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Sterile Services Technician

Do you want to become a Sterile Services Technician? Here is some information to help point you in the right direction:

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Sterile services technicians make sure that the equipment and materials needed for hospital patients are sterile (clean and germ-free). Some surgical instruments are reusable, and they have to be disinfected and sterilised before they can be used again.

The technician's work includes:

• collecting used instruments from wards, clinics and operating theatres and then using washers and disinfectors to wash, rinse and dry them
• checking the instruments to make sure they are clean and working properly
• putting together packs or trays of instruments, dressings, needles and syringes, sealing and labelling the packs or trays, which are then sterilised in steam sterilisers (called autoclaves)
• testing machinery and reporting any problems.

Technicians in the National Health Service (NHS) usually work 37 hours a week. Their working days often start early. It is possible to work part time. Shifts and on-call duties may be required.

Earnings start at £9,929 a year and can increase to £16,180 a year for technicians in supervisory positions.

Sterile services technicians should:

• have a high standard of personal hygiene
• be in good health
• have a reasonable level of physical strength
• be able to follow instructions
• have clear handwriting and good numeracy skills
• be able to work quickly and precisely.

Most sterile services technicians work in NHS hospitals. A typical department might employ 20 full-time staff (or the part time equivalent). Some work in private or military hospitals. The number of sterile services technicians has increased over the past few years.

There are no set entry qualifications, but a good general education is required. Applicants must be able to read and understand instructions. Adults are welcome and many entrants have had experience of other types of work.

New workers are trained on the job under the supervision of their manager. The length of training varies, but it often takes at least two years to become fully skilled in all areas of the work. Technicians work towards membership of the Institute of Sterile Services Management, and a City & Guilds qualification.

There are opportunities for promotion to senior technician, supervisor, assistant manager and sterile services manager. Some may then progress into general health service management. There are opportunities to work in hospitals abroad.

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