Job summary
We are looking for an enthusiastic clinical technologist, junior physicist, dosimetrist or radiographer to join the Radiotherapy Physics group at the Sutton branch of the Royal Marsden Hospital. This post will focus mainly on producing treatment plans for all types of external-beam planning in the centre. Some treatment-planning experience is required, showing the strong foundations to move into all areas of advanced planning. An appointment might be made at a lower band for a candidate with less experience.
As part of the planning team, you will work on the full range of treatment sites at a specialist centre. Treatment planning is performed using the RayStation treatment planning system, with most treatment sites planned using a VMAT technique. We have established workflows for adaptive radiotherapy (plan of the day and oART), 4DCT, and breathhold techniques. Multimodality imaging (CT, PET-CT, MR) is used for planning of several treatment sites. Recent clinical development work has included expanding adaptive radiotherapy planning, and developing planning techniques for helical delivery on our new Radixact units. The Radiotherapy Department in Sutton has 6 Elekta linacs, an Elekta Unity MR-Linac, a Cyberknife S7, and an Accuray Radixact with the second being commissioned. The Royal Marsden has led a number of recent clinical trials which have changed practice nationally.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be expected to provide an efficient, high quality patient dosimetry service for Radiotherapy.
The post holder will be an Operator as defined by the Ionising Radiation Medical Exposure Regulations (IRMER 2017).
The post holder will be expected to use specialised planning software to perform routine conformal and VMAT radiotherapy treatment planning for a range of treatment sites and indications for linear accelerators.
The post holder will assist with image fusion of CT, MR and PET images and discuss dosimetry of treatment plans with the Clinical Oncologists, Radiographers and Physicists.
The post holder will be expected to participate in development work including work up for class solutions and radiotherapy trials, as part of the multi-disciplinary team which makes up the Treatment Planning Service.
About us
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust is a world-leading cancer centre. Our role is to offer our patients the best cancer care available anywhere in the world, and to continue to make a global contribution to finding better ways of diagnosing and treating cancer. We employ over 4,500 staff in a diverse range of careers including nursing, medical, science, radiography, pharmacy, occupational therapy, finance and administrative services. We have two hospitals - one in Chelsea, London, and one in Sutton, Surrey - as well as a Medical Daycare Unit in Kingston Hospital.
At The Royal Marsden, we deal with cancer every day, so we understand how valuable life is. When people entrust their lives to us, they have the right to demand the very best. That's why the pursuit of excellence lies at the heart of everything we do.
At the heart of the hospital is our dedicated team. We offer a stimulating and dynamic working environment, a wide range of staff benefits, learning and development opportunities and clear career pathways. There are opportunities to work flexibly across a range of areas and specialities and we welcome flexible working requests from point of hire to support employees work life balance. We are looking for employees who aspire to excellence, share our values and can play a crucial role in our on-going achievements.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For further information on this role, please see the attached detailed Job Description and Person Specification
Produce routine and complex treatment plans plus associated dosimetry calculations in accordance with clinical prescription and agreed procedures. Check that all patient images required to produce treatment plans are available. Analyse requirements and make complexjudgements regarding treatment parameters and patient dose effects to produce the required dose distribution over the treatment volume, using computerised planning systems as appropriate.
Assist with outlining of the anatomy for organs at risk as required.
Advise clinical oncologists on the effects of various treatment plan options on patient dose distributions. Discuss and agree approaches with clinical staff to create optimum treatment plans.
Attend clinical audit meetings as required, advising and explaining technical treatment planning issues for individual patients.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For further information on this role, please see the attached detailed Job Description and Person Specification
Produce routine and complex treatment plans plus associated dosimetry calculations in accordance with clinical prescription and agreed procedures. Check that all patient images required to produce treatment plans are available. Analyse requirements and make complexjudgements regarding treatment parameters and patient dose effects to produce the required dose distribution over the treatment volume, using computerised planning systems as appropriate.
Assist with outlining of the anatomy for organs at risk as required.
Advise clinical oncologists on the effects of various treatment plan options on patient dose distributions. Discuss and agree approaches with clinical staff to create optimum treatment plans.
Attend clinical audit meetings as required, advising and explaining technical treatment planning issues for individual patients.
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in Physics, Therapeutic Radiography or equivalent [eg BSc, DCR, HNC]
- Registered with HCPC as Clinical Scientist or Radiographer; or registered with RCT or eligible for admission to the Register of Clinical Technologist or equivalent registration scheme.
Desirable
- MSc in Physics, Radiotherapy or equivalent
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Broad knowledge of the field of radiotherapy physics
- Good working knowledge of radiographic procedures in Radiotherapy and multidisciplinary team operations.
- Specialist knowledge of treatment planning and radiation dosimetry as applied to radiotherapy treatment.
- A good awareness of the workings of computerised treatment planning systems, including their underlying algorithms and inherent strengths and weaknesses.
- Experience working in Radiotherapy Physics or Radiotherapy.
- Experience in Radiotherapy Physics treatment planning, with emphasis on Conformal and VMAT treatment plan production for a range of clinical sites
- Knowledge about the radiation equipment to make safe and reliable measurements in the quality control process
Skills Abilities/knowledge
Essential
- High level of understanding of patient and staff risks arising from radiotherapy treatment
- A good awareness of treatment setup procedures and imaging protocols
- Able to prioritise and manage own work.
- Able to exercise own initiative when dealing with issues within own specialist area of competence
- Aware of relevant legislation, national standards, professional and other guidelines [e.g. IRR, IR(ME)R, ISO 9001:2000]
- Able to use Excel, Word and Powerpoint to set up documents and spreadsheets, extract information and give presentations.
- Able to enter information into specialist databases
- Trained on and able to use radiotherapy planning workstations and other related computer systems effectively.
- Highly developed perception of physical accuracy and hand-eye coordination (e.g. when carrying out precise outlining of body organs on treatment planning computer interfaces, manipulating three dimensional computer models).
- Good spatial, three dimensional awareness skills.
- Able on occasion to exert moderate physical effort (Assist in moving patients or equipment such as electron applicators)
- Able to communicate complex information across professional boundaries (for example, when resolving complex planning issues and options with medical staff).
- Able to train groups of other professional staff and students (e.g. provide training to medical staff and physicists in treatment planning)
- Diplomatic negotiation skills.
Desirable
- Knowledge of employment procedures and practices.
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in Physics, Therapeutic Radiography or equivalent [eg BSc, DCR, HNC]
- Registered with HCPC as Clinical Scientist or Radiographer; or registered with RCT or eligible for admission to the Register of Clinical Technologist or equivalent registration scheme.
Desirable
- MSc in Physics, Radiotherapy or equivalent
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Broad knowledge of the field of radiotherapy physics
- Good working knowledge of radiographic procedures in Radiotherapy and multidisciplinary team operations.
- Specialist knowledge of treatment planning and radiation dosimetry as applied to radiotherapy treatment.
- A good awareness of the workings of computerised treatment planning systems, including their underlying algorithms and inherent strengths and weaknesses.
- Experience working in Radiotherapy Physics or Radiotherapy.
- Experience in Radiotherapy Physics treatment planning, with emphasis on Conformal and VMAT treatment plan production for a range of clinical sites
- Knowledge about the radiation equipment to make safe and reliable measurements in the quality control process
Skills Abilities/knowledge
Essential
- High level of understanding of patient and staff risks arising from radiotherapy treatment
- A good awareness of treatment setup procedures and imaging protocols
- Able to prioritise and manage own work.
- Able to exercise own initiative when dealing with issues within own specialist area of competence
- Aware of relevant legislation, national standards, professional and other guidelines [e.g. IRR, IR(ME)R, ISO 9001:2000]
- Able to use Excel, Word and Powerpoint to set up documents and spreadsheets, extract information and give presentations.
- Able to enter information into specialist databases
- Trained on and able to use radiotherapy planning workstations and other related computer systems effectively.
- Highly developed perception of physical accuracy and hand-eye coordination (e.g. when carrying out precise outlining of body organs on treatment planning computer interfaces, manipulating three dimensional computer models).
- Good spatial, three dimensional awareness skills.
- Able on occasion to exert moderate physical effort (Assist in moving patients or equipment such as electron applicators)
- Able to communicate complex information across professional boundaries (for example, when resolving complex planning issues and options with medical staff).
- Able to train groups of other professional staff and students (e.g. provide training to medical staff and physicists in treatment planning)
- Diplomatic negotiation skills.
Desirable
- Knowledge of employment procedures and practices.
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).
