Clinical Scientist

Job description

Job responsibilities

SPECIFIC DUTIES/JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

1. General
   • Ensure all work complies with current UK legislation for work with ionising radiation (IRR 2017, IRMER 2017) and the Trusts 9001-2015-compliant Quality System for provision of radiotherapy.
   • The post holder will be expected to prioritise and manage their own work on a day-to-day basis.
   • The post holder must participate in an agreed scheme of Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
   • The place of work is normally The Christie, Withington, but the post holder may be required to carry out work at other local hospitals with a radiotherapy service.
   • The post is full-time. Hours are worked flexibly, in agreement with the line manager, to provide round the clock services where necessary to cover the normal range of clinical duties.

1. Treatment Planning System management
   • Contribute to the scientific management of the clinical treatment planning system.
   • Measure appropriate machine data during commissioning for the production of accurate treatment planning models.
   • Commission clinical collapsed cone convolution treatment planning models adjusting model parameters to fit commissioning data for new radiotherapy equipment to ensure accurate treatment planning.
   • Develop and implement treatment planning software for improved efficiency of treatment planning.
   • Ensure that the treatment planning data and calculation methods are accurate and the limitations understood and documented.
   • To liaise with the physicists in dosimetry to maintain an up-to-date physical data base for external beam therapy.
2. Clinical Treatment Planning.
   • Participate in maintaining the provision of an external beam treatment planning service to the Radiotherapy Department to ensure the accuracy of treatment plans and compliance with clinical requirements.
   • Provide advice on radiotherapy physics-related issues to clinical oncologists and radiographers, contributing to the effective work of the multidisciplinary team, in relation to both current practice and technique development.
   • Operate on a rota with other physicists to resolve problems arising with clinical treatment plans, including problems where the post holder may inspect and advise on patient set-up on linear accelerators.
   • Operate on a rota with other physicists to perform clinical planning room duties. Assess the suitability of patient imaging, immobilisation and localisation information in preparation for treatment planning.
   • Produce highly complex radiotherapy treatment plans, based on the evaluation of anatomical and clinical information using a highly complex three dimensional treatment planning system.
   • Critically analyse and independently check routine and highly complex treatment plans for transfer to linear accelerators.
   • Provide and independently check monitor unit calculations for external beam radiotherapy.
   • Participate in managing the implementation of new processes and techniques including the generation of work instructions for inclusion in the quality system.
   • To update radiotherapy physics aspects of clinical procedures required by the ionising radiations medical exposures regulations (IRMER).

1. Clinical Dosimetry
   • Maintain, develop and implement procedures for quality assurance for linear accelerators and other radiotherapy machines within the ISO 9K2K quality system, analysing current practice against recommendations of Professional bodies and proposing changes to practice and procedures.
   • Participate regularly in the clinical quality control programme for highly complex radiotherapy equipment, including linear accelerators, simulators and superficial therapy devices to ensure all such equipment is fit for clinical use.
   • Act on a rota basis as Duty Physicist for the Dosimetry Section, responding via a bleep system to issues relating to the dosimetric performance of radiotherapy equipment raised by radiographer and engineering staff, providing scientific advice or performing measurements as appropriate.
   • Investigate and resolve technical and dosimetric problems highlighted through ongoing quality control measurements and reported equipment faults, analysing oral and written information along with measurements in order to provide advice or identify any remedial action.
   • To work with the physicists in treatment planning to maintain an up to date physical database for external beam therapy.
   • Perform acceptance testing and commissioning measurements for linear accelerators, allocating tasks and supervising physicists collecting the data required to provide accurate models of radiation treatment beams necessary to ensure efficient and safe implementation into clinical service.
   • Perform patient specific QA.

1. Brachytherapy System management
   • Contribute to the scientific management of the Brachytherapy planning systems and associated equipment.
   • Develop and implement software for improved efficiency of Brachytherapy.
   • Ensure that Brachytherapy planning and calculation methods are accurate and the limitations understood and documented.
   • Participate regularly in the clinical quality control programme for highly complex brachytherapy equipment, to ensure equipment is fit for clinical use.
2. Clinical Brachytherapy.
   • Participate in maintaining the provision of the brachytherapy service to ensure the accuracy of brachytherapy plans and compliance with clinical requirements.
   • Provide advice on radiotherapy physics-related issues to clinical oncologists and radiographers, contributing to the effective work of the multidisciplinary team, in relation to both current practice and technique development.
   • Work within the brachytherapy team to resolve problems arising with brachytherapy plans, including problems where the post holder may inspect and advise on patient set-up.
   • Work within the brachytherapy team to perform clinical duties. This includes treating patients, set up and cleaning of medical devices after treatment and includes work within the Brachytherapy operating theatre.
   • Assess the suitability of patient imaging, immobilisation and localisation information in preparation for Brachytherapy.
   • Produce highly complex brachytherapy plans, based on the evaluation of anatomical and clinical information using a highly complex three dimensional treatment planning system.
   • Critically analyse and independently check routine and highly complex treatment plans for transfer to afterloaders.
   • Participate in managing the implementation of new processes and techniques including the generation of work instructions for inclusion in the quality system.
   • To update radiotherapy physics aspects of clinical procedures required by the ionising radiations medical exposures regulations (IRMER).

1. Teaching and Training
   • To supervise trainee Clinical Scientists.
   • To lecture to postgraduate scientists, radiographers, Specialist Registrars and others and assist in the organisation of the departments teaching programmes.
2. Research and development
   • Perform directed research to further the clinical service.
   • Assist M.Sc. students with project work.
   • To present work at local/national meetings.

To publish research in internationally recognised peer reviewed research journals

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• BSc in Physics
• MSc in Medical Physics
• Dip IPEM (or equivalent experience)
• HCPC registration as a Clinical Scientist

Desirable

• PhD

Experience

Essential

• Treatment planning experience
• Dosimetry Experience
• Brachytherapy Experience

Desirable

• Experience in modern and emerging clinical techniques
• Experience with RayStation

Skills

Essential

• Multi-disciplinary team working
• Use of radiation monitoring and scanning equipment, working to millimetre precision.
• Use of computer-based treatment planning software.
• Data analysis, including use of Excel and Access (or similar packages).
• Scientific report writing/track record of publications in scientific journals and conferences.
• Good interpersonal skills
• Clear and articulate communicator

Desirable

• Research skills

Knowledge

Essential

• Extensive knowledge of radiotherapy physics.
• Extensive knowledge of relevant legislation, national standards, professional guidelines (e.g. IRR'17, IRMER 2017, ISO:9001,2015,, IPEM Codes of Practice)
• Understanding of the clinical role of radiotherapy.
• Understanding of the hazards posed by the clinical use of radiation (both man-made and sealed source).

Desirable

• Knowledge of one or more computer programming languages (e.g. C++, Java).

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Professional
• Ability to work independently
• Self-motivated
• Neat and tidy appearance
• Flexible attitude to work
• Punctual
• Good team worker
• Conscientious
• Willing to participate in shift rota including working unsocial hours

Desirable

• Outside interests
• Able to attend training courses involving periods away from home

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).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

The Christie NHS FT

Address

CMPE Radiotherapy Physics Services - D00001

Manchester

M20 4BX

Employer's website

https://www.christie.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)