Job summary
We are looking for an enthusiastic physicist with experience in Radiotherapy Physics to join the Physics and Engineering team at the Chelsea branch of the Hospital, in a permanent position. Applicants should have a good honours degree in physics or a closely related discipline, plus an MSc relevant to Radiotherapy physics.The role includes treatment planning , QA, dosimetry , brachytherapy and some computing in RT . Participation in innovative project work is also encouraged.The Radiotherapy Department at Chelsea has 4 Varian Truebeams providing VMAT, SRS, SABR, CBCT and fff delivery. Additional equipment includes HDR BRachytherapy. A Cyberknife radiosurgery unit is in clinical use. External beam treatment planning systems include Eclipse,Brachyvision, Raystation, Multiplan, Oncentra and BrainLab. 4D CT acquisition is applied for lung and liver imaging. HDR for gynaecological malignancies (using IGBT) and Iodine seed brachytherapy are also performed.
Main duties of the job
- The post holder's primary responsibilities at 8A level are for supporting the department's Brachytherapy , Quality Assurance and Treatment planning programs
- The post holder also has scientific and training responsibilities for providing support to all aspects of the specialist clinical, scientific and technical service provided by the Radiotherapy Physics group at RMH.
- The post holder will be expected to give expert advice and judgment on resolving problems with treatment plans , brachytherapy , quality assurance as well technical aspects of radiation physics, treatment planning and dosimetry to different staffing groups in the department.
- When working outside this area of specific responsibilities, the post holder will be participating in and supervising day-to-day duties carried out by assigned staff on the duty rota for planning, QA and dosimetry.
- The postholder will act as/ be working towards the role of Medical Physics Expert as defined by the ionising radiation regulations with particular respect to Brachytherapy in Radiotherapy Physics
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 please refer to the job description and personal specification
- Produce and check complex treatment plans. Carry out associated dosimetry calculations in accordance with clinical prescriptions and agreed procedures. Analyse requirements and make complex judgments regarding treatment parameters and patient dose effects to produce the required dose distribution over the treatment volume, using computerised planning systems as appropriate.
- Advise clinical staff on the effects of various treatment plan options on patient dose distributions, including brachytherapy . Discuss and agree approaches with clinical staff to create optimum treatment strategies and workflows. Provide expert advice at multidisciplinary clinical audit meetings, when required.
- Attend clinical audit, MDT and similar review meetings, as required.
- Replan patient treatments where required, following a treatment error or changes in patient shape. Use judgment to analyse and determine the most appropriate compensation method. Calculate the compensation required and subsequent patient dose. Carry out manual dose calculations.
- Perform and advise on dosimetry measurements on patients, as well as quality assurance and dosimetry in general. Provide complex advice to clinical staff and support developments in treatment planning and Brachytherapy
- Develop clinical and scientific procedures and protocols under the Departments Quality System. Consult with Radiotherapy where changes impact on their systems. Take part in working parties to agree changes to protocols affecting both Radiotherapy physics and radiotherapy.
- Investigate multi-modality imaging, image manipulation and structure outlining developments, thoroughly investigating and testing new developments in this area and reporting back to users and the system manufacturers, as appropriate. Further the integration of the use of different imaging modalities (e.g., CT, MR and PET scanning) for treatment verification and treatment review purposes.
- Participate in the installation and commissioning of new radiotherapy equipment, including preparation of protocols, particularly relating to brachytherapy
- To train clinical physics colleagues and trainees in the routine use of any clinical techniques developed as a result of work performed.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For further information please refer to the job description and personal specification
- Produce and check complex treatment plans. Carry out associated dosimetry calculations in accordance with clinical prescriptions and agreed procedures. Analyse requirements and make complex judgments regarding treatment parameters and patient dose effects to produce the required dose distribution over the treatment volume, using computerised planning systems as appropriate.
- Advise clinical staff on the effects of various treatment plan options on patient dose distributions, including brachytherapy . Discuss and agree approaches with clinical staff to create optimum treatment strategies and workflows. Provide expert advice at multidisciplinary clinical audit meetings, when required.
- Attend clinical audit, MDT and similar review meetings, as required.
- Replan patient treatments where required, following a treatment error or changes in patient shape. Use judgment to analyse and determine the most appropriate compensation method. Calculate the compensation required and subsequent patient dose. Carry out manual dose calculations.
- Perform and advise on dosimetry measurements on patients, as well as quality assurance and dosimetry in general. Provide complex advice to clinical staff and support developments in treatment planning and Brachytherapy
- Develop clinical and scientific procedures and protocols under the Departments Quality System. Consult with Radiotherapy where changes impact on their systems. Take part in working parties to agree changes to protocols affecting both Radiotherapy physics and radiotherapy.
- Investigate multi-modality imaging, image manipulation and structure outlining developments, thoroughly investigating and testing new developments in this area and reporting back to users and the system manufacturers, as appropriate. Further the integration of the use of different imaging modalities (e.g., CT, MR and PET scanning) for treatment verification and treatment review purposes.
- Participate in the installation and commissioning of new radiotherapy equipment, including preparation of protocols, particularly relating to brachytherapy
- To train clinical physics colleagues and trainees in the routine use of any clinical techniques developed as a result of work performed.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Good (1st or 2nd class) Honours degree in a relevant subject
- MSc in radiation Physics [or equivalent]
- PhD in relevant subject or equivalent specialised scientific knowledge
- IPEM Certificate of completion of Post-qualification Higher Training or equivalent (e.g. Corporate Membership of IPEM)
- State registration as a Clinical Scientist
Desirable
- IPEM Diploma or equivalent in Medical Physics/Medical Engineering
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Significant experience and knowledge of radiotherapy
- Knowledge of the techniques employed to measure the performance and radiation characteristics of complex radiotherapy treatment equipment
- Experience of working with treatment planning and other computer systems
- Experience of using judgement and specialised knowledge in radiotherapy treatment planning to optimise radiotherapy treatments
- Experience in the use of specialised tools and dosimetric methods to measure the accuracy of radiotherapy equipment and verify calculations with dosimetry phantoms
- High level of understanding of the clinical requirements and applicable tolerances in radiotherapy treatments of patients
- Able to prioritise and manage own work
- Able to exercise own initiative when dealing with issues within own specialist area of competence
- Understanding of relevant legislation, national standards, professional and other guidelines [e.g. IRR99, IR(ME)R 2000, ISO 9001and IPEM recommendations]
Desirable
- Knowledge of employment procedures and practices
- Experience of managing project teams
- Sufficient knowledge and experience to act as a Medical Physics Expert under IR(ME)R in the field of Radiotherapy
Skills
Essential
- Able to use Excel, Word, Access, etc to set up documents and spreadsheets and extract information.
- Familiar with EPIC and record and verify systems.
- Ability to use Redmine and other fault reporting systems
- Able to troubleshoot DICOM connections and manipulate DICOM files. within the context of radiotherapy physics
- Manual dexterity: ability to make accurate measurements using sophisticated testing equipment
- Able to lift medium to heavy weights (e.g. phantoms)
- Able to concentrate frequently when subject to unpredictable working patterns.
- Able to concentrate for prolonged periods (e.g. checking complex treatment plans with tight deadlines)
- Able to deal with complex and unpredictable situations while maintaining a calm manner and professional standard.
- Able to deal with occasional distressing circumstances (e.g. working with very ill patients in Radiotherapy)
- Able to communicate highly complex information clearly at postgraduate level to other professional groups
- Able to present scientific papers at national and international conferences and write up scientific material for publication
- Able to train groups of other professional staff
- Able to deliver teaching and training on highly complex subjects
- Good negotiation skills
- Able to deal with complex and unpredictable situations
Desirable
- Understanding of hazards posed by, and precautions needed with: 1.Ionising radiation 2.Lasers 3.Electrical hazards
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Good (1st or 2nd class) Honours degree in a relevant subject
- MSc in radiation Physics [or equivalent]
- PhD in relevant subject or equivalent specialised scientific knowledge
- IPEM Certificate of completion of Post-qualification Higher Training or equivalent (e.g. Corporate Membership of IPEM)
- State registration as a Clinical Scientist
Desirable
- IPEM Diploma or equivalent in Medical Physics/Medical Engineering
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Significant experience and knowledge of radiotherapy
- Knowledge of the techniques employed to measure the performance and radiation characteristics of complex radiotherapy treatment equipment
- Experience of working with treatment planning and other computer systems
- Experience of using judgement and specialised knowledge in radiotherapy treatment planning to optimise radiotherapy treatments
- Experience in the use of specialised tools and dosimetric methods to measure the accuracy of radiotherapy equipment and verify calculations with dosimetry phantoms
- High level of understanding of the clinical requirements and applicable tolerances in radiotherapy treatments of patients
- Able to prioritise and manage own work
- Able to exercise own initiative when dealing with issues within own specialist area of competence
- Understanding of relevant legislation, national standards, professional and other guidelines [e.g. IRR99, IR(ME)R 2000, ISO 9001and IPEM recommendations]
Desirable
- Knowledge of employment procedures and practices
- Experience of managing project teams
- Sufficient knowledge and experience to act as a Medical Physics Expert under IR(ME)R in the field of Radiotherapy
Skills
Essential
- Able to use Excel, Word, Access, etc to set up documents and spreadsheets and extract information.
- Familiar with EPIC and record and verify systems.
- Ability to use Redmine and other fault reporting systems
- Able to troubleshoot DICOM connections and manipulate DICOM files. within the context of radiotherapy physics
- Manual dexterity: ability to make accurate measurements using sophisticated testing equipment
- Able to lift medium to heavy weights (e.g. phantoms)
- Able to concentrate frequently when subject to unpredictable working patterns.
- Able to concentrate for prolonged periods (e.g. checking complex treatment plans with tight deadlines)
- Able to deal with complex and unpredictable situations while maintaining a calm manner and professional standard.
- Able to deal with occasional distressing circumstances (e.g. working with very ill patients in Radiotherapy)
- Able to communicate highly complex information clearly at postgraduate level to other professional groups
- Able to present scientific papers at national and international conferences and write up scientific material for publication
- Able to train groups of other professional staff
- Able to deliver teaching and training on highly complex subjects
- Good negotiation skills
- Able to deal with complex and unpredictable situations
Desirable
- Understanding of hazards posed by, and precautions needed with: 1.Ionising radiation 2.Lasers 3.Electrical hazards
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
