Principal Radiotherapy Physicist

Job description

Job responsibilities

Supporting Clinical Excellence

To act as a Medical Physics Expert for all aspects of the radiotherapy service. Taking a lead role as a brachytherapy MPE.

To take a lead role in the development of the technical and scientific aspects of the service. As determined by departmental strategy and national and professional guidelines.

To ensure that scientific developments are performed in an accurate and timely manner.

To have responsibility for developing and updating appropriate written procedures and work instructions, in relation to new techniques.

To be aware of new techniques and recommend developments to the Head of RT Physics to help inform the departmental strategy.

To provide physics and technical advice to a multidisciplinary team of scientists, dosimetrists, therapy radiographers and clinicians.

Act as an Operator under the definitions of IR(ME)R in accordance with Trust Policies.

To investigate adverse or unexpected results and advise on corrective action to the Head/Deputy Head of Radiotherapy Physics and Head of Treatment Planning, as appropriate.

To participate in complex external beam treatment planning.

To be competent to check a range of treatment plan types, including specialist techniques. By checking a plan, to take on responsibility for it being both correct and appropriate.

Participate in aspects of purchasing new radiotherapy equipment, including preparation of specification, evaluation, giving advice, acceptance testing, and commissioning, as appropriate and as directed by the Head / Deputy Head of Radiotherapy Physics.

Research and Development Responsibilities

To assist with and support all clinical trials activity.

To lead on, or assist with, research and development projects within Radiotherapy Physics.

Contribute effectively to development of the Radiotherapy service, including management of certain projects from inception to completion.

To present scientific/technical work/papers at local, regional or national meetings.

Initiate and supervise work and research projects for graduate students, Pre-Registration Scientists and Clinical Technologists, as may from time-to-time be assigned by the Head of Radiotherapy Physics Services.

People/Management Excellence

To prioritise and manage their own work and time effectively. To suit circumstances, and the work and time of supporting staff both individually and in teams - as required to achieve routine and task-oriented objectives.

To communicate effectively with fellow professionals and patients, anticipating barriers to communication, and taking action to improve communication where necessary.

To create opportunities to enable everyone to learn from each other and from external good practice.

To assist in the provision of training courses and tutorials. This includes the preparation and giving of talks on specific topics relating to radiation physics to medical, scientific, technical, and nursing staff.

Supervise the work of Clinical Scientists, Trainees, Dosimetrists, and Medical Technical staff when they are performing work under the post holders direction.

Train other members of staff in planning techniques; and to be responsible for judgement of technical competency.

To participate in any Physics duty rota for which the post holder is competent and as requested by the Head/Deputy Head of Radiotherapy Physics.

Quality Assurance and Monitoring

To take responsibility for regular checks and reviews of quality control records (in treatment planning and machine QC) and to ensure that discrepancies are resolved.

To participate fully in maintaining the departmental ISO9001:2015 quality system by continual review of own procedures, writing and checking of relevant documents and work instructions, and carrying out audits within Radiotherapy, Radiotherapy Physics and ward areas.

To contribute to the commissioning of new radiotherapy equipment, as requested by the Head/Deputy Head of Radiotherapy Physics.

To take responsibility for departmental compliance to local radiotherapy protocols.

Professional Responsibilities

Participate in the IPEM or other agreed Continuing Personal Development (CPD) scheme.

To remain up to date regarding the latest scientific and technical developments and their applications within radiotherapy physics. This to be achieved by journal reading, internet research, and attending suitable seminars and training courses as part of CPD and in furthering the work of the department.

To ensure that all activities are carried out within the quality system framework and conform to Statutory Regulations, Approved Codes of Practice and safety rules.

To maintain registration as HCPC Clinical Scientist and IRMER Medical Physics Expert.

To regularly prepare reports and presentations.

Other Information

The post holder may be required to carry out other relevant duties as required.

The post holder will adhere to the duties specified under the Staff Responsibilities of the NHS Constitution in their day to day work and behaviours.

The post holder will be expected to aspire to the Values of the Trust in their day to day work and behaviours in order to support the Trust in achieving its Vision.

The post holder will adhere to, at all times, any relevant Professional or NHS Code of Conducts, legislation and Assurance Frameworks.

The post holder will make themselves familiar with, and adhere to, at all times, the policies and procedures of the Trust, and their area of work.

The post holder will be expected to work to any personal, Corporate, Divisional, Directorate and Departmental objectives and standards in order to provide an acceptable level The of service.

The post holder will be expected to undertake training, including mandatory and role specific training, relevant to their role and ensure it is renewed as required.

Person Specification

Skills

Essential

• Ability to use a wide range of IT systems, including spreadsheets, databases and to use these to extract reports
• Presentation, written and oral communication, negotiation and inter-personal skills
• Ability to make judgements and decisions affecting patient care based on complex scientific data.
• Experience in managing projects and evidence of meeting deadlines.
• Proven ability to present scientific papers locally and at national conferences.
• To have an awareness of current and developing technology as relevant to radiotherapy
• Ability to work effectively in teams
• Ability to manage own work, prioritise, delegate and exercise initiative.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Advanced theoretical and practical knowledge of radiation physics, radiotherapy physics, radiation dosimetry, and radiation protection.
• Experience commensurate with practicing as an MPE in brachytherapy
• Clinical experience of complex radiotherapy planning techniques
• An understanding of safety critical nature of radiotherapy equipment
• Understanding of patient and staff risks arising from radiotherapy treatment
• Knowledge of radiation protection legislation and standards of good practice to reduce radiation doses to staff and patients.
• Evidence of commissioning and implementing radiotherapy techniques and equipment

Education, Training and Qualifications

Essential

• MSc Medical/Radiation Physics or equivalent
• HCPC Registration as a Clinical Scientist
• Have (or be eligible for) MPE registration
• Honours degree in Physical Science or a relevant equivalent

Desirable

• Relevant PhD or equivalent in Medical/Radiation Physics

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Ability to work effectively as part of a team
• Ability to manage own work, prioritise, delegate and exercise initiative.

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

Northampton General Hospital

Address

Radiotherapy Department

Northampton General Hospital

Northampton

NN1 5BD

Employer's website

https://www.northamptongeneral.nhs.uk/Home.aspx (Opens in a new tab)