Senior Clinical Technologist - (Radiosurgery)

Job description

Job responsibilities

• To act as a clinical technologist within a highly specialised team providing technical support for the National Centre for Stereotactic Radiosurgery in collaboration with the Section Chief Clinical Technologist.
• To participate in the provision of physics support for patient treatments which include:
  • Patient Framing: A minor surgical procedure on patients which requires physics assistance/professional advice on frame positioning. Those involved may be frequently exposed to uncontained blood products.
  • Target Identification and Localisation: Is responsible for the precise positioning of the patient during CT, Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Angiography imaging to ensure accurate target information can be obtained from the images.
  • Treatment Planning: Performs a highly skilled operation to design a radiation treatment to match the abnormality to be treated.
  • Treatment delivery: Participate alongside therapy radiographers with the patient treatment, requiring manual dexterity in the setting of treatment parameters with sub-millimetre accuracy. Requires working in a controlled radiation environment.
  • Frame Removal: Assist when necessary with the removal of the stereotactic frame. Those assisting may be frequently exposed to un- contained blood products.
• To carry out appropriate and accurate complex conformal radiation dose planning using a computer workstation to the specifications of the department quality system protocols. This process will require post holders undivided attention for periods of up to 3hrs depending on the complexity of the case. The planning process uses both 2-dimensional and 3-dimentional image data sets.
• Evaluate a developed radiation treatment plan and prepare for presentation to treating Neurosurgeon for approval.
• Produce computer generated documentation of formulated treatment plans for storage in patient records, and for use in treatment delivery.
• Ensure appropriate and accurate localisation of the lesion(s) to be treated.
• Advise surgeons on stereotactic frame placement, ensuring appropriate positioning with regard to lesion(s) being treated (with regular exposure to stressed, anxious patients as well as to uncontained blood and other bodily fluids).
• Provide technical support and assistance with patient radiation treatment and removal of stereotactic frame (with frequent exposure to uncontained blood).
• Undertake routine physics calibrations and QA programmes for the Leksell Gamma Knife, stereotactic frames and other associated radiosurgery equipment.
• Review follow-up imaging for patients treated by stereotactic radiosurgery and accurately (sub-millimetre) measure tumour dimensions and volumes of clinical pathologies via manual and computer-aided means.
• Undertake routine physics calibrations and QA programmes for the Leksell Gamma Knife, stereotactic frames and other associated radiosurgery equipment.
• Carry out backup, cataloguing and safe storage of patient treatment plans and image data.
• Ensure accurate collection and recording (database) of clinical data and statistics
• Liaise / communicate with clinicians, health professionals and support staff both within the Trust and externally for the purposes of Clinical follow up and service development.
• Communicate information to patients with regard to treatment, and treatment planning processes in order to inform, reassure and encourage patients, thus ensuring their full cooperation in treatment processes and delivery.
• Occasionally required to communicate with patients through interpreters.
• Required to communicate specialist confidential information on a daily basis with Consultant Neurosurgeons and Neuro-radiologists, therapy and diagnostic radiographers and medical physics staff.
• Deal sympathetically with the broad spectrum of patients. Patients may be of any age (paediatric to the elderly) with either benign or malignant neurological conditions, considered to be life threatening or severely disabling or terminally ill.
• Participate in the numerous movement and handling operations of patients during diagnostic imaging and treatment delivery.
• To participate in the development and maintenance of the Quality Management System in place within the radiosurgery department. To ensure that all Quality Procedures are adhered to and appropriate documentation is maintained.
• To be familiar with the emergency procedures required in the event of machine malfunction. In rare circumstances to implement such procedures, requiring entry to a radiation environment in order to return the patient to a place of safety.
• Assist Section Chief Clinical Technologist in sourcing materials and suppliers of bespoke non-NHS-stock purchases and installations.
• Update and contribute to the development and maintenance of databases (example, Radiosurgery database) as deemed appropriate by Head of Radiosurgery Physics.
• Participates in a shift system on a rotational basis to cover the clinical commitment of the department (e.g. 8am 4pm or 12pm - 8pm and beyond as required to complete the patient procedures).
• Participates as and when required with clinical services on Saturdays and Sundays within agreed terms and conditions.
• Participates as and when required with Quality Assurance and Maintenance processes outside normal working hours.
• Participates in evening overtime, weekend work if required in a rotational manner as required to maintain the clinical service (includes unsocial hours).
• Ensures, as far as practicable, that all services and associated equipment in the area for which the Section is responsible remains functional at all times and report problem areas to the Section Chief Technologist.
• Assist Section Chief Clinical Technologist in sourcing materials and suppliers of bespoke non-NHS-stock purchases and installations.
• Adhere to Trust and Departmental policies and procedures, with particular reference to Ionising Radiation, Health and Safety and Risk Management.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

• Vocational Degree in Clinical Technology or equivalent degree in Physics/ Radiotherapy or related subject to satisfy the eligibility for the Register of Clinical Technologists

Desirable

• Registration as a professional with the Register of Clinical Technologists (RCT)
• Registration as a professional upon the Health and Care Professionals Register (HCPC) or similar.

Experience

Essential

• Significant Previous Radiotherapy planning experience.
• Experience in using a range of software packages including Microsoft and their use in a scientific environment.
• Experience in the use of physics in a Radiotherapy or Dosimetry setting.

Desirable

• Previous Radiosurgery planning experience.

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Ability to deal with complex and unpredictable situations / problem solving skills
• Good communication / interpersonal skills.
• Motivated and Enthusiastic approach.
• Ability to work as a team member.
• Understanding of the need for confidentiality.

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Smart appearance.
• Pleasant and helpful manner.
• Caring attitude.
• Regular and punctual attendance.
• Flexible attitude to working hours.
• Able and willing to continue personal development and to keep up to with developments in the specialty.

Values and Behaviours - (PROUD)

Essential

• Patients first
• Respectful
• Ownership
• Unity
• Delivery

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Hallamshire Hospital

Sheffield

S10 2JF

Employer's website

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