Spotlight On …
Rebecca Stephenson
Dayshift Supervisor, Sterile Services Department
Tell us about your career history and how you came to work for us …
I left Longfield Comprehensive School in Darlington in 2003 at 16 years old. I heard about a full-time job in Sterile Services at DMH, so I applied. I didn’t know anything about Sterile Services or what they did but after reading the job advert it sounded really interesting. I had an interview and was offered a temporary contract with them. I was offered a permanent contract after working there for eight months. I really did love the job and the team I worked with.
Four years later, in 2007, I decided to apply for the Royal Navy, and I was accepted after passing all of my training. I loved the Navy as it took me to places I never imagined I would ever visit. I spent seven years in the Royal Navy but due to my mother’s health deteriorating I had to leave to care for her.
In 2014, I was made aware of a full-time job in Sterile Services at DMH, so I applied and again was successful. A job vacancy in UHND SSD as a Nightshift Technician was advertised, so I applied and was successful so I then became a team member of SSD team at UHND. I went on maternity leave in 2015 to have my daughter, and after 12 months leave I came back to UHND SSD but this time on the day shift. A supervisor role became available in 2021 so I applied and was successful and, to date, I’m still the SSD Supervisor on Day shift.
Tell us about your role – what do you do?
The Sterile Services Department at the University Hospital of North Durham provides a highly specialised, in-house decontamination service for reusable surgical instruments and instrument trays used across all County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust sites.
SSD provides a 24/7 service decontaminating and sterilising surgical instruments that are used in the Operating Theatres, Clinics, and Wards, and is an essential support function to enable the day to day running of the Trust’s surgical activities. I lead a team of 11 staff 8.00am to 4.00pm Monday to Friday. I carry out supervisory checks, training with staff, environmental testing throughout the department, I also manage shifts rotas, making sure all jobs are covered. I deal with all levels of staff from Theatres, wards, and clinics, and I would say I have a very good and professional relationship with all our customers.
What’s the most challenging part of your job?
The most challenging part of my job is balancing the demand from our customers. We are asked to prioritise equipment on a daily basis, and with so many conflicting priorities this can sometimes become very challenging for myself and my team. We have a turnaround time of 24 hours for instruments to be returned (which we stick to) but when customers request that instruments are turned around the same day it can be very difficult and stressful to the team. I remind my team frequently that we can only do our best.
What’s the best part about your job?
The best part of my job is having a very happy work team – if my staff are happy then this makes me happy too. We all work together for the service needs. At the end of the day knowing we have worked very hard for the patient is a great achievement. My team always give 100% in everything they do whilst at work.
Why do you like working for us?
I love working as a supervisor in SSD for SCL, as I’m given opportunities to progress in my career. I have undertaken numerous courses (internal and external), which I have really enjoyed. My most recent were achieving a City and Guilds in Supervisory Management in Decontamination and a Level 2 in Building Upon Your Leadership Foundations. These are to name a few in which I have achieved passes.