Head of Radiotherapy Physics

Job description

Job responsibilities

4. Duties and Responsibilities

4.1. Clinical Service

4.1.1 Lead all relevant staff in Medical Physics, and work closely with Clinical Oncology to provide a high quality Medical Physics clinical, scientific and technical service to the Guy's Cancer Centre.

4.1.2 Direct and manage the work of the Radiotherapy Physics Section to achieve objectives and service developments in line with Departmental and Trust strategies and policies. Develop new services, protocols and procedures, which may affect staff and activity in Clinical Oncology.

4.2. Clinical Scientific

4.2.1 Set and maintain high standards in the safe and effective application of physical principles to radiotherapy physics in the performance of staff, clinical procedures and the utilisation of equipment and radiation sources.

4.2.2 Lead senior staff in the Section to coordinate service delivery and service developments.

4.2.3 Ensure Radiotherapy Physics facilities and practices are of a high standard, and comply with national regulations, codes of practice, professional guidelines, Trust and other requirements. Interpret and apply legislation, policies and guidelines.

4.2.4 Ensure that the Sections equipment is being properly maintained and calibrated.

4.2.5 Ensure that a programme of Quality Control is maintained, to make sure all treatment equipment is fit for clinical use, meets professionally accepted standards and is regularly checked in accordance with national regulations and professionally-recognised best practice.

4.2.6 Coordinate the work of Radiotherapy Physics with the Head of the Radiation Equipment Servicing group, to ensure treatment equipment is maintained and managed to the highest standards. Authorise the hand-over and withdrawal of equipment from use.

4.2.6 In co-operation with the Trusts Radiation Protection Adviser, ensure advice and support is provided to Clinical Oncology on radiation safety. This will include the provision of expert knowledge for the design of new facilities.

4.2.7 The postholder will act as a Medical Physics Expert under the definition of IRMER Regulations, in accordance with Trust Policies and Practices. The postholder will coordinate the work of other Medical Physics Experts in the Section and oversee the work of Section staff acting as operators under IRMER.

4.2.8 Introduce new radiotherapy procedures into the Trust, in collaboration with other professional staff.

4.2.9 Take overall responsibility for maintaining proper Health and Safety standards and adherence to regulations within the Section.

4.2.10 Ensure that the ISO 9001 Quality Management System in the Section is maintained and developed to minimise clinical risk, liaising closely with the quality system in other parts of Medical Physics and within Radiotherapy. Make sure quality procedures are followed within the Section.

4.2.11 Provide highly complex scientific and technical advice to other clinical staff, as required. Investigate complex and subtle equipment and operational problems to identify solutions.

4.2.12 Create and format spreadsheets and databases to meet departmental requirements.

4.3. Managerial

4.3.1 Line manage all scientific, technical and radiographic staff in the Section. Provide professional leadership to other staff working within Radiotherapy Physics.

4.3.2 Carry out annual appraisal of staff for whom the postholder is responsible and agree annual training and development plans. Ensure that staff undertake Continuing Professional Development and mandatory training.

4.3.3 Ensure that staff training and development in the Section are given a high priority including achievement of structured training plans and the delivery of internal seminars.

4.3.4 Ensure good communication between staff in the Section, the rest of Medical Physics and other departments within the Trust. Coordinate the work of the Section with the needs of clinical users and delegate tasks appropriately.

4.3.5 Carry out strategic and annual service planning for the Section as part of Medical Physics business planning. Negotiate detailed Service Level Agreements with Radiotherapy and other departments as appropriate.

4.3.6 Manage Section resources. Identify resource needs for existing services and future clinical and service developments. Provide input to business plans and negotiate as required over resource provision.

4.3.7 Manage the delegated Section non-pay budget and other allocated revenue including project grants. Manage budgets for agreed capital expenditure. Monitor and control expenditure within agreed budgets.

4.3.8 Attend management meetings as required. This will include regular meetings with senior managers in Medical Physics and Clinical Oncology.

4.3.9 Regularly review the balance and cost effectiveness of how services are provided, including in-house and external equipment maintenance services. Carry out benchmarking as appropriate.

4.3.10 Lead bids to the Trust and other funders for projects, staffing and equipment. Propose and manage the introduction of new services and equipment. Lead project teams as required, to manage planning processes for new facilities, equipment procurement and commissioning.

4.4. Teaching, Training and Research

4.4.1 Initiate research and development projects relevant to the scientific and clinical work of Radiotherapy Physics and the Cancer Centre. Support applications for research and development funding, including projects undertaken in collaboration with Clinical Oncology and other clinical departments. Obtain and manage external grant funding, manage research and development projects and develop the Trusts intellectual property. Actively seek collaborations for research within the Trust and KCL, including the School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, and also with external organisations and manufacturers.

4.4.2 Meet regularly with other staff in the Cancer Centre to coordinate and develop research programmes.

4.4.3 Present original scientific and other work at meetings and conferences, and in publication.

4.4.4 Supervise the scientific work of trainees, graduate and postgraduate students, and appropriately qualified research staff working in Radiotherapy Physics.

4.4.5 Organise and participate in teaching and training programmes for trainees, staff, undergraduate and postgraduate students, and others as required and as agreed with the Trust and School.

5. Professional

5.1. The post holder will be required to keep abreast of the latest technical and scientific developments and new practices relating to Clinical Oncology and Radiotherapy Physics.

5.2. Attend suitable seminars, meetings and courses as part of personal development and to further the work of the Department.

5.3. Register and participate in the IPEM or other approved Continuing Professional Development (CPD) scheme.

6. Miscellaneous

6.1. Implement and ensure compliance with accredited Quality Systems in the areas of work for which the postholder carries responsibility.

6.2. Carry out all duties in accordance with the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act, relevant Statutory Regulations, Approved Codes of Conduct and Local Rules.

6.3. Work hours necessary for the proper and efficient performance of the work. In practice, the appointee will occasionally be required to perform duties outside the normal working hours of the Department.

6.4. When working in other departments, the appointee will liaise with local heads of department, medical consultants, superintendents, nursing sisters or their representatives as appropriate, adhering to local policies and practices.The postholder will behave courteously and professionally at all times and seek to ensure that the highest level of service is provided by Medical Physics.

6.5. Perform other appropriate duties that may be required from time to time by the Head of Medical Physics.

Person Specification

Qualifications /Education

Essential

• Relevant MSc or higher degree
• Qualified to act as a Medical Physics Expert (MPE) under IRMER in the field of radiotherapy

Desirable

• PhD/HSST(E) or equivalent knowledge and experience

Professional /Statutory Registration

Essential

• State registration as a Clinical Scientist
• Full Member of the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine [or equivalent]

Desirable

• Fellowship of IPEM or equivalent body

Skills/ Knowledge /Ability

Essential

• In-depth knowledge and understanding of relevant legislation, regulations, national standards, professional codes of practice and other guidelines [e.g. IRR2017, IRMER2017, EPR2010, HASS2005, ISO 9000, Dosimetry Codes of Practice]
• Specialist knowledge of a wide range of radiotherapy and associated diagnostic equipment
• Advanced theoretical and practical knowledge of clinical issues in radiotherapy and their implications for radiotherapy physics practices
• Advanced knowledge of clinical procedures and practical techniques in radiotherapy and complex treatment planning
• Expert understanding of patient and staff risks arising from equipment failure or operator error

Desirable

• Knowledge of management techniques at Diploma level or equivalent
• Broad expert knowledge of other related areas of medical physics including Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, MRI and Ultrasound.
• Good understanding of NHS organisation and procedures

Previous experience

Essential

• Significant previous experience acting as a Medical Physics Expert (MPE) in radiotherapy
• Experience of introducing advanced radiotherapy techniques into clinical service
• Experience of leading a section within Radiotherapy Physics in a large teaching hospital or equivalent
• Wide experience across all areas of radiotherapy physics

Desirable

• Track record of involvement in original peer-reviewed radiotherapy research
• Evidence of working at a national level in radiotherapy physics

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital

Great Maze Pond

London

SE1 9RT

Employer's website

https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/careers/careers.aspx (Opens in a new tab)