Decontamination Supervisor

Role Overview

The post holder will undertake supervisory duties within the decontamination science discipline and oversee the workforce of Decontamination Technicians in HSDU and EDU, providing a specialised decontamination of medical devices service contributing to the clinical care of the patient. Responsibilities include receipt, disassembly, cleaning, reassembly, packing and, where required, sterilisation of reusable medical devices. All tasks must be recorded in the Trust tracking and tracing system and performed in accordance with the Departments Standard Operating Procedures and Quality Management Systems.

The role requires training new staff and Apprentice Decontamination Technicians, planning own workload with limited supervision, and exposure to blood and body fluids.

The post holder will undertake a range of duties within both Decontamination units at the Hospital – the Hospital Sterilisation and Decontamination Unit (HSDU) and Endoscope Decontamination unit (EDU).

Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust is an integrated Trust and the only provider of NHS acute care in Walsall, serving a population of 284,300. It provides inpatient and outpatient services at the Manor Hospital as well as a wide range of services in the community. The £170 million development completed in 2010 and the continued upgrading of existing areas ensure the Trust now has a state‑of‑the‑art Critical Care Unit, Neonatal Unit, Obstetric Theatre, and Integrated Assessment Unit facilities.

A new Urgent Emergency Care Centre opened in March 2023, adding almost 5,000 square metres of additional clinical space.

To supervise the Decontamination Technicians to work in accordance with Departmental Policy, Standard Operating Procedures, and the Quality Management System.

• To reprocess reusable medical devices, disassemble, clean, disinfect, check, assemble, sterilise, dispatch and track in a controlled environment.
• To provide advice and training to Decontamination Technicians, new staff, and Apprentice Decontamination Technicians effectively.
• To provide a collection and delivery service to the Decontamination Technician Departments' customers.
• To inform the Decontamination Technician Management team of any raw material shortages and ensure stock is rotated.
• Under limited supervision, meet the demands of the Department's workload while consistently achieving high quality standards, measured by in‑process checks and non‑conformance reports.
• To undertake investigation into non-conformance reports as instructed.
• To use manual dexterity and concentration for the disassembly and reassembly of the reusable medical devices in accordance with Manufacturers instructions.
• To operate decontamination equipment and carry out routine tests in accordance with the Planned Preventative Maintenance Schedules, Quality Standards and Guidance.
• To communicate with enquiries from users and other members of healthcare staff in a polite and helpful manner, seeking scientific advice where required.
• To undertake duties consistent with the responsibility of the grade and needs of the service.
• To be included on an on-call rota as required to meet the customer needs.
• To support the rota management where there are gaps due to sickness or leave.