Decontamination
Key factors to drive improvement in SSDs
Sustainability, training, automation, and patient safety were among the hot topics discussed at the Institute of Decontamination Sciences (IDSc) annual conference. Top experts gave their views on the challenges ahead and key areas that must be addressed to ensure safe, efficient and sustainable sterile services.
The IDSc’s first face-to-face annual conference since the pandemic, brought together top experts at the Eastside Rooms in Birmingham to discuss the latest issues in decontamination. High on the agenda included: training and apprenticeships, decontamination of robotic instruments, sustainability, medical devices regulations, reducing costs through inventory management, patient risks relating to ultrasound probes, vaporised hydrogen peroxide, and much more… A range of industry experts spoke to The Clinical Services Journal, during the event, to share their views on some of the key topics in decontamination. They discussed how the sector is changing, the challenges facing the sector, and how we can drive improvement to ensure patient safety, at all times. This article provides an overview of the themes that proved to be topical at the event – throughout the conference programme and during exclusive interviews with CSJ’s editor.1,2
Calls to raise awareness of career paths in decontamination High on the agenda at IDSc was discussion of mental health in the workplace, apprenticeship schemes and career progression. Helen Griffiths, a nurse practitioner/ endoscopist, JAG assessor and decontamination lead for the BSG, highlighted the importance of ensuring the competency of staff to safeguard the quality and safety of patient services. She considered: ‘What are the risks of not having demonstrable skills for the role you undertake?’ With this in mind, there was a core focus on education during the conference programme and the plenary session highlighted some of the benefits of apprenticeship training for staff, including: l A highly knowledgeable and skilled workforce, ensuring improved performance.
l Promoting confidence and competence. l Providing progression and development opportunities.
l Real work experiences. l Ownership over their learning journey. l Investment in lifelong learning. l Passion for the work they do. l A sense of achievement.
“An apprenticeship is a real job; it is about learning new skills, new knowledge and new behaviours, while earning money.…They go from Level 2 entry level apprenticeships, right the way up to degree level – so they provide a really good, professional route and life-long learning opportunities,” commented Claire Sides, head of training at STERIS IMS. “They are very inclusive, now…There is no upper age limit. In the past, it was 16–24-year- olds. But there is now an opportunity to upskill the existing staff in the workplace… We have seen a really positive impact on our apprentices and improved productivity; we have technicians that are better skilled, have really good knowledge, good behaviours, with transferrable skills, and the quality of their work is outstanding.” She added that having an apprenticeship with
specific decontamination/sterilisation units has helped to increase knowledge and skills in the sector. It has also led to improved staff retention rates and greater workforce diversity. Having mentors that can nurture apprentices and offer advice is key to ensuring success, however.
In addition to apprenticeships, there was
a great deal of discussion on the need for decontamination science to attract and retain staff. Speaking to CSJ ’s editor, Zoe Fayers-Rust, iM Med’s compliance division manager, shared her views on why a career in decontamination is so rewarding. She emphasised the fundamental role that decontamination has in healthcare: “Without decontamination, hospitals wouldn’t work.” As a career it is “fulfilling and interesting,” she commented. She highlighted a need to raise awareness of the career options available
February 2023 I
www.clinicalservicesjournal.com 19
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