Job summary
The Trust includes St Bartholomew's Hospital, The Royal London Hospital, Newham University Hospital , Whipps Cross University Hospital and Mile End Hospital. A brand new hospital will be developed at the Whipps Cross site with Government investment, offering new and exciting opportunities for service development and delivery. We provide radiation safety support for all uses of ionising radiation in the Trust. The Barts and the Royal London sites have been built and equipped under a PFI and have a wide range of digital imaging equipment. The Barts Heart Centre, a new state of the art cardiac facility, has 10 cardiac angiography labs and 1 interventional theatre, with space for a further theatre.
These new permanent posts are to expand the team to provide closer MPE / RPA working with the clinical departments and being more integrated into the clinical teams.
We are looking for a people with MPE certification or in the position to be able submit an MPE portfolio within about 6 months of appointment. You should have experience in Diagnostic Radiology and in radiation protection in healthcare. You must be registered with the HCPC as a Clinical Scientist.
The Radiation Safety Section is based at the Royal London Hospital. You will be expected to work on all Trust and client sites and will be assigned particular site / modality responsibilities.
Main duties of the job
To act as an appointed Medical Physics Expert in Diagnostic Radiology for the Trust and for outside contracts, as required under The Ionising Radiations (Medical Exposures) Regulations 2017. To support the site 8B in delivering the radiation protection programme and to act as a designated site and/ or modality MPEs. To assist with the management and provision of radiation safety advice and services for all uses of ionising radiation in the Trust and diagnostic radiology physics support to the Trust and to other organisations who have contracts with Clinical Physics.
Site: St Bartholomew's Hospital / The Royal London Hospital, Newham University Hospital / Whipps Cross University Hospital / external (site to be confirmed on appointment)
Modalities: Cardiology / Interventional Radiology, Mammography, CT, Paediatric, Hybrid Imaging (modalities to be confirmed on appointment)
About us
Barts Health is one of the largest NHS trusts in the country, and one of Britain's leading healthcare providers.
The Barts Health group of NHS hospitals is entering an exciting new era on our improvement journey to becoming an outstanding organisation with a world-class clinical reputation. Having lifted ourselves out of special measures, we now have the impetus and breathing space to chart a fresh course in which we are continually striving to improve all our services for patients.
Our vision is to be a high-performing group of NHS hospitals, renowned for excellence and innovation, and providing safe and compassionate care to our patients in east London and beyond. That means being a provider of excellent patient safety, known for delivering consistently high standards of harm-free care and always caring for patients in the right place at the right time. It also means being an outstanding place to work, in which our WeCare values and behaviours are visible to all and guide us in how we work together.
We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment where staff treat one another with dignity and respect. We aim to create an equitable working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Work with the Radiation Protection Adviser / Head of the Section in maintaining radiation safety and diagnostic X-ray equipment optimization performance testing standards in the Trust and in the other organisations with which the section has contracts. The postholder is required to be up to date with current legal requirements and national guidance.
- Work with the Site Lead for Radiation Safety for a designated site and provide radiation safety and DR medical physics support for one of the Trust hospitals and/or imaging modalities. It is expected that approximately 2 days per week would be spent working at the designated site.
- Act as an appointed Medical Physics Expert in Diagnostic Radiology (under The Ionising Radiations (Medical Exposures) Regulations 2017) for the Trust and for outside contracts.
- Liaise with the superintendent radiographers / department managers / RPSs to plan and carry out radiation safety compliance audits, patient dosimetry data collection and analysis, equipment performance testing, respond to requests for reactive issues, optimization projects, communicate results and new guidance
- Attend and provide reports to the relevant committees and governance or operational meetings
- Audit facilities using radiation against relevant legislation and produce audit reports and actions plans
- Liaise with the 8C Consultant Physicist overseeing the DR QA programme, including acceptance testing and commissioning, to ensure testing is carried out according to the latest recommendations and guidelines from e.g. IPEM and ensure the physics and radiographers QA instructions are kept up-to date
- Test highly-complex, patient critical X-ray equipment requiring high precision measurements
- Ensure that the data for the regular patient dose surveys are collected and analysed and reported
- Attend any relevant external inspections, provide information and assist with acting on recommendations
- Perform periodic and reactive X-ray quality assurance testing on all types of diagnostic X-ray equipment. Analyse the test data, compare against national guidelines/ recommendations and produce a report indicating the performance of the equipment and recommending any actions required, communicating the results to superintendent radiographers and service engineers as appropriate.
- Collate, analyse, summarise and make recommendations on radiation safety and x-ray equipment performance data for Radiation Protection Committee meetings at the Trust and external contracts.
- Develop radiation safety and equipment quality assurance policies and protocols, based on national guidance, for use within the Radiation Safety Section and for diagnostic X-ray departments.
- Develop and manage Access databases and Excel spreadsheets, in particular the database for recording and analysis of x-ray equipment performance data.
- Participate in diagnostic X-ray equipment tendering and procurement groups, providing advice on equipment specifications.
- Supervise and carry out acceptance testing and radiation surveys of new radiation equipment.
- Participate in planning of new or modified facilities for radiation equipment in relation to equipment specification, radiation safety and radiation shielding
- Carry out dose and risk assessments as required for ethics assessments and incidents
- Carry out radiation safety inspections and audits across all specialities and departments using radiation
- Investigation and reporting of radiation incidents.
- Participate in arrangements and training for NAIR incidents / radiation emergency and major incident plan.
- Take all precautions when dealing with ionising and non-ionising radiation hazards.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Work with the Radiation Protection Adviser / Head of the Section in maintaining radiation safety and diagnostic X-ray equipment optimization performance testing standards in the Trust and in the other organisations with which the section has contracts. The postholder is required to be up to date with current legal requirements and national guidance.
- Work with the Site Lead for Radiation Safety for a designated site and provide radiation safety and DR medical physics support for one of the Trust hospitals and/or imaging modalities. It is expected that approximately 2 days per week would be spent working at the designated site.
- Act as an appointed Medical Physics Expert in Diagnostic Radiology (under The Ionising Radiations (Medical Exposures) Regulations 2017) for the Trust and for outside contracts.
- Liaise with the superintendent radiographers / department managers / RPSs to plan and carry out radiation safety compliance audits, patient dosimetry data collection and analysis, equipment performance testing, respond to requests for reactive issues, optimization projects, communicate results and new guidance
- Attend and provide reports to the relevant committees and governance or operational meetings
- Audit facilities using radiation against relevant legislation and produce audit reports and actions plans
- Liaise with the 8C Consultant Physicist overseeing the DR QA programme, including acceptance testing and commissioning, to ensure testing is carried out according to the latest recommendations and guidelines from e.g. IPEM and ensure the physics and radiographers QA instructions are kept up-to date
- Test highly-complex, patient critical X-ray equipment requiring high precision measurements
- Ensure that the data for the regular patient dose surveys are collected and analysed and reported
- Attend any relevant external inspections, provide information and assist with acting on recommendations
- Perform periodic and reactive X-ray quality assurance testing on all types of diagnostic X-ray equipment. Analyse the test data, compare against national guidelines/ recommendations and produce a report indicating the performance of the equipment and recommending any actions required, communicating the results to superintendent radiographers and service engineers as appropriate.
- Collate, analyse, summarise and make recommendations on radiation safety and x-ray equipment performance data for Radiation Protection Committee meetings at the Trust and external contracts.
- Develop radiation safety and equipment quality assurance policies and protocols, based on national guidance, for use within the Radiation Safety Section and for diagnostic X-ray departments.
- Develop and manage Access databases and Excel spreadsheets, in particular the database for recording and analysis of x-ray equipment performance data.
- Participate in diagnostic X-ray equipment tendering and procurement groups, providing advice on equipment specifications.
- Supervise and carry out acceptance testing and radiation surveys of new radiation equipment.
- Participate in planning of new or modified facilities for radiation equipment in relation to equipment specification, radiation safety and radiation shielding
- Carry out dose and risk assessments as required for ethics assessments and incidents
- Carry out radiation safety inspections and audits across all specialities and departments using radiation
- Investigation and reporting of radiation incidents.
- Participate in arrangements and training for NAIR incidents / radiation emergency and major incident plan.
- Take all precautions when dealing with ionising and non-ionising radiation hazards.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Experience to act as a Medical Physics Expert in Diagnostic Radiology
- Experience of providing radiation safety advice in radiology
Skills
Essential
- Able to understand and operate a wide range of diagnostic imaging equipment
- Able to analyse complex data
- Able to interpret and apply relevant guidance and legislation
Knowledge
Essential
- oSpecialist knowledge (MPE level) in radiation and imaging physics as applied in medicine
Qualifications
Essential
- BSc (Hons) Physics or equivalent.
- MSc in Radiation Physics or equivalent experience.
- NHS STP training in medical physics or equivalent experience
- Registered Clinical Scientist
- MPE certificate of competence or able to submit with about six months
Desirable
- RPA / RWA certificate of competence
Other
Essential
- Able to train and supervise clinical scientists and technicians
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Experience to act as a Medical Physics Expert in Diagnostic Radiology
- Experience of providing radiation safety advice in radiology
Skills
Essential
- Able to understand and operate a wide range of diagnostic imaging equipment
- Able to analyse complex data
- Able to interpret and apply relevant guidance and legislation
Knowledge
Essential
- oSpecialist knowledge (MPE level) in radiation and imaging physics as applied in medicine
Qualifications
Essential
- BSc (Hons) Physics or equivalent.
- MSc in Radiation Physics or equivalent experience.
- NHS STP training in medical physics or equivalent experience
- Registered Clinical Scientist
- MPE certificate of competence or able to submit with about six months
Desirable
- RPA / RWA certificate of competence
Other
Essential
- Able to train and supervise clinical scientists and technicians
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.
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).
Additional information
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.
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).
