About this role
Job summary
As a Decontamination Assistant, you will be part of a dedicated team responsible for the cleaning, disinfection, and sterilisation of reusable medical devices, including endoscopes, in line with ISO-accredited policies, procedures, and departmental work instructions. Based within the Sterile Services Department and Endoscope Decontamination Unit at Bedford Hospital, you will play an important role in ensuring medical equipment is processed safely, effectively, and in compliance with regulatory standards.
The successful candidate will be committed to delivering a high-quality decontamination service and maintaining the highest standards of patient safety. You will be motivated, reliable, and flexible, with the ability to work a range of shifts, including weekends, and be willing to undertake all necessary training to develop within the role.
At Bedford Hospital, we are dedicated to providing safe, compassionate, and high-quality care for our patients. We strive to be an excellent place to work, ensuring we have the right people in the right roles to deliver outstanding patient care and experience.
This is a full-time position working a three-week rotating shift pattern:
- Early Shift: 7:30am to 3:30pm
- Middle Shift: 10:30am to 6:30pm
- Late Shift: 2:00pm to 10:00pm
The role also includes working every sixth Saturday (12:00pm to 8:00pm) and participation in a Sunday on-call rota.
Main duties of the job
The Decontamination Service at Bedford Hospital NHS Trust includes the Sterile Services Department and the Endoscopy Decontamination Unit, which are responsible for providing sterile and disinfected reusable medical devices to wards, departments, and theatres across the Trust. The service supports patient care through the collection, decontamination, inspection, preparation, packaging, sterilisation or disinfection, and distribution of reusable medical devices.
Key responsibilities include
- Receiving, sorting, and preparing reusable medical devices, including endoscopes, for cleaning and disinfection.
- Inspecting, reassembling, testing, packaging, sealing, and labelling medical devices following successful decontamination processes.
- Carrying out independent quality checks on instrument trays prepared by colleagues, ensuring accuracy and reporting any discrepancies.
- Developing and maintaining knowledge of surgical instruments, reusable medical devices, and flexible endoscopes, including their functions, handling requirements, and key inspection and testing points.
- Ensuring all work is carried out in accordance with departmental procedures, ISO-accredited standards, and relevant health and safety requirements.
- Contributing to the efficient operation of the department by maintaining high standards of quality, safety, and service delivery at all times.
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 across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital 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 wellbeing 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. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Job Description and Person Specification are attached to this vacancy; please review them for full details and responsibilities.
Key duties include
- Inspecting instruments and medical equipment upon receipt into the decontamination area and throughout the decontamination, storage, and distribution process, promptly reporting any damaged, defective, or missing items.
- Dismantling, cleaning, reassembling, and preparing instruments in accordance with manufacturers instructions and departmental procedures.
- Ensuring all instrument sets and supplementary items are correctly wrapped, packaged, labelled, and prepared in line with legislation, national guidance, and service requirements.
- Maintaining knowledge of sterilisation and disinfection methods and understanding the importance of product safety and liability in the reprocessing of reusable medical devices.
- Performing quality assurance checks to verify that instruments and devices have been effectively decontaminated and are safe for patient use.
- Identifying and escalating any concerns regarding the effectiveness of the decontamination process, reporting and documenting failures in accordance with departmental procedures.
- Reviewing and verifying process records and cycle data before products are approved for release and distribution.
- Using appropriate packaging materials and packing techniques to protect instruments and minimise the risk of damage during storage and transport.
- Following procedures for the management of non-conforming devices and equipment following failed washer-disinfector or steriliser cycles, ensuring unsuitable items are quarantined and not released for clinical use.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Excellent English - communication skills, written and verbal
Experience
Desirable
- Previous experience in a Healthcare Environment
Knowledge
Essential
- Good Organisational Skills
- Basic I.T Skills
- Manual Dexterity
- Attention to Details
Desirable
- Knowledge of Quality Management System - ISO 13485 / ISO9001
Personal Skills
Essential
- Good Timekeeper, changed as per policy and commence shift as indicated
- Ability to stand for lengthy periods of time
- Team focussed
- Reliable, Adaptable and Dependable
- Willing to undertake training as required
- Proactive approach and participation in the Quality Management System
- Ability to be Self directional
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Employer details
Employer name
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Bedford Hospital
Kempston Road
Bedford
MK42 9DJ
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/ (Opens in a new tab)