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Leeds Teaching Hospitals

Principal Clinical Scientist (XR08)

The closing date is 05 June 2025

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Job summary

Expected Shortlisting Date

06/06/2025

Planned Interview Date

17/06/2025

We are looking for an experienced and enthusiastic Clinical Scientist to act as a permanent replacement for a member of staff who is leaving the Radiological Physics and Radiation Protection Service (RPRPS). The post holder will act as a lead MPE/RPA for specified customers/areas of work as well as being involved in all other aspects of the sections work.

Candidates with less experience who are working towards gaining MPE/RPA status in Diagnostic Radiology are encouraged to apply as training and support will be available (subject to an amended job description and salary band).

RPRPS is part of the Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering Department at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, one of the largest hospital trusts in the country. We provide scientific, technical and radiation protection advice and measurement services for ionising and non-ionising radiation across West & North Yorkshire.

The department is an established training centre for clinical scientists being accredited and having trained for all of the National School for Health Care Science Scientific Training Programme specialisms in medical physics. Recently we also achieved accreditation to train under the Higher Scientific Specialist Training scheme. We hold BSI ISO9001 accreditation and have recently implemented Qpulse quality management system software.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be involved in supporting radiology and other departments from the purchase of new equipment and software until the equipment is disposed; using patient dose management systems (Qaelum and Teamplay) for audit and optimisation purposes including the setting and review of local Diagnostic Reference levels; optimising the performance of radiographic equipment across all modalities including state of the art hybrid imaging units and advising on the use of AI. Practically, this work will include evaluating and testing x-ray equipment, requiring high precision measurements as well as developing new protocols and procedures.

The post holder will develop and participate in promoting the radiation protection safety culture to assess and improve legislative compliance with IRR17 ensuring the safety of staff and public, providing MPE/RPA advice to the Trust and for our external contracts including the provision of national and local radiation approvals for research studies.

The post holder will participate in the teaching and training commitments of the section including scientific staff and clinical staff in addition to FRCR teaching.

It is expected that the post holder will maintain up to date CPD training and records, registration with HCPC and accreditation as an MPE/RPA.

As we support two major hospital Trusts in the nearby area alongside our own, the posts require travel to additional sites.

About us

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is one of the largest teaching hospitals in the UK. Although our new hospital build has been delayed, we are continuing to upgrade our equipment to transform clinical services and develop an Innovation District for Leeds. This post is an opportunity to join an expanding team of scientists and technologists who will support this work.

RPRPS provides scientific, technical and radiation protection advice and measurement services for ionising and non-ionising radiation to a number of NHS Trusts in West & North Yorkshire and private clients.

Medical Physics and Engineering operates under a BSI registered ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System, has an extensive research portfolio and opportunities for collaboration with the University of Leeds and other organisations for research and technical development/innovation.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk' members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job adverts are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove adverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in the shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any questions.

Date posted

15 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£53,755 to £60,504 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

C9298-ONC-0520

Job locations

St. James's University Hospital

Beckett Street

Leeds

LS9 7TF

Job description

Job responsibilities

Act as the lead RPA for specified areas/customers as agreed by the Head of Section/Lead Clinical Scientist and as part of this role to:

Provide advice to the Trust/clients on compliance with the Ionising Radiations Regulations;

Provide specialist advice on and assist with radiation risk assessments for a variety of complex situations;

Provide expert radiation safety and radiation shielding advice to the planning of new or modified radiation facilities and assess the adequacy of engineering controls and radiation safety arrangements prior to a facilitys introduction into clinical service;

Use specialist knowledge to determine / calculate radiation doses and the resulting risks to staff and the public and then provide advice on the appropriate courses of action ;

Assess the levels of ionising radiation using suitable instrumentation and use expert knowledge to be able to interpret the measurements in relation to the appropriate regulations e.g. correct designation of an area;

Instigate and review the results from programmes of both personal and environmental monitoring and use expert knowledge to be able to interpret the results and provide appropriate advice to ensure regulatory compliance;

Provide radiation protection advice and support within other areas of RRPPS, as appropriate to the needs of the service and under the direction of the Head of RPRPS/Clinical Scientist Service Manager/s.

Act as the lead Medical Physics Expert to Diagnostic Radiology departments served by RPRPS, having specific responsibility for particular areas/customers as agreed with the Head of Service/Clinical Scientist Service Manager/s and as part of this role to:

Play a significant role in the optimisation of the radiation protection of patients and other individuals subject to exposures including the application and use of diagnostic reference levels

Provide expert advice on equipment specification and the installation design of new diagnostic x-ray facilities and equipment

Provide expert advice and lead on the design and implementation of quality assurance programs for diagnostic x-ray equipment including acceptance testing

Assess patient doses in a variety of complex situations. Use expert knowledge to determine relevant parameters, derive effective radiation doses and advise on radiation risks and appropriate courses of action;

Provide expert advice on the selection of suitable equipment required to perform radiation protection measurements

Assist in the investigation of accidental or unintended x-ray exposures to patients and advise the Trust and its clients on the requirements for the notification of incidents to the enforcement authorities and liaise with these authorities on behalf of the Trust and its clients

Participate in the training of operators, practitioners and other staff in relevant aspects of radiation protection and IR(ME)R compliance;

Provide advice to the Trust/clients relating to compliance with the IR(ME) regulations;

Perform the necessary assessment of submissions for ethical approval of research studies both nationally and internally.

Perform duties as a designated operator under the IR(ME) regulations.

To fully participate and comply with the requirements of the sections ISO9001:2015 quality management system including taking responsibility for writing process and procedures for their own areas of work and for staff under their supervision;

Participate in the training of Clinical Scientists and Clinical Technologists and other scientific staff including STP/PTP trainees. Responsible for trainee competency assignment and assessment.

Participate in formal training and teaching programmes and courses (including preparation and presentation of lectures) for healthcare professionals on all areas of Radiation Protection and Radiological Physics including:

Fellowship of the Royal College of Radiologists

Post/Undergraduate teaching for University of Leeds students

Staff training under IRR17 and IRMER17 (e.g. RPS courses)

To be responsible for carrying out evaluation, research and development, and for initiating, directing and carrying this out in the post holders areas of responsibility; to improve the clinical practice and the understanding of diagnostic radiological physics and diagnostic radiology technology.

To liaise with clinicians, other physicists, etc. to support and participate in the Directorate and Departments research and development programme, with the aim of continuous improvement of the clinical service.

To publish novel and interesting work in internationally recognised journals, and present at national and international conferences

To line manage and/or mentor scientists as determined by the Head of Service/Clinical Scientist Service Manager(s)

To supervise other scientists, technologists, other staff groups, research assistants and research students from time to time.