Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Sterile Services Technician

The closing date is 23 February 2026

Job summary

To carry out the receipt, disassembly, cleaning, reassembly, packing and sterilization of reusable medical devices. To undertake medical device decontamination duties (under supervision) and assist Supervisors in providing a specialised medical devices decontamination service contributing to the clinical care of the patient. Work in accordance with the Department's Standard Operating Procedures and Quality Management Systems at all times and throughout all production areas, ensuring safe systems are followed for patient safety.

We are looking for 8 people to join our team.

Monday to Sunday (mixture of shifts available over 7 days)

Full in-house training will be provided for this role.

The Interview for this post will be 2 interviews, one for the technical side and one for a Trust VBI.

Main duties of the job

Are you looking to start a rewarding career in healthcare science and make a real difference behind the scenes? We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented individual to join our Sterile Services team as an Apprentice Decontamination Technician (Band 2) -- with a clear pathway to progress to Decontamination Technician (Band 3) through our structured internal training and competency programme. This is alink grade role, meaning you will begin at Band 2 and, upon successful completion of our in-house training and full sign-off of your competency portfolio, you will be promoted to Band 3.As an Apprentice Decontamination Technician, you will:

  • Support the safe and effective reprocessing of reusable medical devices.
  • Work under supervision to clean, disinfect, inspect, assemble, and sterilise surgical instruments.
  • Operate within a quality-controlled environment, adhering to Standard Operating Procedures and the Quality Management System.
  • Be part of a team that plays a vital role in patient safety and infection prevention. Once progressed to Band 3, you will:
  • Take on more complex tasks including robotic device processing.
  • Provide guidance and training to new assistants.
  • Work with greater autonomy and contribute to service development.

This is a hands-on, physically active role that requires attention to detail, teamwork, and a commitment to high standards of hygiene and safety.

Full in-house training will be provided for this role.

About us

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trustis one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. Find out more herewww.ouh.nhs.uk

The Trust comprises of four hospitals - theJohn Radcliffe Hospital,Churchill HospitalandNuffield Orthopaedic Centrein Headington and theHorton General Hospitalin Banbury.

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trustis one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research.

The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community.We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence, and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence. These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via the OUH YouTube channel.

Details

Date posted

09 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year per annum pro rota

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

321-TP-7633945-B3

Job locations

John Radcliffe Hospital

Headley way, Headington

Oxford

OX3 9DU


Job description

Job responsibilities

Full in-house training will be provided for this role.

Accurately exchange information with colleagues and customers to enable: prioritisation of work and prevention/resolution of problems. Deal courteously and professionally with colleagues to foster good team working relationships. Provide routine data as required by departmental supervisors. Understand a range of work procedures which require on job training. Maintain and update knowledge of instruments across all specialities. Understand and maintain knowledge of decontamination procedures including safe operation of automated machinery. Maintain educational standards by attending departmental lectures and hospital courses regularly to meet the requirements of Health & safety. Organising own day to day work tasks or activities ensuring recommended best practice is adhered to at all times. Making judgements involving straightforward job related facts or situations. Identifying routine problems which may prevent adherence to decontamination/quality standards. Specific hand/eye co-ordination required to gain the speed and accuracy in checking, packing and assembling surgical equipment to the required quality standards. Achieving the department production targets carried out within recommended best practice and mandatory standards. Provide basic clinical technical services following strict decontamination guidelines for cleaning, sterilisation and packing of surgical equipment. Follow departmental documented policies and procedures at all times. Daily maintenance of theatre instruments, dismantling and re-assembling of surgical instruments and checking optics following the relevant work instructions and comprehensive instrument checklists, identifying any missing components which are reported accordingly. Maintain stock within all production areas, re-order as required and control stock rotation. Demonstrate work activities to untrained staff when qualified. Responsible for data entry onto computer, to maintain records of instrumentation within the department (tracking and tracing). Complete own time sheets and other work records as required. Undertakes surveys and audits (i.e. cleanliness and work required) where necessary within own work and written guidelines. Test decontamination equipment according to relevant HTMs on a daily bases. Work within well established procedures following guidelines for good practice with supervision available for reference. There is a requirement to stand while carrying out duties in all production areas; with a frequent requirement to exert moderate physical effort whilst unloading and loading trolleys into the washer disinfectors and sterilisers. Concentration is required at specific times during the decontamination process to produce correctly laid-up and packaged surgical instruments. Frequent exposure to body fluids and care is required when dealing with contaminated sets due to the presence of sharp instruments when working in the decontamination wash area. The duties and responsibilities of the post will be undertaken in accordance with the policies, procedures and practice of Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust and which the Trust may amend from time to time. The duties outlined above are not intended as a restrictive list, and may be extended or altered to include other tasks that are commensurate with the grade

Job description

Job responsibilities

Full in-house training will be provided for this role.

Accurately exchange information with colleagues and customers to enable: prioritisation of work and prevention/resolution of problems. Deal courteously and professionally with colleagues to foster good team working relationships. Provide routine data as required by departmental supervisors. Understand a range of work procedures which require on job training. Maintain and update knowledge of instruments across all specialities. Understand and maintain knowledge of decontamination procedures including safe operation of automated machinery. Maintain educational standards by attending departmental lectures and hospital courses regularly to meet the requirements of Health & safety. Organising own day to day work tasks or activities ensuring recommended best practice is adhered to at all times. Making judgements involving straightforward job related facts or situations. Identifying routine problems which may prevent adherence to decontamination/quality standards. Specific hand/eye co-ordination required to gain the speed and accuracy in checking, packing and assembling surgical equipment to the required quality standards. Achieving the department production targets carried out within recommended best practice and mandatory standards. Provide basic clinical technical services following strict decontamination guidelines for cleaning, sterilisation and packing of surgical equipment. Follow departmental documented policies and procedures at all times. Daily maintenance of theatre instruments, dismantling and re-assembling of surgical instruments and checking optics following the relevant work instructions and comprehensive instrument checklists, identifying any missing components which are reported accordingly. Maintain stock within all production areas, re-order as required and control stock rotation. Demonstrate work activities to untrained staff when qualified. Responsible for data entry onto computer, to maintain records of instrumentation within the department (tracking and tracing). Complete own time sheets and other work records as required. Undertakes surveys and audits (i.e. cleanliness and work required) where necessary within own work and written guidelines. Test decontamination equipment according to relevant HTMs on a daily bases. Work within well established procedures following guidelines for good practice with supervision available for reference. There is a requirement to stand while carrying out duties in all production areas; with a frequent requirement to exert moderate physical effort whilst unloading and loading trolleys into the washer disinfectors and sterilisers. Concentration is required at specific times during the decontamination process to produce correctly laid-up and packaged surgical instruments. Frequent exposure to body fluids and care is required when dealing with contaminated sets due to the presence of sharp instruments when working in the decontamination wash area. The duties and responsibilities of the post will be undertaken in accordance with the policies, procedures and practice of Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust and which the Trust may amend from time to time. The duties outlined above are not intended as a restrictive list, and may be extended or altered to include other tasks that are commensurate with the grade

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • GCSE Maths & English (or equivalent)

Desirable

  • IDSc Technician certificate
  • Level 2 Apprenticeship in Healthcare Sciences

Experience

Essential

  • Previous experience of working in a in a team or similar quality led production environment.
  • Experience of dealing with customers and/or public

Desirable

  • Previous experience of working in a in a decontamination team

Personal Skills

Essential

  • Good communication skills both verbal and written with all disciplines of staff
  • Keen to learn and train within the post Self motivated
  • Able to work within a team

Behavioural Skills

Essential

  • Able to work while standing for prolonged periods
  • Ability to follow instructions whilst working at speed

Technical Skills

Essential

  • Basic numeracy
  • Good hand to eye coordination
  • Good manual dexterity
  • Good vision
  • Basic computer skills
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • GCSE Maths & English (or equivalent)

Desirable

  • IDSc Technician certificate
  • Level 2 Apprenticeship in Healthcare Sciences

Experience

Essential

  • Previous experience of working in a in a team or similar quality led production environment.
  • Experience of dealing with customers and/or public

Desirable

  • Previous experience of working in a in a decontamination team

Personal Skills

Essential

  • Good communication skills both verbal and written with all disciplines of staff
  • Keen to learn and train within the post Self motivated
  • Able to work within a team

Behavioural Skills

Essential

  • Able to work while standing for prolonged periods
  • Ability to follow instructions whilst working at speed

Technical Skills

Essential

  • Basic numeracy
  • Good hand to eye coordination
  • Good manual dexterity
  • Good vision
  • Basic computer skills

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

John Radcliffe Hospital

Headley way, Headington

Oxford

OX3 9DU


Employer's website

https://www.ouh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

John Radcliffe Hospital

Headley way, Headington

Oxford

OX3 9DU


Employer's website

https://www.ouh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Sterile Services Manager

Linda Kinane

linda.kinane@ouh.nhs.uk

01865226820

Details

Date posted

09 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year per annum pro rota

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

321-TP-7633945-B3

Job locations

John Radcliffe Hospital

Headley way, Headington

Oxford

OX3 9DU


Supporting documents

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