Sterile Services Supervisor

The Sterile Services Department plays a critical role in supporting safe patient care by decontaminating, inspecting, assembling and sterilising reusable clinical and medical devices used across the Trust. We are seeking a motivated and experienced Sterile Services Supervisor to provide day-to-day operational supervision within this vital service. The post holder will be responsible for overseeing designated production areas, supervising staff, and ensuring that all decontamination processes are delivered safely, efficiently, and in full compliance with regulatory, quality, and Trust standards. Working closely with Team Leaders and the Sterile Services Manager, the Supervisor will support service delivery, quality assurance, and workforce development. This role is key to maintaining high standards of cleanliness, sterility, and traceability, and to ensuring that clinical areas receive reliable, timely access to sterile instrumentation to support emergency, elective, and specialist procedures. Key aspects of the role include supervising Sterile Services Assistants, supporting training and competency development, monitoring compliance with the Quality Management System, assisting with routine equipment testing, compiling daily staff rosters, and responding to operational issues as they arise. The Supervisor will also deputise for the Team Leader when required and contribute to maintaining a safe, well-organised, and professional working environment., The Sterile Services Supervisor will be responsible for the day-to-day supervision of designated areas within the Sterile Services Department, ensuring that all activities are delivered safely, efficiently, and in accordance with regulatory, quality, and Trust requirements.,

• Provide day-to-day supervision of Sterile Services Assistants within designated production areas.
• Allocate work and manage workflow to ensure service priorities and turnaround times are met.
• Take responsibility for on-shift production activities, ensuring efficient progression through all stages of the decontamination process.
• Compile and manage daily staff rotas, ensuring adequate staffing levels and appropriate skill mix.
• Act as the senior point of contact within supervised areas during allocated shifts, resolving routine operational issues and escalating concerns as required.
• Deputise for the Team Leader during periods of absence, ensuring continuity of service delivery.
Quality assurance and compliance
• Support compliance with the department's Quality Management System, ensuring all work is undertaken in accordance with approved procedures and work instructions.
• Ensure that all quality records, logs, and documentation are completed accurately, legibly, and in a timely manner.
• Assist with routine equipment testing and monitoring in line with departmental schedules and escalation requirements.
• Identify, report, and support investigation of non-conformances, incidents, near misses, and equipment faults.
• Contribute to corrective and preventive actions to reduce risk and improve service quality.
• Promote a culture of safety, quality, and continuous improvement within the department.
Staff training, support and performance
• Support the training, supervision, and competency development of Sterile Services Assistants.
• Ensure staff work within their level of competence and follow approved processes at all times.
• Provide guidance, feedback, and support to staff to maintain high standards of performance and professionalism.
• Support new starters, temporary staff, and redeployed staff during induction and on-the-job training.
• Promote good attendance, safe working practices, and staff wellbeing.
Hands-on technical duties
• Participate in the full range of Sterile Services activities as required, including:
+ Collection and receipt of contaminated instrumentation + Cleaning and disinfection + Inspection and assembly + Packing and labelling + Sterilisation, release, storage, and distribution
• Ensure segregation of clean and contaminated areas is maintained at all times.
• Maintain high standards of cleanliness, sterility, and traceability to support patient safety.
Health, safety and risk management
• Ensure compliance with health and safety legislation, Trust policies, and local risk assessments.
• Promote safe systems of work, correct use of personal protective equipment, and safe manual handling practices.
• Report hazards, defects, and incidents promptly and take immediate action to reduce risk where appropriate.
Communication and customer liaison
• Maintain effective communication with colleagues, Team Leaders, managers, and service users.
• Act as a first point of contact for routine queries or issues relating to Sterile Services production.
• Escalate complex or high-risk issues appropriately and in a timely manner.
• Maintain confidentiality and professionalism in all communications.
Professional responsibilities
• Work flexibly to meet service needs, including participation in shift patterns as required.
• Maintain personal competence through ongoing training and development.
• Act in accordance with Trust values and behaviours at all times.
• Undertake any other duties consistent with the role and banding as required by the service.
  
  Educated to GCSE or equivalent
• Full understanding of all processes within decontamination
• Basic Computer Skills, Recent experience of working within Sterile Services
• Evidence of training/ mentoring
• Knowledge of Instrumentation, Knowledge of policies and procedures within Sterile Services
• A commitment to personal and professional development and an ability to lead others in this process
• Aware of own training needs and willing to undertake appropriate training
• Positive and proactive approach
• Able to accept guidance and constructive criticism
• Willingness to be flexible in working practices, using own initiative at times being practical and realistic
• Organisational Skills and ability to prioritise workload
• Reliable and punctual with good time management skills
• Professional attitude, pleasant and approachable manner
• Ability to communicate at all levels
• Approachable and supportive both to subordinates and superiors
• Respect for work colleagues
• Experience of working as part of a team
• Maintain confidentiality and interact impartially with staff working under their supervision
Desirable criteria
• Awareness of the Quality Management System
• Awareness of Health and Safety at Work
  
  At East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust our vision is to be widely recognised for providing safe, personal and effective care. We currently provide high quality services and treat over 600,000 people across East Lancashire and the surrounding area. We employ over 9,500 staff, many of whom are internationally renowned and have won awards for their work., Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is ideally situated just a forty five minute drive from Manchester. The Trust provides services to the 440,000 residents of Blackpool, Fylde & Wyre and North Lancashire, as well as specialist tertiary care for Cardiac and Haematology patients.
As one of the United Kingdom's largest coastal resort, Blackpool has plenty to offer its residents - it's not just a good place to work; it's a great place to live. In addition to its bustling centre and historic seafront, the town is world famous for its many attractions, including the famous Blackpool Tower. Blackpool also offers a number of scenic cycling routes round our local parks and across the surrounding countryside, as well as boasting panoramic views of the coast on its picturesque Promenade. Further afield, Blackpool also benefits from less than three-hour connections via rail to Edinburgh in the north and London in the south., The Trust is an equal opportunities employer, committed to improving the working lives of our staff and operates a 'Zero Tolerance' policy to aggression, violence, bullying and harassment. In addition, our aim is to help protect children and vulnerable adults by providing a first-class service to the recruitment of people into positions of trust. We aim to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone irrespective of ethnic origin, gender, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, disability or social background. We especially welcome applications from members of our black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities, as we have identified that ELHT has an under-representation of BAME employees. Appointments will be made on merit.

It is important you are made aware of the following as regards your application to East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
• Please note that the salary advertised is for full time hours. If this post is less than 37.5 hours per week, the salary will be pro-rata. For posts on Agenda for Change pay-scales, new entrants to the NHS will normally commence on the first pay point of the relevant band.
• This vacancy may close before the closing date if the recruiting manager deems sufficient applications have been received. Therefore it is advised to complete your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
• Please ensure you check the email account from which you apply regularly as we will use this to contact you regarding your application.
• Please note that shortlisting is completed anonymously with candidates being assessed against the essential criteria for the post. Therefore only applicants, who can clearly demonstrate how they meet our person specification criteria in their application, will be short-listed.
Disclosure and Barring Scheme (DBS) If the role you are applying for is identified as either controlled or regulated activity as defined in in the Safeguarding vulnerable Groups Act (2006) any offer of employment is provisional upon a satisfactory DBS check being obtained. The healthcare sector is exempted from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. In line with other NHS organisations in the North West Region, the Trust is now passing the charge for undertaking a DBS check on to candidates in the event they are successfully appointed into the post for which they have applied. Candidates can choose whether to pay this over 1-3 months as a deduction from the monthly salary. However, if you are applying for a post as a BANK worker, the payment must be made in full at the time of employment checks. By applying for this vacancy you are agreeing to this undertaking in the event you are successfully appointed. The cost of an Enhanced Disclosure will be £55.38 and for a Standard Disclosure will be £27.38.