Job summary
Radiotherapy Physics
An opportunity has arisen at the University Hospitals of Leicester for a highly motivated physics graduate to join our team. The post holder will be primarily based in the treatment planning area of Radiotherapy Physics, providing support to clinical trials and research projects but will also work over a range of areas in the department. Training will be provided appropriate to the role.
The Leicester Radiotherapy Department is a friendly, busy and modern training department. It is housed in a purpose built Oncology Unit, which is centrally located with easy access to both road and rail connections. Leicester itself is a vibrant, friendly multicultural city within easy access to beautiful countryside.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be primarily based in the treatment planning area of Radiotherapy Physics, providing support to clinical trials and research projects but will also work over a range of areas in the department. Training will be provided appropriate to the role. Flexible working and some evening work will be required to meet the needs of the service.
The radiotherapy department is based at Leicester Royal Infirmary and provides state of the art treatment including SABR treatments for lung cancer and oligomets, respiratory gating and deep inspiration breath hold for breast radiotherapy. Over 50% of all radical treatments are IMRT, of which 95% are VMAT. All IMRT patients receive IGRT as routine and we have an ongoing program to further increase utilisation. We provide Oncology services to a catchment population of approximately 1 million within Leicestershire and Rutland and are ISO 9001 certificated. We fully support staff development; the department has an impressive clinical trials portfolio and established links with Leicester University.
Equipment includes 4 Varian linear accelerators (1 TrueBeam and 3 Clinac iX) with OBI, respiratory gating and RapidArc, ARIA Oncology management system, Prosoma Virtual Simulation, Varian Eclipse treatment planning system, 2 wide bore CT scanners with 4DCT (Canon and GE), XStrahl superficial unit and Varian GammaMed brachytherapy unit.
About us
Working for your organisation
We are one of the biggest and busiest NHS trusts in the country, incorporating the General, Glenfield and Royal Infirmary hospitals. We have our very own Children's Hospital and run one of the country's leading heart centres.
Our team is made up of more than 17,000 staff providing a range of services primarily for the one million residents of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
We work with partners at the University of Leicester and De Montfort University providing world-class teaching to nurture and develop the next generation of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals, many of whom go on to spend their working lives with us.
Our purpose is to provide 'Caring at its best' and our staff have helped us create a set of values that embody who we are and what we're here to do. They are:We focus on what matters mostWe treat others how we would like to be treatedWe are passionate and creative in our workWe do what we say we are going to doWe are one team and we are best when we work together
Our patients are at the heart of all we do and we believe that 'Caring at its best' is not just about the treatments and services we provide, but about giving our patients the best possible experience.
About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (leicestershospitals.nhs.uk)
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Radiotherapy Physics Division provides a high quality, safe, efficient and highly specialist range of clinical scientific and technical services within the Cancer and Haematology Clinical Business Unit. The services include providing and checking radiotherapy treatment plans for patients, advising clinical staff on radiotherapy physics issues, measuring and calculating patient received doses and radiotherapy treatment equipment output, ensuring the safety of patients and staff in an environment whichinvolves high levels of ionising radiation, ensuring equipment is operating safely and accurately, investigating complex faults in radiotherapy equipment and the evaluation, selection, procurement, installation and acceptance testing of equipment.The post holder will work over a range of areas in Radiotherapy Physics to provide support. They will work within defined policies and will be managed by registered staff.
They will undergo training in Radiotherapy Physics and associated techniques as appropriate to the role.
SCOPE
- Provide scientific and administrative support for the set-up and support of Radiotherapy Clinical Trials
- Participate in Research and Development projects under direction and supervision.
- Provides direct clinical service to patients by assisting with basic treatment planning duties to generate a clinical plan and assist with workload tracking.
Assist with and perform treatment unit and patient specific quality assurance procedures to ensure accurate treatment delivery.
Budget
- Assist in ensuring the effective utilisation of high value assets.
- Assist in the identification and delivery of cost improvement
Staff
- Assist the Head of Radiotherapy Physics / Radiotherapy Service Manager inensuring the effective performance of the Radiotherapy Physics Division.
- Prioritise and manage own work to meet agreed outcomes.
Policy
- Be aware of external evidence and guidance, suggesting improvements whererequired
- Follows local policies and may suggest ways to improve or alter the service
Communications
- Sensitive and appropriate communication with patients.
- Discuss highly complex and safety critical issues with other staff to ensuretreatments are safe, accurate and meet the requirements of the treating clinicaloncologist.
- Maintain effective communication with the Head of Radiotherapy Physics / Servicemanager concerning issues within the work area
- Assist in ensuring effective communications in all areas.
KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
- Work with multi-disciplinary teams and the Head of Radiotherapy Physics to directand manage the service
- Engage with all internal staff groups involved in the radiotherapy process; clinicaloncologists, specialist registrars, radiographers, nurses, administrative staff, andclinical scientists and technologists (dosimetry and engineering).
- Engage with external staff groups required; clinical scientists working at otherradiotherapy centres, National RTTQA team.
KEY RESULT AREAS
- To work under own initiative to manage and prioritise own workload to ensuredeadlines are met
- To keep relevant scientific and technical records of work performed.
- Develop specialist theoretical and practical knowledge of Radiotherapy Physics
- Provide scientific and administrative support for the set-up and support ofradiotherapy clinical trials including: outlining organs at risk, accurate recording oftrial data, anonymisation and transfer of patient data, ensuring compliance with trialprotocols and preparation of documentation
- To ensure data is entered accurately and logged as it progresses until completion,in a clinical trials database
- To use departmental treatment planning and information systems to extract dataconcerning the treatment delivered to clinical trial patients
- Will be responsible for the safe use of radiotherapy equipment
- Assist with training sessions related to new clinical trials and use of Dosimetryequipment
- Assist with and perform patient specific quality assurance and tasks associated toinclude software verification of treatment plan suitability.
- Regularly undertakes research projects, collaborating with other academic and NHScolleagues as necessary
- Develop and implement standard operating procedures and work instructionsrelating to work activities
- To be able to use MS Word and Excel to perform data analysis to generate reportsas required
- Propose and be prepared to support changes to departmental working practices todevelop the clinical trials process
- To be aware of the requirements of ISO 9001
- To perform other reasonable duties as delegated by the Head of Radiotherapy orHead of Radiotherapy Physics
GENERAL
- Ensure all activities are carried out within a quality framework and conform toStatutory Regulations, approved Codes of Practice and Local Safety Rules.
- To be aware and comply with the Local Rules of the Radiotherapy Department incompliance with the Ionising Radiation Regulations. To conform to therequirements of the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations.
- To ensure that the Health and Safety of patients, staff and visitors to thedepartment is maintained
- To immediately report accidents or injuries to patients, staff and visitors to the Headof Radiotherapy, Clinical Superintendent Radiographer or Head of RadiotherapyPhysics.
- To be aware of fire and emergency procedures and the set of fire extinguishers andescapes.
- To attend fire lectures and other relevant training lectures as required.
- The post holder is required to promote a professional image and must appearsmartly dressed for duty.
- The nature of the job requires that the post holder works their contracted hours in aflexible manner, e.g. there may be occasional late evenings.
All employees are subject to the requirements of the Health & Safety at Work Act andprevailing Acts since. It is the post-holders responsibility to ensure they are familiarwith all UHL Health and Safety related policies that apply to their workplace or work practice. The post holder is required to ensure that as an employee, his or her workmethods do not endanger other people or themselves.All employees are subject to the requirements of the current Data Protection legislationand must maintain strict confidentiality in respect of patients and staffs records.All employees must comply with the Trusts Equal Opportunities Policy and in line withthe Equality Act 2010, must not discriminate on grounds of age, disability, genderreassignment, race, religion or belief, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy ormaternity, sexual orientation or sex. Other grounds on which they should not treatothers unfavourably include trade union membership (or non-membership) or politicalaffiliation, or any other grounds which cannot be shown to be justifiable.
This job description is not to be taken as an exhaustive list of duties and it may bereviewed in the light of changed service needs and development. Any changes will befully discussed with the post holder. The post holder will be required to carry out theduties appropriate to the grade and scope of the post.The Trust is committed to supporting the health and wellbeing of all its employees.Should the post holder be employed in a people management capacity then they willbe required to familiarise themselves with the organisations range of health andwellbeing support, share with their team, and appropriately manage stress and illhealth in accordance with Trust policies, procedures, legislation and best practice.In order to ensure the Trusts ability to respond to changes in the needs of the service,after appropriate consultation and discussion with you (including consideration ofpersonal circumstances current skills, abilities and career development) the Trust maymake a change to your location, duties and responsibilities that are deemedreasonable in the circumstances.Your normal place of work will be as discussed at interview and will be confirmed inSection 1 of your contract but you may be required to work in other locations of theTrust. In particular, flexibility is required across the three main Hospital sites (LeicesterRoyal Infirmary, Leicester General Hospital, Glenfield Hospital). If your initial locationis based at one of these sites, excess travel reimbursement will not apply for apermanent/temporary change to base.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Radiotherapy Physics Division provides a high quality, safe, efficient and highly specialist range of clinical scientific and technical services within the Cancer and Haematology Clinical Business Unit. The services include providing and checking radiotherapy treatment plans for patients, advising clinical staff on radiotherapy physics issues, measuring and calculating patient received doses and radiotherapy treatment equipment output, ensuring the safety of patients and staff in an environment whichinvolves high levels of ionising radiation, ensuring equipment is operating safely and accurately, investigating complex faults in radiotherapy equipment and the evaluation, selection, procurement, installation and acceptance testing of equipment.The post holder will work over a range of areas in Radiotherapy Physics to provide support. They will work within defined policies and will be managed by registered staff.
They will undergo training in Radiotherapy Physics and associated techniques as appropriate to the role.
SCOPE
- Provide scientific and administrative support for the set-up and support of Radiotherapy Clinical Trials
- Participate in Research and Development projects under direction and supervision.
- Provides direct clinical service to patients by assisting with basic treatment planning duties to generate a clinical plan and assist with workload tracking.
Assist with and perform treatment unit and patient specific quality assurance procedures to ensure accurate treatment delivery.
Budget
- Assist in ensuring the effective utilisation of high value assets.
- Assist in the identification and delivery of cost improvement
Staff
- Assist the Head of Radiotherapy Physics / Radiotherapy Service Manager inensuring the effective performance of the Radiotherapy Physics Division.
- Prioritise and manage own work to meet agreed outcomes.
Policy
- Be aware of external evidence and guidance, suggesting improvements whererequired
- Follows local policies and may suggest ways to improve or alter the service
Communications
- Sensitive and appropriate communication with patients.
- Discuss highly complex and safety critical issues with other staff to ensuretreatments are safe, accurate and meet the requirements of the treating clinicaloncologist.
- Maintain effective communication with the Head of Radiotherapy Physics / Servicemanager concerning issues within the work area
- Assist in ensuring effective communications in all areas.
KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
- Work with multi-disciplinary teams and the Head of Radiotherapy Physics to directand manage the service
- Engage with all internal staff groups involved in the radiotherapy process; clinicaloncologists, specialist registrars, radiographers, nurses, administrative staff, andclinical scientists and technologists (dosimetry and engineering).
- Engage with external staff groups required; clinical scientists working at otherradiotherapy centres, National RTTQA team.
KEY RESULT AREAS
- To work under own initiative to manage and prioritise own workload to ensuredeadlines are met
- To keep relevant scientific and technical records of work performed.
- Develop specialist theoretical and practical knowledge of Radiotherapy Physics
- Provide scientific and administrative support for the set-up and support ofradiotherapy clinical trials including: outlining organs at risk, accurate recording oftrial data, anonymisation and transfer of patient data, ensuring compliance with trialprotocols and preparation of documentation
- To ensure data is entered accurately and logged as it progresses until completion,in a clinical trials database
- To use departmental treatment planning and information systems to extract dataconcerning the treatment delivered to clinical trial patients
- Will be responsible for the safe use of radiotherapy equipment
- Assist with training sessions related to new clinical trials and use of Dosimetryequipment
- Assist with and perform patient specific quality assurance and tasks associated toinclude software verification of treatment plan suitability.
- Regularly undertakes research projects, collaborating with other academic and NHScolleagues as necessary
- Develop and implement standard operating procedures and work instructionsrelating to work activities
- To be able to use MS Word and Excel to perform data analysis to generate reportsas required
- Propose and be prepared to support changes to departmental working practices todevelop the clinical trials process
- To be aware of the requirements of ISO 9001
- To perform other reasonable duties as delegated by the Head of Radiotherapy orHead of Radiotherapy Physics
GENERAL
- Ensure all activities are carried out within a quality framework and conform toStatutory Regulations, approved Codes of Practice and Local Safety Rules.
- To be aware and comply with the Local Rules of the Radiotherapy Department incompliance with the Ionising Radiation Regulations. To conform to therequirements of the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations.
- To ensure that the Health and Safety of patients, staff and visitors to thedepartment is maintained
- To immediately report accidents or injuries to patients, staff and visitors to the Headof Radiotherapy, Clinical Superintendent Radiographer or Head of RadiotherapyPhysics.
- To be aware of fire and emergency procedures and the set of fire extinguishers andescapes.
- To attend fire lectures and other relevant training lectures as required.
- The post holder is required to promote a professional image and must appearsmartly dressed for duty.
- The nature of the job requires that the post holder works their contracted hours in aflexible manner, e.g. there may be occasional late evenings.
All employees are subject to the requirements of the Health & Safety at Work Act andprevailing Acts since. It is the post-holders responsibility to ensure they are familiarwith all UHL Health and Safety related policies that apply to their workplace or work practice. The post holder is required to ensure that as an employee, his or her workmethods do not endanger other people or themselves.All employees are subject to the requirements of the current Data Protection legislationand must maintain strict confidentiality in respect of patients and staffs records.All employees must comply with the Trusts Equal Opportunities Policy and in line withthe Equality Act 2010, must not discriminate on grounds of age, disability, genderreassignment, race, religion or belief, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy ormaternity, sexual orientation or sex. Other grounds on which they should not treatothers unfavourably include trade union membership (or non-membership) or politicalaffiliation, or any other grounds which cannot be shown to be justifiable.
This job description is not to be taken as an exhaustive list of duties and it may bereviewed in the light of changed service needs and development. Any changes will befully discussed with the post holder. The post holder will be required to carry out theduties appropriate to the grade and scope of the post.The Trust is committed to supporting the health and wellbeing of all its employees.Should the post holder be employed in a people management capacity then they willbe required to familiarise themselves with the organisations range of health andwellbeing support, share with their team, and appropriately manage stress and illhealth in accordance with Trust policies, procedures, legislation and best practice.In order to ensure the Trusts ability to respond to changes in the needs of the service,after appropriate consultation and discussion with you (including consideration ofpersonal circumstances current skills, abilities and career development) the Trust maymake a change to your location, duties and responsibilities that are deemedreasonable in the circumstances.Your normal place of work will be as discussed at interview and will be confirmed inSection 1 of your contract but you may be required to work in other locations of theTrust. In particular, flexibility is required across the three main Hospital sites (LeicesterRoyal Infirmary, Leicester General Hospital, Glenfield Hospital). If your initial locationis based at one of these sites, excess travel reimbursement will not apply for apermanent/temporary change to base.
Person Specification
qualification
Essential
- Honours degree in Physics
Desirable
- Associate Membership of an appropriate professional organisation, such as IPEM
behaviours
Essential
- Able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with Trust values and behaviours
Experience
Essential
- Experience of participation in Research and Development projects
Desirable
- Experience in Radiotherapy Physics, particularly clinical trials and treatment planning, including computer coding
Analytical and Judgement skills
Essential
- Ability to solve scientific and mathematical problems in relation to Radiotherapy Physics, and is able to analyse and make judgements on a range of facts and data sets
Planning and organisation skills
Essential
- Able to prioritise and manage own work, able to manage own time to ensure tasks are completed to specified timescales, and capable of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
Equality and Diversity
Essential
- Able to demonstrate a commitment and understanding of the importance of treating all individuals with dignity and respect appropriate to their individual needs.
Person Specification
qualification
Essential
- Honours degree in Physics
Desirable
- Associate Membership of an appropriate professional organisation, such as IPEM
behaviours
Essential
- Able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with Trust values and behaviours
Experience
Essential
- Experience of participation in Research and Development projects
Desirable
- Experience in Radiotherapy Physics, particularly clinical trials and treatment planning, including computer coding
Analytical and Judgement skills
Essential
- Ability to solve scientific and mathematical problems in relation to Radiotherapy Physics, and is able to analyse and make judgements on a range of facts and data sets
Planning and organisation skills
Essential
- Able to prioritise and manage own work, able to manage own time to ensure tasks are completed to specified timescales, and capable of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
Equality and Diversity
Essential
- Able to demonstrate a commitment and understanding of the importance of treating all individuals with dignity and respect appropriate to their individual needs.
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).
