Radiation Protection Physicist

Job responsibilities

Clinical Scientific Responsibilities

• Participate in implementing legislation in radiation protection. The post holder is required to be up-to-date with current legal requirements, will analyse current practice against these requirements and make judgements and recommendations regarding alterations to practice and procedures.
• Perform periodic testing and annual audit procedures for compliance with relevant legislation, standards, or accepted international guidelines, and to ensure the safety of patients and staff, utilising specialist test equipment:
• Test a range of x-ray equipment. Audit procedures used with this equipment.
• Perform wipe testing of sealed radioactive sources when required.
• Organise and perform audits of facilities using unsealed radioactive sources, for compliance with current legislation.
• Test non-ionising radiation equipment (including lasers, UV, ultrasound). Audit procedures and facilities for compliance with relevant legislation and standards.
• Carry out scientific and statistical analysis and interpretation of the results obtained, in order to diagnose faults, make judgements and give appropriate recommendations.
• Communicate results and recommendations to customers in written reports. This may involve recommending remedial action or suspension of use, or changes to customer.
• Participate in commissioning and acceptance testing of new equipment within the Trust and for external customers.
• Calculate patient and foetal radiation doses due to intended and unintended medical examination or treatment. Assist the RPA in analysis, interpretation and reporting to clinicians.
• Analyse and interpret complex patient data in order to set, audit and review Diagnostic Reference Levels, as required by the Ionising Radiations (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017. Communicate this information to customers in a written report, or verbally at Medical Exposures Committee meetings. Participate in the maintenance of patient dose management systems.
• Participate in dose optimisation studies. Analyse and interpret dose and image quality data, to assist in producing recommendations for dose reduction strategies, or procedural changes to customer departments.
• Participate in ensuring compliance with the requirements of the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 and associated legislation and guidance for the keeping and use of radioactive substances together with the accumulation and disposal of radioactive waste. This includes analysing, collating and submitting annual reports to the Environment Agency.
• Participate in the analysis of the results of thermoluminescent dosimetry for the measurement of staff, patient and environmental doses. Analyse, interpret and communicate results.
• Maintain computerised record inventories and databases demonstrating compliance with relevant legislation.
• Produce Local Rules and Systems of Work for customer departments.
• Assist in the radiation protection specification of new facilities where ionising and non-ionising radiations are to be used.
• Keep relevant scientific and technical records of work performed.

Leadership / Management

• Prioritise own workload, including liaison with customers to arrange test/audit visits.
• Manage projects allocated by line manager.
• Be responsible for the safe use of expensive and highly complex equipment, e.g. CT scanners, ultrasound scanners, and complex test equipment.
• Keep careful records of all work performed and complete other appropriate records.
• Supervision of trainees and students on a day to day basis.
• Train new staff (technologist or physicist) in specific areas of expertise.
• Represent the Radiation Protection Service in meetings in other departments after liaison with the line manager and Head of Radiation Protection.

Research and Service Development

• Support and undertake research and development projects in Medical Physics and other Trust departments as agreed with the Service Manager.

Education and Training

• Participate in training other staff and students. This will include the preparation and giving of lectures on areas of Radiation Physics to large groups of Medical, Scientific, Technical, nursing and ancillary staff.
• Present papers at national and international scientific meetings.
• Plan and attend events and presentations promoting clinical technology and clinical science to the public.
• Participate in the organisation of training courses run by the Service.

Quality

• Implement and ensure compliance with set procedures and an agreed format, including an accredited quality system in the areas of work for which the post holder carries responsibility. Reports of all work will be produced in a format agreed by the Section.
• Make suggestions for improvements to existing procedures and participate in the development of new procedures and implement changes to new or updated procedures.
• Ensure all activities are carried out within a quality framework and meet regulatory requirements.
• Develop and design standard documents, spreadsheets and reports to be used within the quality system.

Professional

Keep abreast of the latest scientific and technical developments.

• Enrol in appropriate Continuing Professional Development programmes.
• Attend suitable seminars and courses as part of personal development and to further the work of the Department.
• Maintain state registration as clinical scientist.

Health and Safety

• Carry out all duties in accordance with the requirements of the Health & Safety at Work Act, relevant Statutory Regulations, Approved Codes of Conduct and Local Rules.
• Be aware and ensure implementation of the precautions required when working with ionising and non-ionising radiation. Be mindful of other people in the vicinity, who may not be aware of the hazard, and ensure their safety as well as your own.
• Take all precautions when dealing with ionising and non-ionising radiation hazards and when handling chemical and putrescent radioactive waste.
• Work outside normal working hours on occasion when required. Time off in lieu will be given for hours worked beyond the standard working week.
• When working in other departments, the post holder will liaise with local heads of department, medical consultants, superintendents, nursing sisters or their representatives as appropriate, adhering to local policies and practices. The post holder will behave courteously and professionally at all times and seek to ensure that the highest level of service is provided by the Radiation Protection Service

Education and Qualification

Essential

• Good (1st or 2nd class) Honours degree in a relevant subject.
• Master's degree in Medical Physics (or equivalent).
• Scientific Training Programme Certificate of completion, Post- graduate diploma of the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM), or equivalent (2-3 years postgraduate), or near completion.
• Follow a suitable programme of training towards Registration as a Clinical Scientist with the Health and Care Professions Council.
• Up to date record of Continuing Professional Development.
• Attendance of short courses and update training.

Desirable

• Registered Clinical Scientist.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Knowledge of radiation protection legislation in healthcare and biomedical research.
• Knowledge of the techniques employed to measure the performance and radiological safety of state of the art x-ray imaging equipment.
• Knowledge of Radiation Protection practices.
• Experience in analysing and interpreting different situations and judging measures required to ensure compliance in areas that relate to relevant legislation.
• Experience in the use of specialist testing equipment employed to measure levels of radiation.
• Knowledge and experience of research methodologies.
• Ability to carry out statistical analysis.
• An understanding of patient and staff risks arising from ionising radiation exposure.
• An appreciation of patient confidentiality.
• Knowledge of employment procedures and practices.
• Able to exercise own initiative when dealing with common issues within own specialist area of competence.
• Supervision of trainee clinical scientists.
• Working knowledge of quality systems.

Skills and Competencies

Essential

• Able to use Excel, Word, Access etc. to set up documents and spreadsheets and extract information.
• Manual dexterity: ability to make accurate measurements using sophisticated testing equipment.
• Standard keyboard skills to produce reports.
• Able to concentrate when frequently subject to unpredictable working patterns.
• Frequent requirement to concentrate for prolonged periods.
• Able to deal with occasional distressing circumstances [work occasionally involves assessment of foetal radiation dose].
• Able to communicate complex information to a range of people, in a professional manner. [e.g. postgraduate level physics material to other professional groups, discussions with superintendent radiographers/radiologists].
• Good presentation skills.
• Able to present scientific papers at national and international conferences.
• Able to train groups of other professional staff.
• Able to discuss contentious or possibly sensitive 'Radiation Issues' with other staff groups and members of the public.

Desirable

• Knowledge and experience of programming computer systems.
• Valid driving licence.
• There is an occasional requirement to exert intense physical effort for several short periods during a shift: Able to lift/pull testing instrument cases and Perspex blocks, (>15kg), sometimes upstairs.
• Sitting in restricted position - e.g. while performing QC.

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).