Job summary
The Radiation Safety Service provides comprehensive protection for patients, staff and visitors exposed to both ionising and non-ionising radiation, delivering a wide range of activities including equipment checks, dosimetry, audits, training, and regulatory compliance.
A major focus of the role is leadership and line management of laser safety team and act as the lead Laser Protection Adviser (LPA) across the Trust and external organisations.. This includes overseeing laser safety governance, policy development, audit programmes, and compliance with legislation, as well as managing the maintenance and frontline technical support of clinical laser systems. The post holder also delivers advanced training, advises on procurement and implementation of new laser technologies, and co-ordinates service delivery, research, and innovation to ensure safe, effective, and compliant use of lasers in complex clinical environments.
Within the radiation safety team, the radiation monitor calibration laboratory is a core function, the post holder will be expected to act as the Trust's qualified expert under IRR2017. This role will have responsibility for managing the calibration service, maintaining specialised equipment and radioactive sources, supporting internal and external clients, and generating income through service provision and contracts.
Main duties of the job
The main duties of the job a described in detail in the 'clinical scientific', 'managerial', teaching, training and research' and 'professional sections of the job description.
About us
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust comprises five of the UK's best known hospitals - Guy's, St Thomas', Evelina London Children's Hospital, Royal Brompton and Harefield - as well as community services in Lambeth and Southwark, all with a long history of high quality care, clinical excellence, research and innovation.
We are among the UK's busiest, most successful foundation trusts. We provide specialist care for patients including heart and lung, cancer and renal services as well as a full range of local hospital and community services for people in Lambeth and Southwark.
We have a long tradition of clinical and scientific achievement and - as part of King's Health Partners - we are one of England's eight academic health sciences centres, bringing together world-class clinical services, teaching and research.
We have around 25,300 staff, making us one of the largest NHS Trusts in the country and one of the biggest employers locally. We aim to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and continue to develop new and existing partnerships with local people, patients, neighbouring NHS organisations, local authorities and charitable bodies and GPs.
We strive to recruit and retain the best staff as the dedication and skills of our employees lie at the heart of our organisation and ensure that our services are of the highest quality, safe and focused on our patients.
www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical Scientific
- Provide advanced specialist advice on lasers and radiation measurement, interpreting complex or conflicting information.
- Analyse and apply scientific developments to improve clinical safety and service delivery.
- Provide expert support in radiation and laser incidents and emergencies.
- Manage the radiation calibration laboratory service, ensuring accuracy, traceability, and compliance with standards.
- Manage maintenance, servicing, and troubleshooting of clinical laser systems in patient environments.
- Responsible for provision (and supervise others to provide) first point service response to laser environments.
- Advise on procurement, specification, installation, and commissioning of laser and radiation measurement equipment.
- Lead and support radiation and laser safety audits, incident investigations, and decommissioning activities.
- Maintain calibration laboratory assets, including radioactive sources and specialised instrumentation.
- Provide support in incidents involving radioactive substances, including those handled under National Arrangements for Incidents involving Radioactivity (NAIR) or other emergency schemes. This involves liaising with the counter-terrorism group of the police, the Environment Agency, Public Health England and the Department of Health.
- To liaise with external inspectors, under the direction of the section Head, with Regulatory bodies (principally the Environment Agency, the Metropolitan Police security adviser, and others as deemed appropriate)
- Deputise as appropriate for Physicists leading in different areas within the scope of practice agreed within RSRP, to ensure effective delivery of the service.
Managerial
- Plan and oversee laser protection and radiation calibration services across the Trust and external clients including effective record-keeping systems and documentation of work activities.
- Manage staff within radiation safety, including supervision of scientific and technical teams including for staff rotas and allocation of work
- Plan and optimise service delivery, projects, and operational workflows with key stakeholders.
- Oversee implementation of audit programmes and reporting to governance committees (e.g. RSAC).
- Deputise for head of section when appropriate to ensure continuity of service.
- Manage external service contracts and client relationships.
- Lead financial and commercial activities including contracts, income generation, and cost improvement delivery.
Teaching, training and research
- Act as a design engineer in the development of new medical devices and technologies.
- Instigate and undertake research, development, and complex clinical audit projects.
- Deliver education and training in radiation and laser safety to clinical and academic audiences (up to MSc/MD/PhD level).
- Provide practical training to multidisciplinary staff (clinical, technical, and scientific).
- Train staff on internal and external courses.
- Supervise trainee clinical scientists in laser and radiation laboratory work.
- Co-ordinate training placements and activities for trainees.
- Act as an examiner and contribute to academic teaching programmes.
- Present work at conferences, meetings, and seminars.
- Provide mentoring and support to junior staff and trainees.
Professional
- Fulfil the role of Laser Protection Adviser (LPA) and maintain accreditation.
- Act as the Qualified Person (QP) for radiation instrumentation services.
- Develop, implement, and maintain policies, procedures, and safety documentation (e.g. local rules).
- Ensure compliance with quality systems, regulatory frameworks, and statutory requirements.
- Participate in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and maintain professional registration.
- Keep up to date with scientific, technical, and regulatory developments.
- Contribute to professional groups and external bodies related to radiation protection.
- Liaise professionally with clinical teams, external organisations, and regulators.
- Uphold high standards of professional conduct and service delivery.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical Scientific
- Provide advanced specialist advice on lasers and radiation measurement, interpreting complex or conflicting information.
- Analyse and apply scientific developments to improve clinical safety and service delivery.
- Provide expert support in radiation and laser incidents and emergencies.
- Manage the radiation calibration laboratory service, ensuring accuracy, traceability, and compliance with standards.
- Manage maintenance, servicing, and troubleshooting of clinical laser systems in patient environments.
- Responsible for provision (and supervise others to provide) first point service response to laser environments.
- Advise on procurement, specification, installation, and commissioning of laser and radiation measurement equipment.
- Lead and support radiation and laser safety audits, incident investigations, and decommissioning activities.
- Maintain calibration laboratory assets, including radioactive sources and specialised instrumentation.
- Provide support in incidents involving radioactive substances, including those handled under National Arrangements for Incidents involving Radioactivity (NAIR) or other emergency schemes. This involves liaising with the counter-terrorism group of the police, the Environment Agency, Public Health England and the Department of Health.
- To liaise with external inspectors, under the direction of the section Head, with Regulatory bodies (principally the Environment Agency, the Metropolitan Police security adviser, and others as deemed appropriate)
- Deputise as appropriate for Physicists leading in different areas within the scope of practice agreed within RSRP, to ensure effective delivery of the service.
Managerial
- Plan and oversee laser protection and radiation calibration services across the Trust and external clients including effective record-keeping systems and documentation of work activities.
- Manage staff within radiation safety, including supervision of scientific and technical teams including for staff rotas and allocation of work
- Plan and optimise service delivery, projects, and operational workflows with key stakeholders.
- Oversee implementation of audit programmes and reporting to governance committees (e.g. RSAC).
- Deputise for head of section when appropriate to ensure continuity of service.
- Manage external service contracts and client relationships.
- Lead financial and commercial activities including contracts, income generation, and cost improvement delivery.
Teaching, training and research
- Act as a design engineer in the development of new medical devices and technologies.
- Instigate and undertake research, development, and complex clinical audit projects.
- Deliver education and training in radiation and laser safety to clinical and academic audiences (up to MSc/MD/PhD level).
- Provide practical training to multidisciplinary staff (clinical, technical, and scientific).
- Train staff on internal and external courses.
- Supervise trainee clinical scientists in laser and radiation laboratory work.
- Co-ordinate training placements and activities for trainees.
- Act as an examiner and contribute to academic teaching programmes.
- Present work at conferences, meetings, and seminars.
- Provide mentoring and support to junior staff and trainees.
Professional
- Fulfil the role of Laser Protection Adviser (LPA) and maintain accreditation.
- Act as the Qualified Person (QP) for radiation instrumentation services.
- Develop, implement, and maintain policies, procedures, and safety documentation (e.g. local rules).
- Ensure compliance with quality systems, regulatory frameworks, and statutory requirements.
- Participate in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and maintain professional registration.
- Keep up to date with scientific, technical, and regulatory developments.
- Contribute to professional groups and external bodies related to radiation protection.
- Liaise professionally with clinical teams, external organisations, and regulators.
- Uphold high standards of professional conduct and service delivery.
Person Specification
Registrations/Qualifications
Essential
- RPA 2000 Certificate of Competence to act as a Laser Protection Adviser
- Good (1st or 2nd class) Honours degree in a relevant subject
- RPA 2000 Certificate of Competence to act as a Ionising Radiation Instrument Specialist (IRIS
Desirable
- RPA 2000 Certificate of Competence to act as a Ionising Radiation Instrument Specialist (IRIS)
Experience
Essential
- Previous experience in running a ionising radiation calibration facility dealing with and providing expert advice to specialists on instruments and dosimeters used in a healthcare and academic research environment
- Previous extensive experience in laser safety and training staff in the safe use of lasers
- Previous experience in the negotiation of service level agreements for services and income generation activities
skills and knowledge
Essential
- Expert knowledge of laser protection across a wide scope of complex usage within a teaching hospital environment: able to use own judgement, skills and knowledge to advise clinicians and users on the safe use of laser equipment to achieve treatment outcomes. To provide expert advice to the Trust and other clients as the nominated Laser Protection Adviser (LPA)
- An expert understanding of clinical use of lasers and their safety issues in order to train staff, including medical staff in these areas
- Able to carry out laser safety training and audits of complex laser systems and their facilities
- Able to analyse and advise on complex tender documentation for client department e.g. for replacement laser treatment systems
- A significant level of knowledge of radioactive substances and their uses in the medical and academic environment.
- A high skill level and expertise in the calibration and use of radiation detection instruments and dosimeters used for safety monitoring of patients, staff and environments.
- An ability to diagnose, test and resolve technical laser issues. To be able to manage and provide a service to laser users that supports continuity of service delivery by client departments.
- Good understanding of relevant legislation, national standards, professional and other guidelines, including: IRR, IR(ME)R, CDG(2009), ISO 9001, NPL Good Practice Guides
Person Specification
Registrations/Qualifications
Essential
- RPA 2000 Certificate of Competence to act as a Laser Protection Adviser
- Good (1st or 2nd class) Honours degree in a relevant subject
- RPA 2000 Certificate of Competence to act as a Ionising Radiation Instrument Specialist (IRIS
Desirable
- RPA 2000 Certificate of Competence to act as a Ionising Radiation Instrument Specialist (IRIS)
Experience
Essential
- Previous experience in running a ionising radiation calibration facility dealing with and providing expert advice to specialists on instruments and dosimeters used in a healthcare and academic research environment
- Previous extensive experience in laser safety and training staff in the safe use of lasers
- Previous experience in the negotiation of service level agreements for services and income generation activities
skills and knowledge
Essential
- Expert knowledge of laser protection across a wide scope of complex usage within a teaching hospital environment: able to use own judgement, skills and knowledge to advise clinicians and users on the safe use of laser equipment to achieve treatment outcomes. To provide expert advice to the Trust and other clients as the nominated Laser Protection Adviser (LPA)
- An expert understanding of clinical use of lasers and their safety issues in order to train staff, including medical staff in these areas
- Able to carry out laser safety training and audits of complex laser systems and their facilities
- Able to analyse and advise on complex tender documentation for client department e.g. for replacement laser treatment systems
- A significant level of knowledge of radioactive substances and their uses in the medical and academic environment.
- A high skill level and expertise in the calibration and use of radiation detection instruments and dosimeters used for safety monitoring of patients, staff and environments.
- An ability to diagnose, test and resolve technical laser issues. To be able to manage and provide a service to laser users that supports continuity of service delivery by client departments.
- Good understanding of relevant legislation, national standards, professional and other guidelines, including: IRR, IR(ME)R, CDG(2009), ISO 9001, NPL Good Practice Guides
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.
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).
Additional information
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.
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).
