics
* Willingness and aptitude to undertake training
* Ability to prioritise and delegate responsibility
* Ability to concentrate in a busy / high‑activity area
* Positive approach to work and customer satisfaction
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.
All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required.
Address
Luton and Dunstable Hospital Sterile Services department
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