Deputy Head of Nuclear Medicine Physics

Job description

Job responsibilities

1. To deputise as delegated for Head of Nuclear Medicine Physics and Bone Densitometry (henceforth Head of Section), ensuring continuity of cover for management of Nuclear Medicine Physics and Medical Physics Expert (MPE) for Nuclear Medicine/PET.

2. Under the direction of the Head of Section, manage the provision of scientific services by Nuclear Medicine Physics to Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, and as applicable, under contract to external providers. Entailing highly complex and highly specialised scientific support, for equipment management, radiodiagnostic tests and radiotherapeutic treatments. Ensuring scientific services are prioritised and performed, to required standards via responsive strategies, by organising own work and overseeing the work of Clinical Scientists. Oversight of outcomes includes departmental meetings, inter-departmental meetings and inter-provider meetings.

3. When discharging duties to communicate with members of multi-disciplinary teams, like clinicians, duty holders and managers, in consideration of different roles/responsibilities and different expertise/experiences, to ensure the optimal outcome for patients and services.

4. For areas of responsibility, to maintain the Quality Management System (QMS), contributing to oversight of and participation in the review and revision of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). For example, incorporating guidance, policy and research.

5. Under the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations, act as Medical Physics Expert for Nuclear Medicine/PET:

Support the submission of new/amendment applications for Employer/Practitioner Licences to Administration of Radioactive Substances Advisory Committee (ARSAC).

Advise on IR(ME)R procedures for unsealed source users, and conduct audits of compliance with IR(ME)R.

Advise on specification/tender, acceptance testing, routine testing and implementation of new equipment, for example, non-imaging equipment, imaging equipment and associated hardware/software.

Advise on implementation and optimisation of new techniques.

Oversee the optimisation of radiodiagnostic tests, for example, acquisition and processing parameters.

Oversee the optimisation of radiotherapeutic treatments, for example, patient dosimetry, patient radiation risk assessments and procedures.

Supporting clinical trials.

Responsibilities frequently require the analysis of highly complex issues in order to advise on multiple potential options, drawing on advanced theoretical knowledge and practical experience. Providing advice involves communicating highly complex information to other healthcare professionals and acting with limits of knowledge and skills. Clinical advice occasionally involves exposure to highly emotional circumstances.

6. Under the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations, act as operator for Nuclear Medicine Physics:

Authorisation and reporting as delegated by Practitioner.

Equipment Testing (e.g. Radionuclide Calibrators and Intraoperative Probes plus Gamma Cameras and PET-CT Scanners)

Non-Imaging Tests (e.g. Glomerular Filtration Rate Tests and Bile Acid Malabsorption Tests)

Radionuclide Treatments (e.g. Radioiodine Therapy for Thyroid Cancer)

Tasks frequently involve exposure to and handling of radioactive material (sealed sources and unsealed sources), requiring a high degree of manual dexterity and periods of prolonged concentration. Additionally, tasks occasionally involve exposure to and handling of bodily fluids and COSHH products. Work occasionally involves manual handling of bulky, heavy, inanimate objects and handling of patients. Clinical work frequently involves periods of prolonged concentration and occasionally involves exposure to emotional circumstances.

7. Regarding radiation protection, the postholder will adhere to and apply all trust policies and local procedures for:

The Environmental Permitting Regulations for the storage and use of radioactive materials and the accumulation and disposal of radioactive waste.

The Ionising Radiations Regulations for the protection of the public and staff.

The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations for the protection of the patients.

8. The postholder will adhere to and apply all trust policies and local procedures for health and safety, including moving and handling, infection control and COSHH, as applicable.

9. Accurate and appropriate use of specialised complex software, including application software (e.g. Microsoft Office) and utility software (e.g. clinical applications).

10. Supplies and services will be ordered and obtained, according to procedures for Medical Physics and Portsmouth University Hospitals NHS Trust.

11. To participate in recruitment of Clinical Scientists and Radiographers/Technologists by Nuclear Medicine Physics.

12. To line manage the Clinical Scientists, undertaking regular performance reviews and return to work meetings. Identifying training needs and implementing support measures, with support as required from Head of Section.

13. To support the training of Route 1/Route 2 Trainee Clinical Scientists in speciality of Nuclear Medicine/PET, per the requirements of the National School of Healthcare Science (NSHC) and the Association of Clinical Scientists (ACS) for registration with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Additionally, as required to support the training of Radiographers/Technologists in Nuclear Medicine Physics.

14. To deliver training in Nuclear Medicine, PET and radiation protection to colleagues from different departments at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, and under contract with external providers, as applicable.

15. Regarding Continuing Professional Development (CPD), to carry out CPD activities, to maintain professional registrations as a Clinical Scientist with the HCPC and a MPE with the RPA2000 company. Participate in the CPD Scheme provided by the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM).

16. To provide lectures and supervise projects in Nuclear Medicine/PET, in collaboration with academic partners, like the University of Portsmouth.

17. To propose and participate in research and development, and publish and present at local and national level.

Person Specification

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Ability to prioritise, plan and perform own work, to meet dynamic priorities of service.
• Ability to take initiative, lead and organise team work, to achieve long-term aims of service.
• Ability to work at sites in Portsmouth, and as applicable, elsewhere in Hampshire.
• Ability to communicate highly complex information, in verbal and written forms, to patients, professionals and public.
• Advanced theoretical knowledge and practical experience of Nuclear Medicine and PET.
• Application of theoretical knowledge and practical experience to practically solve problems.
• Highly developed physical dexterity and accurate data analysis for practical work.
• Application of radiation protection for safely working with ionising radiation.
• Advanced computational and numerical skills.

Desirable

• Interest in research and training.

Qualifications

Essential

• Undergraduate Degree (BSc or MPhys) in Physics (Or Related Physical Science)
• Postgraduate Degree (MSc or MPhil) in Medical Physics
• Registration as Clinical Scientist with Health and Care Professions Council
• Registration as Medical Physics Expert with RPA2000

Desirable

• Postgraduate Doctorate (PhD or DPhil) in Medical Physics (Or Related Physical Science)
• Experience of training Clinical Scientists.
• Experience of managing Clinical Scientists.
• Planning, performing, publishing and presenting research.

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Flexibility regarding patterns of working, for example, occasional planned and unplanned early starts and late finishes.
• Flexibility regarding approach to arriving at optimal outcomes.
• Diplomacy and collaboration in multi-disciplinary team working.
• Discretion and compassion in distressing emotional circumstances.

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

Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust

Address

Queen Alexandra Hospital

Southwick Hill Road

Cosham

Portsmouth

PO6 3LY

Employer's website

https://www.porthosp.nhs.uk/work-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)