Senior Clinical Scientist Radiation Protection

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder should hold certification as a Medical Physics Expert (MPE) and be holder or working towards certification as either a Radiation Protection Adviser (RPA), a Laser Protection Adviser or Radioactive Waste Adviser (RWA).

Assist the Head of Service in the planning and provision of the services offered.

Carry out departmental audits and collaborate with radiology service managers and modality leads to ensure compliance against the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposures) Regulations 2017.

Carry out departmental audits and collaborate with the Radiation Protection Adviser and Radiation Protection Supervisors to ensure the highest standards of radiation safety are maintained within all Departments in accordance with the Ionising Radiation Regulations 2017.

Produce equipment specification for complex radiology equipment and conduct technical evaluations.

Provide advice and assistance in the design of rooms using ionising radiation.

Lead in commissioning and acceptance testing and routine quality assurance testing of complex equipment.

Provide Medical Physics Expert advice on research studies for compliance with the IR(ME)R regulations.

Take responsibility for leading the patient dose audit (including the use of patient dose management systems) and image optimisation strategy in the Trust and external contracts.

Communicate effectively with clinical, other scientific and technical staff to provide scientific advice on all aspects of the service. In addition provide clear and understandable information to patients on investigations and/or techniques.

Take responsibility for establishing validation procedures for equipment including both hardware and

software components and/or verifying their proper use in clinical practice.

Direct the development of existing techniques and introduction of new techniques to satisfy the aims

and objectives of the Imaging Departments and Medical Engineering and Physics.

Financial Management

Be responsible for initiating invoices to external contractors.

Assist in planning financial initiatives and income generation of the service.

Education and Training

Lead the teaching and training of junior physics and technical staff as well as medical students, junior radiologists, radiographers, visitors and work experience students attending the department.

Lead the supervision of any trainees on the STP programme or other routes on placement in Radiation Protection Service.

Provide teaching and training on various courses, including external academic teaching, and act as an examiner and supervisor at MSc level.

Governance/Quality Control

Ensure that all work is undertaken in accordance with the Departmental quality system.

Review and improve the quality systems and procedures of the section

Ensure a quality culture is maintained in the section, and all adverse incidents are reported to the Trust and relevant external agencies where necessary.

Research and Service Development

Develop research ideas, pursue innovations and support collaborative research.

Develop and review operating policies and procedures for the Service.

Take responsibility for specifying and commissioning software solutions for the service.

Professional

The post holder is expected to prioritise own work in accordance with departmental, Trust and external priorities and demands and cope with multi-tasking.

You may be required to work outside normal office hours from time to time.

Maintain professional skills and competencies through participation in an appropriate scheme of Continuous Professional Development Attend meetings, courses and other professional events as appropriate and as required.

Work towards and subsequently maintain accreditation as a Radiation Protection Adviser/ Laser Protection Adviser/ Radioactive Waste Adviser

Present completed research and development work of the department at appropriate meetings and in appropriate journals.

Assist with the scientific and professional development of junior scientific staff, particularly in basic and pre-registration training.

Undertake other relevant and appropriate scientific duties which may arise occasionally.

Develop links with professional colleagues in Kings Health Partners and pursue closer working relationships.

Attend and participate in Departmental Strategy Group meetings.

Please see attached documents for detailed job description and person specification.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

• Good honours degree in Engineering or Physical Science subject or equivalent
• MSc or higher degree
• State registration as a Clinical Scientist.
• Medical Physics Expert

Desirable

• Radiation Protection Adviser (2 for exists, 1 for in progress, 0 for none)
• Laser Protection Adviser (2 for exists, 1 for in progress, 0 for none)
• Radioactive Waste Adviser (2 for exists, 1 for in progress, 0 for none)

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Broad and well developed knowledge across the field of diagnostic radiology and radiation protection physics.
• Detailed knowledge of a wide range of medical imaging equipment
• Knowledge of wider clinical issues and their implications for Imaging techniques
• Understanding of patient and staff risks arising from equipment failure.
• Developed understanding of relevant legislation for radiation protection
• Developed management skills
• Able to prioritise and manage own work and that of others
• Able to exercise own initiative when dealing with operational issues at Trust and national level
• Specialist training on and practical experience with a range of Imaging equipment and computer applications.
• Thorough understanding and appreciation of relevant legislation, national standards, professional and other guidelines, including: IRR, IR(ME)R

Skills and Competencies

Essential

• Able to cope with multi-tasking and prioritising own work in accordance with departmental, Trust and external priorities and demands
• Effective communicator, Able to communicate complex information to other professional scientific and clinical groups and to non-scientists
• Teaching experience and supervision at STP and MSc level
• Able to provide teaching and training on imaging equipment
• Professional attitude towards work, reliability, good record of attendance
• Good negotiation skills
• Able to demonstrate an understanding of King's Values and commitment to uphold King's Values
• Able to communicate complex information at postgraduate level to other professional groups
• Able to present scientific papers at national and international conferences

Desirable

• Experience in computer programming/coding applicable to the Service

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

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Denmark Hill

London

SE58RX

Employer's website

https://www.kch.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)