NHS
Location
Worcester, Worcestershire | United Kingdom
Job description
The Radiotherapy Physics Team at the Worcestershire Oncology Centre is looking to appoint a Band 7 Clinical Scientist with HCPC Registration. Our Team is made up of nine Clinical Scientists, six Dosimetrists, three Engineers as well as Physicist Associates and Trainees.
Worcestershire Oncology Centre is based at Worcestershire Royal Hospital and houses three Elekta Linear Accelerators with VMAT and XVI capabilities, a CT scanner (with 4D-CT) and an Xstrahl Unit. Two of these linacs have FFF and 4D-XVI for SABR treatments. Raystation TPS is used for all treatment planning. We are soon to be entering an exciting period of linac replacement.
Those nearing registration are also encouraged to apply, but may be appointed at a lower band until registration is achieved.
To provide Scientific Expertise in all aspects of Radiotherapy Physics including Treatment Planning, Machine Quality Control, Dose Measurement, Mould Room, and Commissioning of new equipment and techniques.
Band 7 Clinical Scientists are involved in routine tasks within the department as well as project work in line with the departments strategy and to promote continual improvement. In addition, the post holder will participate in training a range of staff and engage with the Radiotherapy Quality System and research work is encouraged.
Our purpose is simple - Putting Patients First. We are looking for exceptional colleagues who can help us achieve this.
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a larger population in Herefordshire and beyond.
The Trust operates hospital-based services from three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester
Our workforce is nearly 6,800 strong, and our caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred care. You could be one of them.
We are committed to recruiting the best people to work with us to achieve our Vision - working in partnership to provide the best healthcare for our communities, leading and supporting our teams to move 4ward. Our 4ward behaviours, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.
Our objectives are simple:
Better never stops, and our Clinical Services Strategy provides a clear future vision for our Trust, our hospitals, our services and our role in the wider health and care system.
We are proud to have achieved Timewise accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working within our organisation as a flex positive employer.
JOB SUMMARY
To provide Scientific Expertise and Clinical Technical Services for patients undergoing cancer treatment.
When required by the Radiotherapy Physics Rota, to provide scientific expertise and clinical technical services in the provision of Treatment Planning, Dosimetry, Mould Room and Machine Quality Control in Radiotherapy.
The post holder is required to plan own workload, organise own projects and prioritise requests. To adapt schedules several times a day in response to unpredictable urgent requests.
To discuss complex aspects of patient treatment with medical staff, scientists, technologists, radiographers and nurses. To scientifically interpret complex patient treatment related information from medical staff. To initiate and participate in research and development. To be accountable for the work of staff and students whose work they are supervising.
To discuss complex technical and scientific aspects of equipment and software performance with scientists, technologists and representatives of equipment manufacturers.
The holder decides how to achieve defined results, with discretion to work within the parameters of professional guidelines and departmental procedures. Guidance may be provided by colleagues, or the Head of Radiotherapy Physics.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
1. To provide Scientific Expertise in all aspects of Radiotherapy Physics; Treatment Planning, Dose Measurement, Mould Room, Machine Quality Control and Commissioning of new equipment and techniques.
2. To develop expertise towards the achievement of State Registration and Medical Physics Expert status.
3. Treatment Planning:
3.1. To produce a range of radiotherapy plans as required to support the clinical service
3.2. To check dose predictions and identify both errors and whether the treatment plan achieves the clinical objectives as far as practicable.
3.3. To check the calculation of treatment machine settings.
3.4. To check that adequate records of all outlining, treatment planning and calculations have been made.
4. Dosimetry:
4.1. To undertake all routine dose measurements including patient specific doses and machine calibration doses.
4.2. To provide scientific advice for treatment machine doses and patient doses which fall outside accepted tolerances and to re-calibrate machines when necessary.
4.3. To participate in the calibration of the Department's dosimeters against the Regional Secondary Standard.
4.4. To carry out quality control checks on dosimetry systems.
5. Mould Room:
5.1. To advise as required to specify the design of non-routine fixation devices, blocking devices and build-up materials for patient treatment, if necessary, in consultation with the Clinician.
6. Treatment machine quality control:
6.1. To carry out quality control checks, calibration and equipment tests on highly complex radiotherapy equipment, following agreed protocols.
6.2. To ensure that calibrations and equipment tests which directly affect radiation dose to the patient are carried out with strict reference to procedures and safety tolerance levels set out in the quality system.
6.3. To supervise and advise technologists on the quality control checks required following machine repair.
6.4. To record machine performance data, as required by the Head of Radiotherapy Physics.
7. Duty Physicist.: When required by the Rota, to act as the first response source of specialist scientific advice in all aspects of Radiotherapy Physics.
8. Quality System:
8.1. To propose and develop procedures throughout Radiotherapy Physics to enhance the service. These procedures will impact on the work of radiographers and radiotherapy consultant staff.
8.2. To contribute to the development and maintenance of the Radiotherapy Quality System
9. Computing:
9.1. To develop knowledge and expertise in computing software, networks and image processing for radiotherapy.
9.2. To develop radiotherapy physics computing by writing software to meet physics and clinical specifications.
10. Research and Development:
10.1. To initiate, supervise and carry out research and development in Radiotherapy Physics, following a programme agreed with the Radiotherapy Physics Strategy.
10.2. To obtain external funding where appropriate.
10.3. To report on the results of such research at national and international scientific meetings and by published papers in refereed journals.
10.4. To provide support for the setup and delivery of radiotherapy clinical trials at WAHT under direction from the Radiotherapy Physics Strategy Lead.
11. Training:
11.1. To regularly deliver the training of small groups of staff and students, including both teaching and evaluation, in all aspects of Radiotherapy Physics within a defined programme.
12. To minimise financial costs by safe and effective use of high capital value equipment (in excess of £30,000).
13. To work such unsocial hours as are necessary for the safe and effective performance of their duties. To participate in rotas to support weekend emergency on-call treatments, or provision of the clinical service on or around bank holidays.
14. To keep abreast of current scientific and technical developments in radiotherapy physics and maintain own competency to practice through CPD activities.
15. To undertake any other duties required by the Head of Radiotherapy Physics in accordance with the grade and nature of the post.
Standard Clauses:
The purpose of this post should remain constant, but the duties and responsibilities may vary over time within the overall role and level of the post. The post holder may from time to time be asked to undertake other reasonable duties. Any such changes will be made in discussion with the post holder in the light of service needs.
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.
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
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