East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust

Sterile Services Team Leader

The closing date is 29 March 2026

Job summary

Please note that this post is Part of One LSC - a corporate collaboration hosted by East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust and providing Estates and Facilities Services to Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Step into a vital leadership role at the heart of patient care!

As the Sterile Services Team Leader, you'll be at the forefront of ensuring surgical teams are equipped with impeccably sterilised instruments--every time, without fail. This is more than a job; it's a mission-critical position where your attention to detail and leadership skills directly impact patient safety and clinical success.

You'll lead and inspire a dedicated team of Sterile Services Technicians, championing excellence in every process. From mentoring new staff and delivering training, to conducting appraisals and managing performance, you'll help your team thrive while maintaining the highest standards in hygiene and compliance.

Flexibility is key in this dynamic environment.

Main duties of the job

You will be expected to plan your own workload and work independently with minimal supervision. A strong understanding of decontamination procedures is essential, along with the ability to operate decontamination equipment safely and effectively. In this role, you'll liaise closely with service users, Theatre staff, and administrative teams to help ensure the smooth and efficient running of the department. You'll also be responsible for identifying and reporting any non-conformances to the Assistant Managers, and taking appropriate action to resolve issues promptly.

About us

We have nearly 10,000 fantastic people working hard to deliver quality services to our patients. Whatever your role, you help look after 370,000 people in our local area & give specialist care to 1.5 million people across Lancashire & Cumbria.

Working with us gives you the knowledge and sense of pride that every activity you do genuinely does make a difference to support our patients & staff, ensuring we keep thriving & delivering outstanding healthcare right across our local towns.

You'll have access to varied development opportunities, learn new skills, meet fab people & do things you'd never have done. You'll learn about working in a hospital, interacting with people from all different roles to build skills & enhance your career path.

You'll make an impact, be challenged to think differently, be bold & help innovate to keep improving things. Everything we do centres around patient care and enhancing their experience which means your role is pivotal and something really to be proud of.

Date posted

18 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

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

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

435-PB4009

Job locations

Chorley and South Ribble Hospital

Preston rOAD

Chorley

PR71PP

Job description

Job responsibilities

Manage the SSD Technicians to encourage high standards and excellent performance
Work closely with the Assistant Managers to manage all aspects of production
Participate in the departments Training programme
Participate in the Departments Quality Management System
Undertake appraisals of SSD Technicians
Manage staff performance and provide support to the team
Play an active role in the Departments Health and Safety programme including the completion of Datix Reports
Liaise closely with the theatre teams to ensure fit for purpose instrumentation is available for use
Report decontamination equipment faults to managers on duty
Monitor the production level and escalate the issues to the decontamination manager

Job description

Job responsibilities

Manage the SSD Technicians to encourage high standards and excellent performance
Work closely with the Assistant Managers to manage all aspects of production
Participate in the departments Training programme
Participate in the Departments Quality Management System
Undertake appraisals of SSD Technicians
Manage staff performance and provide support to the team
Play an active role in the Departments Health and Safety programme including the completion of Datix Reports
Liaise closely with the theatre teams to ensure fit for purpose instrumentation is available for use
Report decontamination equipment faults to managers on duty
Monitor the production level and escalate the issues to the decontamination manager

Person Specification

Qualifications and Education

Essential

Educated to GCSE Standard or equivalent
Willingness to undertake any relevant training

Desirable

Membership of the IDSc
Completed the Decontamination E Learning course
Leadership and management qualification

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

Excellent understanding of Good Manufacturing Practice
Full understanding of all processes within Decontamination
Relevant experience in a Sterile Services establishment
Awareness of Health and Safety at Work
Knowledge of all procedures carried out by the Sterile Services Department
Awareness of Quality Management Systems
Knowledge of the Trust Moving and Handling Policy
Excellent knowledge of Surgical Instrumentation

Person Specification

Qualifications and Education

Essential

Educated to GCSE Standard or equivalent
Willingness to undertake any relevant training

Desirable

Membership of the IDSc
Completed the Decontamination E Learning course
Leadership and management qualification

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

Excellent understanding of Good Manufacturing Practice
Full understanding of all processes within Decontamination
Relevant experience in a Sterile Services establishment
Awareness of Health and Safety at Work
Knowledge of all procedures carried out by the Sterile Services Department
Awareness of Quality Management Systems
Knowledge of the Trust Moving and Handling Policy
Excellent knowledge of Surgical Instrumentation

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

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Chorley and South Ribble Hospital

Preston rOAD

Chorley

PR71PP

Employer's website

http://jobs.elht.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Chorley and South Ribble Hospital

Preston rOAD

Chorley

PR71PP

Employer's website

http://jobs.elht.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)