Lead Radiotherapy Engineer

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Information:

This job is now closed

Job summary

The Radiotherapy Engineering Group (REG) at the Northern Centre for Cancer Care (NCCC) is looking for a motivated radiotherapy engineer to join our team as lead engineer. Radiotherapy engineers are part of a team responsible for the electromechanical maintenance of equipment used in the delivery of radiotherapy treatment.

NCCC is based at both the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle and Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle and provides a highly specialised clinical service for the treatment of cancer patients. The successful candidate will be based primarily at the Freeman Hospital but would be required to work on both sites as the work demands.

The department is equipped with Varian & Tomotherapy Linear Accelerators and specific training for this equipment will be given if required.

  • Interview Date 5th March 2025
  • 37 Hours 30 Minutes/Week
  • You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy.

Main duties of the job

Applications are invited from experienced candidates with a master's level qualification or who have equivalent experience in an appropriate discipline, and have demonstrable relevant experience, having completed a recognised engineering or technical apprenticeship or training course

Radiotherapy Engineers work independently or as part of multidisciplinary teams, providing specialist engineering services and technical knowledge enabling patient care.

About us

Our staff oversee over 6,500 patient contacts every day, delivering high standards of healthcare from the following sites:

o Freeman Hospitalo Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)o Health Innovation Neighbourhood (on the former Newcastle General Hospital and Centre for Ageing and Vitality site)o Newcastle Dental Hospitalo Newcastle Fertility Centreo Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbriao Northern Genetics Serviceo Cramlington Manor Walks

These include a range of flagship services which deliver cutting-edge care (supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic services in both radiology and pathology) and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS.

We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.

Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under 'Documents to download' or 'Supporting documents'.

For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Date posted

20 January 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£53,755 to £60,504 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

317-2024-51-06-DR

Job locations

Freeman Hospital

317 01 Freeman Hospital

NE7 7DN


Job description

Job responsibilities

  • You will have a significant role in managing the engineering service to ensure high clinical availability of the therapy equipment, and in development of service and staff.
  • You will work closely with the scientific team to ensure that the equipment is suitable for the clinical needs, including quality control testing following repair.
  • You will ensure that work is completed in a safe and accurate manner.
  • You will develop and deliver research and development activities for healthcare advancement.
  • You will work closely with the lead engineer at the Carlisle site and will on occasion spend time at the Carlisle site.

The responsibilities of REG Engineers include ensuring treatment machines function correctly and therefore enable patient treatment, applying fault diagnosis skills, engineering knowledge and IT knowledge to minimise clinical downtime, carrying out planned preventative and unplanned corrective maintenance, and providing the technical, engineering-related input to multidisciplinary radiotherapy service team. REG also works closely with the clinical and scientific Radiotherapy teams to balance the needs of the service.

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

Job description

Job responsibilities

  • You will have a significant role in managing the engineering service to ensure high clinical availability of the therapy equipment, and in development of service and staff.
  • You will work closely with the scientific team to ensure that the equipment is suitable for the clinical needs, including quality control testing following repair.
  • You will ensure that work is completed in a safe and accurate manner.
  • You will develop and deliver research and development activities for healthcare advancement.
  • You will work closely with the lead engineer at the Carlisle site and will on occasion spend time at the Carlisle site.

The responsibilities of REG Engineers include ensuring treatment machines function correctly and therefore enable patient treatment, applying fault diagnosis skills, engineering knowledge and IT knowledge to minimise clinical downtime, carrying out planned preventative and unplanned corrective maintenance, and providing the technical, engineering-related input to multidisciplinary radiotherapy service team. REG also works closely with the clinical and scientific Radiotherapy teams to balance the needs of the service.

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

Person Specification

Qualifications & Education

Essential

  • Engineering Degree or equivalent engineering experience within radiotherapy engineering.
  • Post graduate degree at master's level or equivalent level of specialist knowledge.
  • On the RCT or AHCS PTP register

Desirable

  • Varian TrueBeam linear accelerator certificated training
  • Accuray Tomotherapy/Radixact radiation delivery certificated training

Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Excellent communications skills
  • Excellent IT skills and good electronic systems understanding
  • Good report writing and presentation skills

Desirable

  • Teaching training and mentoring skills
  • Specialist skills in medical or scientific equipment relevant to radiotherapy
  • The ability to communicate complex technical information to non-technical staff.

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

  • In depth knowledge of Varian treatment delivery units and associated imaging equipment.
  • Specialist in-depth knowledge and understanding of the application of physical and engineering sciences in medicine
  • Working knowledge of relevant legislation, national standards, professional and other guidelines, local rules and safety practices, e.g., ISO 9001, BSI standards, COSHH
  • Significant previous radiotherapy engineering experience
  • Experience of planning a complex range of activities
  • Line management experience in a technical environment

Desirable

  • In depth knowledge of Accuray Tomotherapy/Radixact treatment delivery units and associated imaging equipment
  • Knowledge of radiation protection
  • Knowledge of cooling systems, preferably related to medical equipment
  • Project management experience
  • Experience of NHS capital equipment procurement and installation
Person Specification

Qualifications & Education

Essential

  • Engineering Degree or equivalent engineering experience within radiotherapy engineering.
  • Post graduate degree at master's level or equivalent level of specialist knowledge.
  • On the RCT or AHCS PTP register

Desirable

  • Varian TrueBeam linear accelerator certificated training
  • Accuray Tomotherapy/Radixact radiation delivery certificated training

Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Excellent communications skills
  • Excellent IT skills and good electronic systems understanding
  • Good report writing and presentation skills

Desirable

  • Teaching training and mentoring skills
  • Specialist skills in medical or scientific equipment relevant to radiotherapy
  • The ability to communicate complex technical information to non-technical staff.

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

  • In depth knowledge of Varian treatment delivery units and associated imaging equipment.
  • Specialist in-depth knowledge and understanding of the application of physical and engineering sciences in medicine
  • Working knowledge of relevant legislation, national standards, professional and other guidelines, local rules and safety practices, e.g., ISO 9001, BSI standards, COSHH
  • Significant previous radiotherapy engineering experience
  • Experience of planning a complex range of activities
  • Line management experience in a technical environment

Desirable

  • In depth knowledge of Accuray Tomotherapy/Radixact treatment delivery units and associated imaging equipment
  • Knowledge of radiation protection
  • Knowledge of cooling systems, preferably related to medical equipment
  • Project management experience
  • Experience of NHS capital equipment procurement and installation

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).

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.

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).

Employer details

Employer name

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Freeman Hospital

317 01 Freeman Hospital

NE7 7DN


Employer's website

https://careers.nuth.nhs.uk/why-us (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Freeman Hospital

317 01 Freeman Hospital

NE7 7DN


Employer's website

https://careers.nuth.nhs.uk/why-us (Opens in a new tab)


For questions about the job, contact:

Head of Radiotherapy Engineering, QA and Dosimetry

Karen Hawthorn

k.hawthorn@nhs.net

01912139403

Date posted

20 January 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£53,755 to £60,504 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

317-2024-51-06-DR

Job locations

Freeman Hospital

317 01 Freeman Hospital

NE7 7DN


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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