Lead Sterile Processing Technician (Open & Promotional), Redwood City, California

Description

The County of San Mateo is seeking a Lead Sterile Processing Technician to join the team in the San Mateo Medical Center! San Mateo Medical Center is a public hospital and clinic system fully accredited by The Joint Commission. The Medical Center operates outpatient clinics throughout San Mateo County and an acute-care hospital in San Mateo. The mission of San Mateo Medical Center is to "partner with patients to provide excellent care with compassion and respect." As part of an integrated Health System, the Medical Center serves the healthcare needs of all residents of San Mateo County, with an emphasis on education and prevention.

Under direct supervision, the Lead Sterile Processing Technician will provide lead direction in assigning, directing and reviewing the work of staff and activities involved in processing and dispensing supplies and equipment (both sterile and unsterile) needed for patient care.

The current vacancy is Full-Time, Regular. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 2:00pm to 10:30pm, with weekend and holiday rotations.

The work location will be at the San Mateo Medical Center, 222 W 39th Ave, San Mateo, CA 94403.

The Ideal Candidate will:

• Have two or more years of experience in a Sterile Processing Department (SPD) with at least one year in a lead role; leadership experience is highly preferred.
• Possess strong leadership skills with the ability to prioritize and delegate assignments.
• Assist the supervisor in the training and on-going education of the Sterile Processing Department's staff.
• Assume a leadership role throughout their shift and will assume the charge position as needed.
• Help onboard new staff and train students during their clinical rotation.
• Maintain collaborative, team relationships with peers and colleagues to effectively contribute to the working group's achievement of goals.
• Help foster a positive work environment through supporting and motivating staff as well as proven work experience as a team leader.

NOTE: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, term, unclassified, and regular classified vacancies.
Examples Of Duties
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Provide lead direction, training, and work review to a small staff of Sterile Processing Technicians; organize and assign work, set priorities and follow up to ensure coordination and completion of assigned work.
• Perform annual competencies per department requirements.
• Provide input into selection decisions, performance evaluations, and corrective action matters.
• Assist in establishing and implementing methods, standards, and procedures for preparing and handling sterile items, and train staff in these methods.
• Provide input into selection decisions, performance evaluations, and corrective action matters.
• Perform a wide variety of specialized and general support in the area of hospital sterile supply and distribution services.
• Oversee the use of sterilizing equipment; decontamination; setting up of treatment trays; preparation, processing and packaging of instruments.
• Insure that work and storage areas are clean and orderly.
• Oversee periodic inventories, assist in investigating and reconciling discrepancies, and confer with supervisor on issues.
• Assist the supervisor with the development and maintenance of workload statistics and recommend appropriate work standards.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Qualifications
Licensure : Possession of a Central Services Technician/Sterile Processing Technician certificate from the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) or the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD).

Knowledge of:

• Principles, techniques and procedures related to processing and dispensing supplies and equipment.
• Processing, decontamination, and sterilization techniques.
• Infection control.
• Microbiology, aseptic and sterilization techniques.
• Different sterilization methods, parameters and properties.
• Use and maintenance of equipment that is used for the reprocessing supplies, e.g. steam sterilizers, hydrogen peroxide sterilizers, cart washer, washer/disinfectors, and ultrasonic washers.
• Safe lifting techniques.
• Basic inventory control concepts and methods and procedures of ordering and stocking supplies.
• Staff development and supervision techniques.
• Applicable laws, safety regulations and precautions related community health care facilities.
• Nursing principles, methods and procedures.
• Medical terminology.
• Clinical systems, supplies and equipment and their uses.

Skill/Ability to:

• Assign, direct, and review the work of others.
• Train others in work procedures; organize and prioritize work and meet operational department supply needs and deadlines.
• Use sterilizing and decontamination equipment; set up treatment trays, process and package instruments.
• Correctly identify, disassemble, reassemble, and inspect routine and specialty surgical instrument trays.
• Act as resource person to nursing and medical staff.
• Use initiative and sound independent judgment within established guidelines.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work.
• Maintain inventory and billing records.
• Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with other hospital and clinic departments.
• Follow oral and written instructions.
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Lift and transport heavy items such as supplies and equipment.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Education and Experience: Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is two years of experience operating sterilizing equipment and cleaning surgical instruments and equipment in an acute care hospital setting.
Application/Examination
Open and Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, SEIU or AFSCME represented extra-help/term position prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score on this examination.

The examination process will consist of an application screening (weight: pass/fail) based on the candidate's application and responses to the supplemental questions. Candidates who pass the application screening will be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%) accompanied by a computer-based legal research exercise. Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification . All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in the County of San Mateo, California and applicants must participate at their own expense.

IMPORTANT : Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org/ to apply. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.

~ TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE ~
Final Filing Date: May 26, 2022 11:59 PM
Application Screening: June 1, 2022
Panel Interviews: June 8 and/or June 9, 2022

The County of San Mateo may require that all employees provide proof of COVID-19 vaccine or comply with weekly COVID-19 testing. Employees hired into specified health care facilities and other high-risk settings where there is potential for frequent COVID-19 exposure to staff and highly vulnerable patients are required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination. For more specific information, please refer to the County's COVID-19 Vaccine and Testing Policy

At the County of San Mateo, we welcome and celebrate the diversity of our employees, and strive to create a workplace where they feel valued every day.

County of San Mateo is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

HR Analyst: Wendy Young (05122022) (Lead Sterile Processing Technician- F086)