Job summary
A three-year fixed term training opportunity has arisen for the right candidate looking to progress to registration to a Clinical Scientist (Health and Care Professions Council) in the field of Diagnostic Radiology Physics and Radiation Protection. Post Graduate training through the Association of Clinical Scientists (ACS) "Route 2" competencies to achieve the ACS certificate of attainment, and subsequent HCPC registration will be hosted by the Clinical & Radiation Physics Group of University Hospitals Plymouth. Regular progress reviews will ensure progress is made against the competence requirements set by the ACS. Assessment is via a portfolio of evidence of experience which is subsequently confirmed by external interview at the end of the fixed term position. Interested candidates unfamiliar with the role of a Clinical Scientist in Diagnostic Radiology and Radiation Protection are encouraged to contact the department for a discussion and visit the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine's website to understand more about the profession and typical career progression.
For suitable candidates who are unable to meet the ACS Scientific competency set at entry, the training position will include a funded MSc in Medical Physics. This will require the candidate to travel and live away from Plymouth during the taught elements of the MSc (for up to one year within the three year training programme).
Main duties of the job
Further information regarding the training and assessment expectations can be found using this link: My Routes to Registration - Association of Clinical Scientists (assclinsci.org)
In conjunction with and supported by the designated Training Coordinator/Officer, the Trainee Healthcare Scientist will be responsible for their own progression through the training programme, for completing the learning outcomes as outlined by the ACS Competency set, progressing through a mixture of work-based competence and experience in NHS scientific departments and undertaking the complementary academic master's programme at the designated Higher Education Institution.
At all times the Trainee Healthcare Scientist is expected to work within standard operating policies and procedures of the host department and NHS organisation and adhere to high standards of professionalism, health and safety, risk reduction, confidentiality, patient care and dignity, and respect for equality and diversity as set out in the NHS Constitution.
The Trainee Healthcare Scientist (Medical Physics) will be employed by the host department for a fixed term of three years, during which time they will work through a full-time programme combining work-based learning and a part-time academic programme at master's (MSc) level (if relevant).
The post holder will follow the curriculum as detailed Application Documents - Association of Clinical Scientists (assclinsci.org)
About us
We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment team on 01752 432100. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Job description
Job responsibilities
PRIMARY DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
Job Statement
The trainee will undertake the full training programme in order to progress through the modules of the training scheme. In so doing they will learn how to perform and interpret clinical and specialist scientific processes underpinned by theoretical and applied knowledge and practical experience and will learn how to:
- carry out complex scientific and clinical roles, including those working directly with patients
- analyse, interpret and compare investigative and clinical options
- make judgements, including clinical and differential judgements, involving complicated facts or situations that impact on patients
- initiate and undertake innovation, improvement and R&D and be involved in the education of healthcare science trainees and other learners in the workplace
They will be expected to complete all work based training and assessment alongside the academic masters course to exit the programme with eligibility for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and use of the protected title of Clinical Scientist. In addition, they will be expected to undertake work based experience to enable them to communicate complex technical, scientific and sensitive information to colleagues within their department in both verbal and written forms.
Trainees must meet theHCPCsstandards for training, professional skills, behaviour and health.
Example Principal Duties
Scientific and Clinical Practice
- Undertake a range of clinical and scientific investigations as appropriate to the role. These may include the processing of blood and other samples, direct clinical measurements on patients, and procedures involving ionising and non-ionising radiation.
- Acquire and maintain a high level of professional competence in the performance of all tests, investigations and measurements carried out.
- Interpret and act upon results of tests, investigations and measurements in accordance with departmental policies, procedures and quality systems.
- Comment and advise on new proposals and protocols, especially for service improvements.
- Assist in the provision of advice to medical, nursing and other healthcare staff on the optimal and safe use of scientific procedures and highly complex equipment, including assisting in the design of new facilities.
- Assist with the procurement, acceptance and use of medical devices and consumables.
- Be responsible for the safe use of complex scientific and medical equipment, including recording all maintenance and calibration procedures performed and any corrective actions undertaken.
- Use reagents, consumables, hazardous materials and equipment safely and in accordance with Health and Safety policies.
- Participate in risk management procedures including risk assessment and the investigation and reporting of adverse incidents.
- Participate in internal and external audit processes and quality systems.
- Undertake R&D within the department as an integral part of training and acquire relevant skills to undertake clinical audit.
- Assist with supervision and training of support staff, students and new appointees, and participate in departmental seminars and scientific meetings to disseminate knowledge acquired through study or research.
Education and Learning
- Successfully progress and complete the training and assessment programme in conjunction with the local/External Training Coordinator/supervisor, the Institute of Physics & Engineering in Medicine and the Association of Healthcare Science to achieve certified competence awarded by the ACS. Undertake suitable training within the host department and other placements to successfully acquire core competencies and thereafter maintain the required standards of competence when undertaking duties.
- Take responsibility for own learning and development by recognising and taking advantage of all opportunities to learn, including appraisal, supervision, academic course and problem-based learning and maintaining a personal portfolio of learning.
- Ensure that own learning needs, identified with the Training Coordinator/Officer and reflecting the requirements of the curriculum, are met.
- Retain sufficient flexibility and adaptability in learning to ensure full contribution to improving services in response to changing health care needs.
- Maintain knowledge of recent scientific developments and undertake supplementary training to develop both knowledge and skills.
- Attend mandatory training (both vocational and academic) as required.
- Participate in internal and external assessment processes.
Patient Management and Clinical Care
Delivery of patient care, experience and contribution in the following areas:
- Provide support to specialist clinics and specialist treatment interventions.
- Perform, report and interpret a range of investigations undertaken indirectly for or directly with patients within a range of care settings.
- Specialist care and treatment interventions for patients across the range of clinical pathways and health care settings.
- Appropriate clinical and scientific advice and interpretation of analytical results.
- Participate in multidisciplinary meetings.
- Apply and promote evidence based practice and use of relevant clinical protocols and procedures.
- Ensuring that all equipment used on patients and the public is handled and applied in accordance with health and safety requirements and other national or international guidelines.
- In some specialties trainees will be involved in the collection and processing of clinical samples from patients.
Communication
- Communication and interpretation of complex clinical, scientific and technical information to a wide range of people including clinicians, managers, patients and the public.
- Liaise with senior scientists and clinical users of the service on appropriateness of investigations, interventions and tests.
- Communicate scientific innovation and service redesign.
- Communicate research and development findings in written and oral formats to internal and external contacts.
Quality Audit
- Contribute to audits to inform patient management and clinical care.
- Contribute to quality audits relating to accreditation and regulation.
- Perform quality assurance, process and outcomes audits relevant to the specialty.
- Develop an audit report and prepare an action plan for any issues that arise from the audit process.
- Contribute to the design of audits to improve the cost effectiveness of the service to patients.
Clinical Governance
- Maintain standards for health and safety procedures.
- Comply with quality and governance procedures within the department including risk management and risk mitigation.
- Maintain high standards of professional and personal conduct.
- Ensure that patient safety and experience and effectiveness of service are maximised.
Occasional Duties
- To carry out any other reasonable duties to achieve learning and experience that may be required, which are commensurate with the grade and nature of the post.
- This job description outlines the main current duties and responsibilities of the training post. The job description will need to be reviewed and subsequently may be altered. Any resulting changes will be subject to consultation.
- In addition to regular assessment and planning meetings, the trainee will have an annual meeting to discuss progress and to consider issues relevant to the wider national training programme.
Communications and Working Relationships
The trainee will work closely with the training coordinator/officer and more senior members of staff to follow the curriculum for the ACS training programme. The trainee will work in specified areas of the department and be responsible to the Designated Training Coordinator/Officer for their own work and progression through the scheme. All trainees will be expected to travel to national academic and other courses regularly throughout their training in some cases this may involve overnight and/or residential stays. Trainees will undertake a masters degree course at a designated academic institution specific for the training pathway. Trainees will be expected to rotate both through the host department, as well as through other local/regional/national scientific services, in order to complete the required pathway work-based curricula.
Liaises with other technical and scientific staff of department /section, and other Trainee Healthcare Scientists across a wide range of departments.
The post holder will be expected to make successful progress through both the MSc (if relevant) and ACS competencies throughout the training period. Whilst every effort will be made to support the post holder the Trust may terminate the contract of employment where the post holder continues to fall short of key milestones.
Job description
Job responsibilities
PRIMARY DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
Job Statement
The trainee will undertake the full training programme in order to progress through the modules of the training scheme. In so doing they will learn how to perform and interpret clinical and specialist scientific processes underpinned by theoretical and applied knowledge and practical experience and will learn how to:
- carry out complex scientific and clinical roles, including those working directly with patients
- analyse, interpret and compare investigative and clinical options
- make judgements, including clinical and differential judgements, involving complicated facts or situations that impact on patients
- initiate and undertake innovation, improvement and R&D and be involved in the education of healthcare science trainees and other learners in the workplace
They will be expected to complete all work based training and assessment alongside the academic masters course to exit the programme with eligibility for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and use of the protected title of Clinical Scientist. In addition, they will be expected to undertake work based experience to enable them to communicate complex technical, scientific and sensitive information to colleagues within their department in both verbal and written forms.
Trainees must meet theHCPCsstandards for training, professional skills, behaviour and health.
Example Principal Duties
Scientific and Clinical Practice
- Undertake a range of clinical and scientific investigations as appropriate to the role. These may include the processing of blood and other samples, direct clinical measurements on patients, and procedures involving ionising and non-ionising radiation.
- Acquire and maintain a high level of professional competence in the performance of all tests, investigations and measurements carried out.
- Interpret and act upon results of tests, investigations and measurements in accordance with departmental policies, procedures and quality systems.
- Comment and advise on new proposals and protocols, especially for service improvements.
- Assist in the provision of advice to medical, nursing and other healthcare staff on the optimal and safe use of scientific procedures and highly complex equipment, including assisting in the design of new facilities.
- Assist with the procurement, acceptance and use of medical devices and consumables.
- Be responsible for the safe use of complex scientific and medical equipment, including recording all maintenance and calibration procedures performed and any corrective actions undertaken.
- Use reagents, consumables, hazardous materials and equipment safely and in accordance with Health and Safety policies.
- Participate in risk management procedures including risk assessment and the investigation and reporting of adverse incidents.
- Participate in internal and external audit processes and quality systems.
- Undertake R&D within the department as an integral part of training and acquire relevant skills to undertake clinical audit.
- Assist with supervision and training of support staff, students and new appointees, and participate in departmental seminars and scientific meetings to disseminate knowledge acquired through study or research.
Education and Learning
- Successfully progress and complete the training and assessment programme in conjunction with the local/External Training Coordinator/supervisor, the Institute of Physics & Engineering in Medicine and the Association of Healthcare Science to achieve certified competence awarded by the ACS. Undertake suitable training within the host department and other placements to successfully acquire core competencies and thereafter maintain the required standards of competence when undertaking duties.
- Take responsibility for own learning and development by recognising and taking advantage of all opportunities to learn, including appraisal, supervision, academic course and problem-based learning and maintaining a personal portfolio of learning.
- Ensure that own learning needs, identified with the Training Coordinator/Officer and reflecting the requirements of the curriculum, are met.
- Retain sufficient flexibility and adaptability in learning to ensure full contribution to improving services in response to changing health care needs.
- Maintain knowledge of recent scientific developments and undertake supplementary training to develop both knowledge and skills.
- Attend mandatory training (both vocational and academic) as required.
- Participate in internal and external assessment processes.
Patient Management and Clinical Care
Delivery of patient care, experience and contribution in the following areas:
- Provide support to specialist clinics and specialist treatment interventions.
- Perform, report and interpret a range of investigations undertaken indirectly for or directly with patients within a range of care settings.
- Specialist care and treatment interventions for patients across the range of clinical pathways and health care settings.
- Appropriate clinical and scientific advice and interpretation of analytical results.
- Participate in multidisciplinary meetings.
- Apply and promote evidence based practice and use of relevant clinical protocols and procedures.
- Ensuring that all equipment used on patients and the public is handled and applied in accordance with health and safety requirements and other national or international guidelines.
- In some specialties trainees will be involved in the collection and processing of clinical samples from patients.
Communication
- Communication and interpretation of complex clinical, scientific and technical information to a wide range of people including clinicians, managers, patients and the public.
- Liaise with senior scientists and clinical users of the service on appropriateness of investigations, interventions and tests.
- Communicate scientific innovation and service redesign.
- Communicate research and development findings in written and oral formats to internal and external contacts.
Quality Audit
- Contribute to audits to inform patient management and clinical care.
- Contribute to quality audits relating to accreditation and regulation.
- Perform quality assurance, process and outcomes audits relevant to the specialty.
- Develop an audit report and prepare an action plan for any issues that arise from the audit process.
- Contribute to the design of audits to improve the cost effectiveness of the service to patients.
Clinical Governance
- Maintain standards for health and safety procedures.
- Comply with quality and governance procedures within the department including risk management and risk mitigation.
- Maintain high standards of professional and personal conduct.
- Ensure that patient safety and experience and effectiveness of service are maximised.
Occasional Duties
- To carry out any other reasonable duties to achieve learning and experience that may be required, which are commensurate with the grade and nature of the post.
- This job description outlines the main current duties and responsibilities of the training post. The job description will need to be reviewed and subsequently may be altered. Any resulting changes will be subject to consultation.
- In addition to regular assessment and planning meetings, the trainee will have an annual meeting to discuss progress and to consider issues relevant to the wider national training programme.
Communications and Working Relationships
The trainee will work closely with the training coordinator/officer and more senior members of staff to follow the curriculum for the ACS training programme. The trainee will work in specified areas of the department and be responsible to the Designated Training Coordinator/Officer for their own work and progression through the scheme. All trainees will be expected to travel to national academic and other courses regularly throughout their training in some cases this may involve overnight and/or residential stays. Trainees will undertake a masters degree course at a designated academic institution specific for the training pathway. Trainees will be expected to rotate both through the host department, as well as through other local/regional/national scientific services, in order to complete the required pathway work-based curricula.
Liaises with other technical and scientific staff of department /section, and other Trainee Healthcare Scientists across a wide range of departments.
The post holder will be expected to make successful progress through both the MSc (if relevant) and ACS competencies throughout the training period. Whilst every effort will be made to support the post holder the Trust may terminate the contract of employment where the post holder continues to fall short of key milestones.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Applicants must have a 1st, 2.1 or 2.2 either in an undergraduate honours degree or an integrated master's degree, in a pure or applied physical science subject relevant to the ACS competency requirements.
- In service applicants may submit an application where they do not hold the above degree requirements but are able to fulfil further requirements outlined on the ACS website.
Desirable
- MSc in a relevant subject (able to strongly support ACS competence requirements)
Scientific Skills
Essential
- A committed, in depth interest in scientific practice and its application to direct clinical care of patients in a clinical environment.
- Ability to design research investigations and experiments.
- Ability to make judgements, including clinical judgements involving facts or situations that impact on patients
- Understanding of quality control and management assurance in a science or work-based context.
- Ability to develop proficiency in the performance of routine and complex techniques currently in use where they are training (ability to follow Standard Operating Procedures accurately) and the ability to develop and validate new techniques.
- Understanding of the role of their chosen specialty in healthcare and disease and its application in a healthcare setting.
- Good IT skills and knowledge of common computing packages for word processing, spreadsheets, presentation packages and databases.
- Ability to analyse complex information comprising laboratory or workshop data, images and clinical details. Knowledge acquired through study and experience to formulate appropriate advice and judgements.
Transferrable Skills
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both writing and speaking in English language
- Good active listening skills to build rapport with the listener to encourage an open discussion.
- Self-aware and flexible enough to adopt a range of evaluative or empathising listening styles according to the needs of the listener and the situation.
- Flexibility to acquire the skills to organise, plan and monitor the workload of others.
- Good personal organisational skills
- Effective team worker, willing to adopt a role working in collaboration with others.
- Ability to work under pressure (emotional resilience and ability to prioritise and plan work).
- Demonstrates values and principles of the NHS Constitution as a whole with a focus on patient centred care.
Physical Requirements (Reasonable adjustments will be made in accordance with the Equality Act 2010)
Essential
- Good attendance record.
- Ability to perform a wide range of duties according to the Job Description.
- Highly developed co-ordination skills with good dexterity and hand-eye co-ordination and those skills required for the performance of fine analytical techniques.
- Ability to meet the travel requirements of the training role and the clinical rotations.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Applicants must have a 1st, 2.1 or 2.2 either in an undergraduate honours degree or an integrated master's degree, in a pure or applied physical science subject relevant to the ACS competency requirements.
- In service applicants may submit an application where they do not hold the above degree requirements but are able to fulfil further requirements outlined on the ACS website.
Desirable
- MSc in a relevant subject (able to strongly support ACS competence requirements)
Scientific Skills
Essential
- A committed, in depth interest in scientific practice and its application to direct clinical care of patients in a clinical environment.
- Ability to design research investigations and experiments.
- Ability to make judgements, including clinical judgements involving facts or situations that impact on patients
- Understanding of quality control and management assurance in a science or work-based context.
- Ability to develop proficiency in the performance of routine and complex techniques currently in use where they are training (ability to follow Standard Operating Procedures accurately) and the ability to develop and validate new techniques.
- Understanding of the role of their chosen specialty in healthcare and disease and its application in a healthcare setting.
- Good IT skills and knowledge of common computing packages for word processing, spreadsheets, presentation packages and databases.
- Ability to analyse complex information comprising laboratory or workshop data, images and clinical details. Knowledge acquired through study and experience to formulate appropriate advice and judgements.
Transferrable Skills
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both writing and speaking in English language
- Good active listening skills to build rapport with the listener to encourage an open discussion.
- Self-aware and flexible enough to adopt a range of evaluative or empathising listening styles according to the needs of the listener and the situation.
- Flexibility to acquire the skills to organise, plan and monitor the workload of others.
- Good personal organisational skills
- Effective team worker, willing to adopt a role working in collaboration with others.
- Ability to work under pressure (emotional resilience and ability to prioritise and plan work).
- Demonstrates values and principles of the NHS Constitution as a whole with a focus on patient centred care.
Physical Requirements (Reasonable adjustments will be made in accordance with the Equality Act 2010)
Essential
- Good attendance record.
- Ability to perform a wide range of duties according to the Job Description.
- Highly developed co-ordination skills with good dexterity and hand-eye co-ordination and those skills required for the performance of fine analytical techniques.
- Ability to meet the travel requirements of the training role and the clinical rotations.
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).
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).
