Position Description - Sterile Services Technician

Role title: Sterile Services Technician

Reports to:Sterile Services Manager

Directorate:Surgical Directorate

Direct reports: Nil

Location:Southland

Role of the District Health Board
Our Vision:
  • Better Health, Better Lives, Whanau Ora.
Our Mission:
  • We work in partnership with people and communities to achieve their optimum health and wellbeing. We seek excellence through a culture of learning, enquiry, service and caring.
The Southern Way:
  • Patients are the centre of everything we do.
  • Create a high performing organisation with a focus on quality.
  • Become a single unified DHB.
  • Provide financially and clinically sustainable services to the community we serve.
Our Statutory Purpose:
  • To improve, promote and protect the health of our population.
  • Promote the integration of health services across primary and secondary care services.
  • Seek the optimum arrangement for the most effective and efficient delivery of health services.
  • Promote effective care or support for those in need of personal health or disability support services.
  • Promote the inclusion and participation in society and the independence of people with disabilities.
  • Reduce health disparities by improving health outcomes for Maori and other population groups.
  • Foster community participation in health improvement, and in planning for the provision of, and changes to the provision of services.
  • Uphold the ethical and quality standards expected of us and to exhibit a sense of social and environmental responsibility.

Purpose of the Role:
The Sterile Services Technician is responsible for maintaining a high standard of cleaning and sterilisation of instruments and equipment used at Southern Health Board facilities.
Organisational Competencies:
Customer Focus / Is dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers; gets first hand customer information and uses it for improvements in products and services; acts with customers in mind; establishes and maintains effective relationships with customers and gains their trust and respect.
Integrity and Trust / Is widely trusted; is seen as a direct, truthful individual; can present the unvarnished truth in an appropriate and helpful manner; keeps confidences; admits mistakes; doesn’t misrepresent him/herself for personal gain.
Drive For Results / Can be counted on to exceed goals successfully; is constantly and consistently one of the top performers; very bottom line oriented; steadfastly pushes self and others for results.
Role Specific Competencies:
Listening / Practices attentive and active listening; has the patience to hear people out; can accurately restate the opinions of others even when he/she disagrees.
Informing / Provides the information people need to know to do their jobs and to feel good about being a member of the team, unit, and/or organisation; provides individuals information so that they can make accurate decisions; is timely with information.
Priority Setting / Spends his/her time and the time of others on what’s important; quickly zeros in on the critical few and puts the trivial aside; can quickly sense what will help or hinder accomplishing a goal; eliminates roadblocks; creates focus.
Key Relationships:
Internal
General Manager Surgical
Clinical Staff / External
Private Customers
Knowledge, Experience and Skills required:
Essential Criteria
  • Ability to communicate clearly verbally and in writing.
  • Ability to carry out basic manual tasks and follow written instructions
  • Be able to work in a standing position for most of the working day.
  • Be able to organise own work methodically.
  • Ability to use initiative in response to changed situations.
  • Be able to cope under pressure.
  • Be able to pay close attention to detail.
  • Have a positive attitude to authority.
  • Good interpersonal skills including honesty and integrity.
Experience/Knowledge
  • Undertake to successfully complete the Sterilising Technology Certificate to qualify as a Technician as soon as possible after commencing employment

Key Accountabilities / Deliverables / Example Measures
Demonstrates knowledge of the standard of work required and accepts responsibility for ensuring his/her practice and conduct meets relevant standards. /
  • Practices in accordance with the departmental policies and procedures.
  • Accepts responsibility for actions, decisions and errors.
  • Can apply theoretical knowledge to practical work
/ To be agreed
Demonstrates understanding of own role and responsibilities in patient care. /
  • Understands the consequences of errors in equipment.
  • Works within Scope of Practice.
  • Seeks guidance when necessary.
  • Reflects and evaluates the effectiveness of own practice.
/ To be agreed
Maintains evidence of ongoing learning /
  • Attains the Sterilising Technology Certificate within two years of commencing employment.
  • Maintains an up to date evidence folder or portfolio of education and learning.
  • Takes responsibility for own professional development.
  • Member of professional association
/ To be agreed
Develops and maintains a comprehensive knowledge of instruments and equipment /
  • Demonstrates a growing knowledge of instrument names.
  • Seeks opportunities to process new equipment.
  • Maintains a low error rate for equipment/instrument sets.
  • Shares knowledge with other staff as appropriate.
/ To be agreed
Follows departmental systems and processes. /
  • Uses documentation for information and keeps up to date with changes.
  • Understands the importance of documenting at all stages of the work.
  • Pays close attention to detail and is able to deal with disruptions effectively.
  • Demonstrates literacy and computer skills necessary to record, enter, store and retrieve data.
/ To be agreed
Shows commitment to infection control principles and quality activities in the department. /
  • Keeps dirty and clean separate.
  • When handling equipment uses techniques to prevent contamination of patients and staff.
  • Demonstrates awareness of quality integration in every process and the importance of completeness of tasks.
  • Recognises non-conformance in all stages of work and reacts appropriately.
/ To be agreed
Maintains own work area /
  • Restocks consumables daily or as necessary.
  • Cleans work area according to documented regime.
  • Uses downtime to complete non routine work or help others
/ To be agreed
Demonstrates good time management skills. /
  • Completes work at scheduled times
  • Is logical and methodical and completes one task before starting another.
  • Accurately assesses priorities and is able to reprioritise work throughout a shift.
  • Works effectively under pressure.
  • Follows up issues promptly.
/ To be agreed
Teamwork and Safety /
  • Shows willingness to learn and teach.
  • Demonstrates flexibility and willingness to help in other areas without being asked.
  • Works collaboratively with multidisciplinary colleagues.
  • Operates machinery safely and follows up on faults.
  • Reports hazards to OH&S Rep or Manager.
  • Supports the OH&S Rep within the department.
  • Supports and helps other staff.
  • Shares knowledge and takes responsibility for own part in any team effort.
/ To be agreed
Treaty of Waitangi /
  • The Southern District Health Board is committed to its obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi. As an employee you are required to give effect to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi - Partnership, Participation and Protection.

Health and Safety /
  • Foster and support commitment to achieving the highest level of health and safety, including identification and reporting of all hazards, assistance in resolving issues that may cause harm to staff, and working safely at all times.

Quality and Performance /
  • Maintain professional and organisational quality standards.
  • Ensure delivered work is planned, delivered, and implemented consistently against quality standards.
  • Continuously identify improvement opportunities to perform job in most effective manner.
  • Investigate opportunities to achieve goals in a more efficient way.

Note: The above example measures are provided as a guide only. The precise performance measures for this position will require further discussion between the job holder and manager.

Date: ______

Sterile Services Technician Dec 2014

Initial: Employee ______

Employer ______