A.T.O - Assistant Technical Officer

Job overview

• You will be required to use keyboards, touch screens and scanners.
• To experience repeated periods of intense concentration.
• To develop a high degree of manual dexterity, accuracy, precision, and speed.
• To push/manoeuvre trolleys, manually handle instruments, sets and stock.
• To work while standing for prolonged periods of time.
• To understand how to operate a PC, scanners, and label printers in order to operate computerised traceability system.
• To develop an extensive knowledge of medical devices and their functions.

To use your initiative for routine and non-routine day-to-day tasks.

Main duties of the job

• Maintain and develop good relationships with other staff within the department and with our Service Users such as theatres, wards, and various other departments.
• Behave in a professional manner at all times.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To contribute to ensuring that quality assurance and production controls systems are maintained in accordance with work instructions.
• To report all customer complaints to the Quality Manager or Production Manager.
• To attend any training as required.
• To participate in performance and development review.
• To work alongside organisational colleagues in order to contribute to the NBT’s vision and values “Exceptional healthcare, personally delivered” and to contribute fully towards Facilities objectives, divisional and departmental delivery plans.

Raw Material Store

• Process orders using correct documentation; ensure rotation of stocks, removal of external packaging.
• Pushing/manoeuvring trolleys, manual handling of instrument sets and stock.
• Take part in stock take exercises when required.
• Order goods in compliance with holding levels using manual, Oracle, e-mail and telephone.
• Comply with legislation relating to required storage conditions e.g. temperature, humidity, COSHH and manual handling.
• Responsible for maintaining levels of stock and the raising of orders for raw materials.

Wash Room

• Carry on daily test & maintenance on all Washer/Disinfectors, Trolley Washers, Niagara SI Ultrasonic WDs, Medisafe Ultrasonic Cleaner and record the test results to demonstrate compliance, so as to enable audits and facilitate analysis.
• Follow Washroom protocols and standard operating procedures all the time.
• To log all incoming sets and instruments into the department via the Fingerprint Tracker computer system and prioritise workload.
• To check that all equipment is present and correct.
• Report any discrepancies to the customer and the Team Leader/Production Coordinator immediately.
• Complete the relevant documents for non-conformances.
• To wash and decontaminate instruments according to the departments policies and procedures, particularly Health and safety and Control of Infection.
• To take delivery of and process unique specialist surgical loan instruments for use in complex clinical procedures, following the manufacturers’ instructions.
• To be able to recognise single use equipment and dispose of as appropriate.
• Deal with customers queries and reschedule work load as Fast Track items are received.
• Receive and document contaminated equipment, check delivery notes against equipment delivered for accuracy and record non-conformances (NCR) where necessary.
• Adhere to specified levels of Personal Protective equipment and universal precaution and CJD (Creutzfeldt - Jakob Disease) Policy.
• Disposal of waste bags to include clinical waste, sharps containers, linen bags and fluids

Inspection Assembly and Packing (IAP) Room

• Take readings and record environmental checks on air handling units.
• Test and record results of: heat sealers and diathermy testers.
• Undertake quality checks for cleanliness and functionality before packing to agreed specifications.
• Pack sets and instruments using various designs of wrappings/containers in such a way as to ensure an effective sterile field for up to one year after sterilisation.
• The packer will sign the tray lists of instruments/apparatus, therefore accepting final responsibility for work undertaken.
• Deal with clinical user queries and reschedule workload as Fast track items are received.
• Visual checks are carried out on all wash cycles to ensure correct parameters are achieved, if these are not achieved wash load is failed on traceability system and returned for reprocessing.
• To include tamper proof security seals, sterilizing indicators and wrapping materials.
• Assist in restocking of supplies and record all information required.
• Comply with Gowning room procedure.
• Deliver the workload within the agreed time and to the required customer service level agreement.
• Prioritise depending on customer requirements to ensure minimal disruption to patient care e.g. surgical lists and trust waiting list initiatives/targets.

Sterilisers

• Test all sterilisers within the department in accordance with the departmental Quality Control Procedures.
• To record and process the test results and demonstrate compliance, so as to enable audits and facilitate analysis.
• Process instruments using sterilisers, maintaining safe working practice at all times, use proper PPE when necessary.
• Deliver the workload within the agreed time and to the required customer service level agreement.
• Prioritise work load depending on customer requirements to ensure minimal disruption to patient care e.g. surgical lists and trust waiting list initiatives/targets.
• Inspect sets/instruments on a regular basis to ensure integrity of loads i.e. visual indicators.
• To raise Non Conformance Reports (NCR’s) where necessary.
• Categorize all sets/instruments into appropriate areas for dispatch.
• Raise decontamination documents for returned loan sets and repairs.
• To process and deliver Fast Track items to meet customer demands.
• Receive and record sets and instruments using manual and traceability systems.
• Competent to use low temperature gas plasma sterilizer - Sterrad by following departmental protocols.

Sterile Stores / Check and delivery

• Receive and document goods and equipment, check delivery notes against goods delivered for accuracy and record non-conformances.
• Assist in restocking of supplies and record all information required.
• Deliver the workload within the agreed time and to the required customer service level agreement.
• Categorise all sets instruments into appropriate areas of stores for dispatch.
• Ensure rotation of stock.

High Level Disinfection / Endoscopy

• To decontaminate flexible endoscopes to agreed standards as per departmental standard operational procedures.
• To ensure endoscopes are stored and transported in line with agreed standards as per departmental standard operational procedures.
• To ensure all equipment used to decontaminate flexible endoscopes is used correctly.
• To undertake the complete cycle of endoscope decontamination - visual inspection, manual cleaning, disinfecting, storing, tracking & tracing and collection and delivery of all flexible scopes used in the Trust.
• To implement the correct method of decontamination of the endoscopes in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and protocols as issued by the department.
• To safely and correctly use Endoscope Washer Disinfectors (EWDs), Drying Cabinets and all other associated equipment as per manufacturer’s instructions.
• To work within COSHH Regulations in respect of substances used, comply with departmental procedures for use of PPE and be competent in dealing with spillages of chemicals.
• To assist with all relevant tests required on endoscopes, washer disinfectors and associated equipment as per departmental protocol.
• To ensure all necessary documentation concerning the decontamination of each endoscope (tracking and tracing) is completed effectively and efficiently and in accordance with the departmental procedure (electronic and paper systems).
• Have an understanding of any non-conformities or deficiencies that may occur in the decontamination process and inform the line manager of such.
• Report any faults discovered on individual endoscope operation (failures) to Team Leaders or Production Coordinators.