Description
Barts Health NHS Trust has a vision to be a high performing group of NHS hospitals, renowned for excellence and innovation and providing safe and compassionate care to our patients in east London and beyond.
We are seeking a strategic, forward-thinking leader to take responsibility for the delivery, assurance and continuous improvement of all decontamination services across our Trust. This critical role will ensure safe, compliant and high-performing decontamination services that directly support clinical excellence and patient safety.
This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of decontamination services within a complex and progressive NHS organisation.
Reporting to the PFI Programme Director, the Group Decontamination Lead is responsible for overseeing and coordinating all decontamination processes across the Trust. You will lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of decontamination protocols to ensure the highest standards of hygiene and safety are maintained. This role involves managing teams, monitoring compliance with regulatory requirements, and collaborating with key stakeholders to reduce contamination risks and protect patients, staff and the wider community.
Main duties of the job
- Provide expert advice across the Trust on all matters relating to decontamination, including Sterile Services and Endoscopy Reprocessing.
- Lead a team of specialist staff across multiple sites and be accountable for ensuring compliance with national legislation, HTM standards and ISO accreditation requirements.
- Lead the development and delivery of a Trust-wide decontamination strategy.
- Oversee compliance with HTM 01-01, HTM 01-06, ISO 13485 and other regulatory frameworks.
- Manage multi-site decontamination services and lead on service transformation.
- Provide assurance to the Executive Team, IPC, and Clinical Divisions.
- Lead and develop specialist decontamination staff and Designated Persons.
- Manage contracts, budgets and procurement for equipment and service provision.
Benefits
- Competitive salary: £75,328 to £86,114 per annum
- Agenda for Change pay scheme
- Band 8b
- Permanent, full-time position
Person Specification
- Master's degree or equivalent qualification, or appropriate specialist qualifications with extensive relevant experience.
- Demonstrable specialist training or qualifications in decontamination or related technical disciplines (e.g., HTMs, decontamination processes).
- Proven senior-level experience in decontamination within an acute healthcare environment.
- Experience managing decontamination services in compliance with HTMs, ISO, and national guidance.
- Experience in managing large and complex contracts, including PFI and third-party suppliers.
- Demonstrated experience managing staff, budgets, and delivering service improvements.
- Experience in policy development and implementation across multiple departments.
- Experience in risk management and maintaining/updating Trust risk registers.
- In-depth understanding of NHS Trust structures and regulatory environment.
- Extensive knowledge of HTM 01-01, 01-05, 01-06, and other relevant decontamination standards.
- Strong leadership and facilitative management skills.
- Excellent interpersonal, influencing, and negotiation abilities.
- High-level analytical and critical thinking capabilities.
- Skilled in contract management and supplier performance evaluation.
- Effective change management and service improvement delivery.
- Ability to develop and deliver training packages for multidisciplinary teams.
- Experience creating audit programmes and action planning.
- Proven track record of policy development and governance framework leadership.
- Ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder environments and operate successfully within a multi-layered organisational structure.
- Must be able to travel frequently across Trust sites.
- Commitment to continuous professional development and keeping up with evolving best practices.