Head of Radiotherapy Physics

Job responsibilities

Lead and manage all relevant staff in the Radiotherapy Physics group and work closely with Trust staff to provide a high quality, expert clinical and clinical support service to the Trust and across the surrounding health care community as appropriate.

Provide expert advice and leadership in connection with the provision of Radiotherapy Physics services, including policy and regulatory issues.

Undertake scientific investigations using quantitative and qualitative methods to aid service delivery as appropriate to their expert role.

Contribute to, and where appropriate take the lead on, the development of other policies in relation to the use and management of healthcare technologies.

Work with the Radiotherapy Manager and The Lead Clinical Oncologist as part of the management team for the Radiotherapy Service line.

Contribute to Radiotherapy peer review measures that apply to Radiotherapy physics.

Ability to provide cross cover in Brachytherapy and Stereotactic services.

Direct the work of the Radiotherapy Physics group to achieve objectives and service developments in line with service line and Trust strategies and policies, working closely with senior staff in Oncology, and with other customers as appropriate.

Awareness and advice on national guidance from Clinical Reference Group and Service Specification.

Professionally responsible for all the Radiotherapy Physics services undertaken, including the development of new treatment procedures, in collaboration with other senior staff.

Advise on national and international recommendations of best practice and ensure that the highest scientific and technical standards are promoted, achieved, and maintained, and comply with national regulations, Codes of Practice, professional guidelines, Trust and other requirements.

Act as the lead Medical Physics Expert (MPE) Radiotherapy Physics, under the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations [IR(ME)R] and coordinate the work of other MPEs in the group.

Ensure that there is a training programme in place for staff to be trained to act as Radiation Protection Adviser for Radiotherapy and relevant Radiation Protection Supervisors.

To display sound and critical thinking in complex and unpredictable situations

To meet all activity, quality and performance targets. This includes for all service level agreements including training, commercial, clinical trials and other contracts as appropriate.

Ensure that the principles of Clinical Governance are applied throughout the group and reported through the HCST service line and Plymouth Oncology Centre.

Ensure that proper health and safety standards are maintained within the group, and all relevant regulations are applied.

Provide highly complex scientific and technical advice to clinical staff concerning the scientific and technical aspects of Radiotherapy/Brachytherapy treatment procedures.

Ensure that all the equipment used by the group is properly maintained and calibrated.

Ensure that all Radiotherapy treatment equipment (including Sealed Sources) is fit for clinical use and is checked regularly in accordance with national regulations and professional guidelines.

Overall responsibility for the Definitive Calibration of all the Radiotherapy treatment equipment (including Sealed Sources).

Maintain safe custody and control of the radioactive Sealed Sources and ensure compliance with all relevant legislation.

Provide expert advice and support on radiation safety matters relating to Oncology to ensure compliance with current statutory regulations, Codes of Practice, and guidelines, reporting directly to Trust Board level as necessary.

Liaise with external inspectors from Regulatory Bodies [Department of Health (DOH) and Health & Safety Executive (HSE)] and other regulatory authorities to facilitate inspections of the radiation activities as necessary.

Work with The Cancer Alliance, Operational Delivery Network or replacement bodies to ensure Radiotherapy Physics is adequately represented.

Responsible for ensuring that all aspects of clinical governance in relation to audit and quality applicable to areas of responsibility are met.

Initiate policies, procedures and SOPs and changes therein in the light of evidence and changes to relevant legislation, regulation and guidance

Advise the Trust on:

Radiotherapy Treatment room design, construction, and modification.

The selection, procurement, installation, acceptance, commissioning, and initial clinical use of major new Radiotherapy equipment items.

Take part in the maintenance and development of the service line computer systems, including databases, spreadsheets, and bespoke software programs for use within the service line.

Set up and monitor systems in radiotherapy and radiotherapy physics.

For further details please see attached JD&PS.

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

• Highly advanced theoretical & practical proven knowledge of Radiotherapy Physics to be able to act as the Medical Physics Expert under IR(ME)R within the field of Radiotherapy.
• Expert theoretical & practical proven knowledge of ionising radiation
• Specialist proven knowledge of all areas of radiation protection legislation in healthcare & biomedical research
• Advanced proven knowledge of issues relating to the application and safe use of ionising radiation in a clinical environment
• Specialist proven knowledge & extensive demonstrable experience in the use of specialist testing equipment employed to measure the performance & safety of modern radiotherapy treatment equipment
• Extensive demonstrable experience in interpreting different situations & assessing measures required to ensure compliance in areas that relate to the relevant legislation, standards, and guidance
• Broad & developed proven knowledge of clinical procedures & practices in radiotherapy
• High level of understanding of patient & staff risks arising from exposure to non-ionising and ionising radiation
• High level understanding of Risk Management process
• Specialist proven knowledge with recent demonstrable experience of Brachytherapy techniques
• Proven knowledge of employment procedures and practices
• Well-developed planning and organisational skills
• Able to act as Trust expert in Ionising Radiotherapy Physics
• Able to effect Trust-wide safety management in ionising radiation safety through leadership and support, developing good working relationships with senior staff in a range of departments.
• Demonstrable experience of successful operational management within a complex organisation
• Demonstrable experience of managing a range of high value budgets
• Proven management skills including effective team & people management experience
• Understanding of NHS targets and the processes through which they are delivered
• Understanding of NHS funding arrangements particularly NHS tariffs
• Proven knowledge of performance management principles and practice
• In-depth proven knowledge and understanding of relevant legislation, regulations, national standards, professional and other guidelines

Desirable

• Demonstrable experience of operating as an RPA for Radiotherapy for Radiotherapy and Sealed Sources, with at least two years in a large NHS Trust or equivalent
• Proven evidence of recent publications
• Demonstrable experience of highly specialised services, TBI and Stereotactic Radiosurgery

Qualifications

Essential

• 1st or 2.1 class Honours Degree in Physical Science or equivalent subject
• Formal management training at MSc. level or equivalent
• Other postgraduate level specialist training
• HCPC registration as Clinical Scientist

Desirable

• DClinSci or PhD in relevant subject
• Accreditation as an RPA
• Postgraduate management qualification
• Chartered Status with a scientific body

Aptitude & Abilities

Essential

• Advanced proven knowledge of Excel, Word, Access etc for the purpose of setting up spreadsheets and databases for complex scientific analysis
• Able to use & develop specific software for scientific and technical applications
• Able to work accurately & quickly, applying scientific methods to resolve highly complex problems with Radiotherapy/Brachytherapy treatments & machines
• Able to deal with occasional distressing circumstances
• Able to communicate complex information
• Able to deliver teaching & training on complex engineering, scientific and computing subjects to scientific, clinical, and other staff groups
• Well-developed negotiation skills and effective influencing skills: in general, and when dealing with complex medical equipment and equipment interaction issues at organisational level.

Desirable

• Able to lift medium and heavy weight test equipment occasionally, greater than 10 kg.

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).