Job summary
- Main area
- Radiotherapy Physics
- Grade
- Band 8a
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- Job ref
- 120-HS053-0524
- Employer
- Velindre Cancer Centre
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Velindre Cancer Centre
- Town
- Cardiff
- Salary
- £51,706 - £58,210 per annum, pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 21/05/2024 23:59
Employer heading
Specialist Clinical Scientist in Radiotherapy Physics (MPE)
Band 8a
Thank you for your interest in working for Velindre Cancer Centre (VCC), which is a committed equal opportunities employer. VCC welcomes applications from people who share our vision;
Velindre University NHS Trust will be recognised locally, nationally and internationally as a renowned organisation of excellence for patient and donor care, education and research.
our values;
- BE Accountable
- BE Bold
- BE Caring
- BE Dynamic
& who will complement our current experienced and specialist employees who are passionate about working in an organisation with the ambition to provide world class services & care to our patients.
VCC is an amazing place to work & develop your career. It is undertaking a 5 year transformation programme which will enable cancer services to meet the future needs of our patients across South East Wales. Not only will programme see VCC moving into a new purpose built cancer hospital, it will provide opportunities for patients to receive treatments closer to their homes. The infrastructure changes will offer our employees opportunities to work across a number of sites, in new and different ways, create development opportunities & increase flexible working practices.
VCC provides our employees with a favourable salary and reward / staff benefits & support package.
For more information on this vacancy please contact the recruiting manager, who will be pleased to discuss it with you.
Please check your email account regularly. Successful applicants will receive all recruitment related correspondence via the email account registered on the application form.
The Trust also reserves the right to close a vacancy early or withdraw an advertisement at any stage of the process, to enable internal staff requiring to be redeployed in suitable roles.
Applications may be submitted in Welsh. Applications submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.
Please be advised that there is a temporary top up for Bands 1,2 and 3 to reflect the incorporation of the top up to the living wage of £12 per hour - £23,465 per annum. This temporary top up will be in place until the annual pay uplift for 2024/25 is confirmed
Job overview
We are looking for talented and motivated individuals to join the department with sound scientific skills able to lead the department through the changes over the next few years. . The post holder(s) will be based at either the Cardiff centre or the satellite centre and will be expected to attend the other centre when required.
The post holder, in conjunction with other Medical Physics Experts (MPEs) and senior staff within the Radiotherapy Department, is responsible for ensuring the safe delivery of radiotherapy. They will act as Medical Physics Expert under the IR(ME)R 2017 legislation across all areas of radiotherapy, taking the lead in areas in which they have specific expertise e.g. treatment planning, dosimetry, imaging physics, brachytherapy or computing. They will lead the implementation and commissioning of new technologies and techniques, provide specialist advice at MPE level to multidisciplinary teams and provide advice on the most complex patient treatment plans, radiobiology and dosimetric issues and provide expert support for clinical trials and research.
Main duties of the job
Provide highly complex scientific and technical advice on imaging, treatment planning and dosimetric issues to radiotherapy consultants and other clinical staff regarding patient external beam radiotherapy or brachytherapy treatments.
Liaise with manufacturers and colleagues at other centres as necessary on issues related to radiotherapy treatments, imaging and image optimisation.
Discuss with clinical staff and patients issues associated with Radiotherapy
Treatment set up, radiobiological, dosimetric and other issues describing complex scientific information and its implications on the patient’s treatment.
Present and disseminate clinical results through oral or poster presentations at local, national and international meetings and conferences and where appropriate prepare papers for publication in scientific journals.
Teach the principles of Radiotherapy Physics to all disciplines in classroom and workplace settings.
In accordance with IR(ME)R(2017), ensure all operators of relevant radiotherapy equipment have received sufficient training and achieved the required level of competency.
Discuss the status of the quality system with internal and external auditors including justification of process changes, resolution of non-conformances and the reporting of reportable incidents according to IR(ME)R 2017
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.
Working for our organisation
Here at Velindre University NHS Trust we are extremely proud of the specialist services we provide across the whole of Wales in our cutting-edge Velindre Cancer Centre and our award-winning Welsh Blood Service, as well as the expertise of our corporate functions that bring the two divisions together. We are also fortunate to host the NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership and Health Technology Wales and have developed strong partnership working with these expert services.
The Radiotherapy Service at Velindre Cancer Centre is undergoing significant transformation, which will continue for several years. Currently there are 8 linear accelerators (4 Varian and 4 Elekta) and an Elekta Flexitron for brachytherapy treatments. A replacement programme of all treatment devices, Oncology Information Systems and Treatment Planning Systems is underway; the first Varian Halcyon machine was installed in January 2023 with another being installed in September 2023. A radiotherapy satellite centre is due to open in Abergavenny in 2025, with a new Velindre Cancer Centre due to open in 2027. Radiotherapy equipment at the new centre will include Varian BRAVOS brachytherapy, 6 Varian Halcyon machines, 2 Varian Truebeams (HD) and a dedicated research machine.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click “Apply now” to view in Trac.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- First degree in physics or related discipline
- MSc or equivalent in medical physics
- Registration as a Clinical Scientist with the HCPC
- RPA2000 Certificate of Competence to act as an MPE demonstrating knowledge significantly beyond Clinical Registration and MPE, or close to achieving it
- Knowledge and understanding of the principles of Radiation Physics significantly beyond the level
- Knowledge and understanding of the principles of radiotherapy treatment devices.
- Knowledge and understanding of the principles of all imaging modalities used in Radiotherapy of an MSc in the field.
- Thorough understanding of the legislation as applied to the use of radiation in hospitals
- An understanding of the limitations & pitfalls of radiation dosimetry, calculation and computation, including electrons.
- An understanding of Quality Assurance schemes and principles in RT
- Knowledge of Data Protection; Health & Safety principles and practice.
- A good overview of the place of physics and RT in cancer therapy.
Desirable criteria
- PhD in Medical Physics or similar.
- Publication record in radiotherapy physics or related subject.
- Advanced Mathematics skills.
- Knowledge and understanding of the principles and practice of data analysis, aggregation of uncertainties, and statistics
- Knowledge and understanding of the principles of physics research methods.
- Knowledge and understanding of the radiobiological basis of RT and its use for
- Knowledge and understanding of cancer induction by radiation- principles and facts
- A good knowledge of anatomy
Experience
Essential criteria
- Extensive experience in Radiotherapy to MPE level
- Specialist experience in the operation of radiotherapy equipment and treatment planning systems and associated QA.
- Experience of taking a supervisory role
Desirable criteria
- Specialist experience to MPE level across all of treatment planning, dosimetry and brachytherapy
- Involvement with radiation legislation
Aptitude and Abilities
Essential criteria
- Able to communicate difficult scientific issues to scientists and non-scientists with good verbal, written and audio-visual production & presentation skills.
- Advanced computer analysis, data manipulation and its display
- Able to demonstrate effective implementation of positive change in service development
- Able to demonstrate the successful clinical implementation of new treatment techniques and / or equipment
- Good negotiator in advising of practice changes
- Teaching skills
Desirable criteria
- Ability to speak Welsh to level 1
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Welsh language skills are desirable
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Rebecca Windle
- Job title
- Deputy Head of Radiotherapy Physics
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 02920 316273
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