Job Purpose

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To provide a high-quality decontamination and sterilisation service for reusable medical devices, flexible endoscopes, surgical instruments, and associated equipment in accordance with Trust policies, ISO standards, Health Technical Memoranda (HTMs), infection prevention standards, and Health & Safety regulations.

The post holder will support the safe and effective delivery of patient care by ensuring medical devices are cleaned, disinfected, inspected, assembled, sterilised, tracked, and distributed to required standards and within agreed service levels.

Key Responsibilities

General Duties

• Maintain and develop professional working relationships with colleagues, theatres, wards, departments, and external customers.
• Behave professionally and courteously at all times.
• Participate in a rotational working system across all areas of the department.
• Receive, disassemble, clean, inspect, disinfect, assemble, sterilise, pack, and distribute reusable medical devices and flexible endoscopes.
• Carry out functionality testing on reusable medical devices and equipment.
• Operate departmental equipment safely and effectively in accordance with departmental procedures and manufacturer instructions.
• Record all stages of the decontamination and sterilisation process using electronic traceability systems and manual documentation where required.
• Assess and approve work completed by colleagues where appropriate.
• Identify, diagnose, and report failures or abnormalities in equipment test results in accordance with ISO 13485, HTMs, Medical Devices Directive (MDD 93/42/EEC), and Health & Safety requirements.
• Escalate equipment failures, process deviations, and emergencies to Team Leaders, Production Coordinators, or Managers.
• Participate in departmental and Trust-wide audits and support implementation of service improvements.
• Assist with Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) activities.
• Maintain compliance with departmental Quality Management Systems and Health & Safety policies.
• Report customer complaints, incidents, and non-conformances to the appropriate manager.
• Mentor, train, and support new or less experienced staff members.
• Attend mandatory and role-specific training as required.
• Participate in appraisal, performance reviews, and continuous professional development.
• Contribute to the Trust’s vision, values, and operational objectives.

Raw Material Store & Endoscopy Storerooms

• Process stock orders and deliveries using correct documentation and inventory systems.
• Maintain stock rotation and ensure removal of external packaging where required.
• Monitor and maintain agreed stock levels and raise replenishment requests/orders.
• Participate in stock takes and inventory audits.
• Ensure compliance with storage requirements relating to temperature, humidity, COSHH, and manual handling regulations.
• Safely manoeuvre trolleys and undertake manual handling of instrument sets and supplies.

Washrooms / Decontamination Areas

• Perform daily testing and maintenance checks on Washer Disinfectors, Ultrasonic Cleaners, Trolley Washers, Automatic Endoscope Reprocessors (AERs), and associated equipment.
• Record and review test results to demonstrate compliance and support audit requirements.
• Follow washroom protocols, standard operating procedures, infection prevention, and Health & Safety requirements at all times.
• Log incoming instruments, sets, and endoscopes into the traceability system and prioritise workloads appropriately.
• Verify equipment completeness and report discrepancies immediately.
• Complete non-conformance documentation where required.
• Process specialist loan instrumentation in accordance with manufacturer instructions.
• Recognise and appropriately dispose of single-use devices.
• Respond to customer queries and prioritise urgent/Fast Track requests.
• Handle contaminated devices safely using appropriate PPE and universal precautions, including compliance with Cytotoxic, NICE, and CJD policies.
• Safely dispose of clinical waste, sharps, linen, and fluids in accordance with policy.

Inspection, Assembly & Packing (IAP) / Endoscopy Clean Room

• Conduct environmental monitoring and record air handling unit checks.
• Perform testing and recording of heat sealers and diathermy testers.
• Inspect instruments and devices for cleanliness, functionality, and damage prior to packing.
• Assemble and pack surgical trays and instruments to agreed specifications ensuring sterility maintenance.
• Apply tamper-evident seals, sterilisation indicators, and approved wrapping systems.
• Sign tray lists and traceability documentation, accepting accountability for work completed.
• Perform visual checks on wash cycle parameters and reprocess failed loads as required.
• Comply with gowning procedures and clean room standards.
• Prioritise workloads to minimise disruption to patient care and theatre schedules.
• Process and dispatch endoscopes in line with departmental traceability and accountability procedures.

Sterilisation Services

• Test sterilisers in accordance with departmental quality control procedures.
• Record and analyse steriliser test results to demonstrate compliance.
• Operate sterilisers safely and effectively using correct PPE and safe systems of work.
• Inspect sterilised loads to confirm integrity and sterility indicators have achieved required parameters.
• Raise non-conformance reports (NCRs) where necessary.
• Categorise and prepare instruments and sets for dispatch.
• Produce decontamination certificates for loan sets and repaired instruments.
• Process urgent/Fast Track items to meet clinical demand.
• Use low-temperature sterilisation systems, including Sterrad gas plasma sterilisation equipment, where trained and competent.

High Level Disinfection / Endoscopy Decontamination

• Decontaminate flexible endoscopes in accordance with manufacturer instructions, HTMs, JAG guidance, and departmental standard operating procedures.
• Undertake all stages of the endoscope decontamination cycle including:
  • Visual inspection
  • Manual cleaning
  • Leak testing
  • High-level disinfection
  • Drying
  • Storage
  • Tracking and tracing
  • Transportation and dispatch
• Safely operate Endoscope Washer Disinfectors (EWDs), drying cabinets, and associated equipment.
• Carry out routine testing and quality