Job summary
The Radiotherapy Department in Sutton has 7 Elekta linacs, an Elekta Unity MR-Linac and a Cyberknife S7. Additional equipment includes EPID portal imaging, in-vivo EPID dosimetry, and cone beam CT on all machines. QC and servicing activities generally take place during working hours, subject to service requirements. Two conventional linacs are expected to be replaced in the next 18 months. Treatment planning on conventional linacs is performed using the RayStation treatment planning system, with most treatment sites planned using a VMAT technique. We have established workflows for robust optimisation, 4DCT, plan-of-the-day adaptive and breathhold techniques. Multimodality imaging (CT, PET-CT, MR) is used for planning of several treatment sites. We are currently implementing a new Trust-wide digital health record with considerable opportunities for physics.
The radiotherapy physics group consists of 35 physicists, dosimetrists and engineers and forms a substantial part of the Royal Marsden/Institute of Cancer Research Joint Department of Physics, through which we have many active research collaborations, most notably on the MR-linac which was the first in the UK to treat patients.
For further details contact: Michael Thomas, Head of Radiotherapy Physics, Sutton (michael.thomas@rmh.nhs.uk). We welcome phone conversations arranged by email.
Main duties of the job
- The post holder will be expected to provide leadership and direction to the Radiotherapy Equipment and Radiotherapy Engineering Section of the Radiotherapy Physics Group in Sutton. Managing the work and staff of the section, the postholder will ensure the provision of the best possible equipment service to the radiotherapy service, with a minimum of unplanned machine downtime.
- The post holder will be responsible for agreeing a schedule of machine servicing and QC activities with the lead superintendent radiographer or their deputy.
- The post holder will be responsible for the content and quality of the equipment quality control programme, including dosimetry.
- The post holder will be responsible for providing an urgent IT service for immediate problems connected with treatment delivery.
- The postholder will be required to provide relevant statistics concerning radiotherapy equipment and liaise with Radiotherapy Services manager to provide relevant data required by NHS England.
- The post requires significant management skills in ensuring the highest level of communication between physicists, oncologists, engineers, and radiographer staff.
- Key working relationships are with radiotherapy physicists, pre-treatment and treatment radiographers, radiotherapy engineers and suppliers.
About us
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust is a world-leading cancer centre. Our role is to offer our patients the best cancer care available anywhere in the world, and to continue to make a global contribution to finding better ways of diagnosing and treating cancer. We employ over 4,500 staff in a diverse range of careers including nursing, medical, science, radiography, pharmacy, occupational therapy, finance and administrative services. We have two hospitals - one in Chelsea, London, and one in Sutton, Surrey - as well as a Medical Daycare Unit in Kingston Hospital
At The Royal Marsden, we deal with cancer every day, so we understand how valuable life is. When people entrust their lives to us, they have the right to demand the very best. That's why the pursuit of excellence lies at the heart of everything we do.
At the heart of the hospital is our dedicated team. We offer a stimulating and dynamic working environment, a wide range of staff benefits and learning and development opportunities. We are looking for employees who aspire to excellence, share our values and can play a crucial role in our on-going achievements.
Job description
Job responsibilities
2.1. Lead all Radiotherapy Engineering and Quality Assurance staff in the Radiotherapy Physics Group , Sutton, and work closely with the Radiotherapy Service group to provide a high quality clinical, scientific and technical Radiotherapy Physics Service for these aspects to the Royal Marsden Hospital.
2.2. Direct the work of the Engineering and QA sections to achieve objectives and service developments in line with departmental and Trust strategies and policies. Develop new services, protocols and procedures, all of which may affect staff and activity in Radiotherapy.
2.3. Lead and ensure adequate provision of a first-line urgent IT service for all aspects of IT connected to treatment delivery.
2.4. Contribute actively to other parts of the service, in particular maintaining an awareness of and familiarity with treatment planning and IT resources.
2.5. Participate and lead where required in inter-hospital dosimetry and QA audits, providing relevant results in a timely way. Represent the Sutton department at audit group meetings.
For further information on this role, please see the attached detailed Job Description and Person Specification.
Job description
Job responsibilities
2.1. Lead all Radiotherapy Engineering and Quality Assurance staff in the Radiotherapy Physics Group , Sutton, and work closely with the Radiotherapy Service group to provide a high quality clinical, scientific and technical Radiotherapy Physics Service for these aspects to the Royal Marsden Hospital.
2.2. Direct the work of the Engineering and QA sections to achieve objectives and service developments in line with departmental and Trust strategies and policies. Develop new services, protocols and procedures, all of which may affect staff and activity in Radiotherapy.
2.3. Lead and ensure adequate provision of a first-line urgent IT service for all aspects of IT connected to treatment delivery.
2.4. Contribute actively to other parts of the service, in particular maintaining an awareness of and familiarity with treatment planning and IT resources.
2.5. Participate and lead where required in inter-hospital dosimetry and QA audits, providing relevant results in a timely way. Represent the Sutton department at audit group meetings.
For further information on this role, please see the attached detailed Job Description and Person Specification.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Good (1st or 2nd class) Honours degree in a relevant subject
- MSc in radiation Physics (or equivalent)
- PhD in relevant subject (or equivalent)
Registration
Essential
- HCPC registration as a Clinical Scientist
Scientific Technical Skills
Essential
- Significant experience and knowledge of radiotherapy with particular reference to equipment
- Sufficient knowledge and experience to act as a Medical Physics Expert under IR(ME)R within the field of Radiotherapy
- Extensive knowledge of the techniques employed to measure the performance and radiological safety of complex radiotherapy treatment and equipment
- Significant experience of using judgement and specialised knowledge in radiotherapy treatment to optimise radiotherapy treatments.
- Considerable experience in the use of specialised measurement equipment employed to check the accuracy of complex planning algorithms and individual treatment plans with representative phantoms.
- Considerable experience of commissioning radiotherapy treatment equipment
Clinical
Essential
- Highly specialised knowledge of clinical issues and their implications for radiotherapy physics practices relating to equipment
- Broad and developed knowledge of clinical procedures and practices in radiotherapy
- Advanced understanding of patient and staff risks arising from equipment failure and staff error
Managerial
Essential
- Experience of managing a team of staff who provide a clinical service
- Experience of managing a scientific project team
- Able to prioritise and manage own work and that of others in line management chain
- Able to exercise own initiative when dealing with issues within own specialist area of competence
Desirable
- Knowledge of employment procedures and practices
IT Skills
Essential
- Able to use Excel, Word etc to set up documents, spreadsheets and extract information
- Knowledge of networking issues for linking complex systems with digitally controlled radiotherapy equipment.
Communication
Essential
- Able to communicate highly complex information clearly [e.g. postgraduate level physics material to other professional groups]
- Able to present scientific abstracts at national and international conferences and publish papers in relevant, peer reviewed journals.
- Able to train groups of other multi-disciplinary professional staff
- Able to deliver teaching and training on complex subjects
- Able to deal with complex and unpredictable situations
Desirable
- Advanced negotiation skills
Environmental
Essential
- Understanding of hazards and precautions needed with: 1. Ionising radiation 2. Lasers 3. Electrical hazards, including high voltage 4. Magnetic resonance imaging
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Good (1st or 2nd class) Honours degree in a relevant subject
- MSc in radiation Physics (or equivalent)
- PhD in relevant subject (or equivalent)
Registration
Essential
- HCPC registration as a Clinical Scientist
Scientific Technical Skills
Essential
- Significant experience and knowledge of radiotherapy with particular reference to equipment
- Sufficient knowledge and experience to act as a Medical Physics Expert under IR(ME)R within the field of Radiotherapy
- Extensive knowledge of the techniques employed to measure the performance and radiological safety of complex radiotherapy treatment and equipment
- Significant experience of using judgement and specialised knowledge in radiotherapy treatment to optimise radiotherapy treatments.
- Considerable experience in the use of specialised measurement equipment employed to check the accuracy of complex planning algorithms and individual treatment plans with representative phantoms.
- Considerable experience of commissioning radiotherapy treatment equipment
Clinical
Essential
- Highly specialised knowledge of clinical issues and their implications for radiotherapy physics practices relating to equipment
- Broad and developed knowledge of clinical procedures and practices in radiotherapy
- Advanced understanding of patient and staff risks arising from equipment failure and staff error
Managerial
Essential
- Experience of managing a team of staff who provide a clinical service
- Experience of managing a scientific project team
- Able to prioritise and manage own work and that of others in line management chain
- Able to exercise own initiative when dealing with issues within own specialist area of competence
Desirable
- Knowledge of employment procedures and practices
IT Skills
Essential
- Able to use Excel, Word etc to set up documents, spreadsheets and extract information
- Knowledge of networking issues for linking complex systems with digitally controlled radiotherapy equipment.
Communication
Essential
- Able to communicate highly complex information clearly [e.g. postgraduate level physics material to other professional groups]
- Able to present scientific abstracts at national and international conferences and publish papers in relevant, peer reviewed journals.
- Able to train groups of other multi-disciplinary professional staff
- Able to deliver teaching and training on complex subjects
- Able to deal with complex and unpredictable situations
Desirable
- Advanced negotiation skills
Environmental
Essential
- Understanding of hazards and precautions needed with: 1. Ionising radiation 2. Lasers 3. Electrical hazards, including high voltage 4. Magnetic resonance imaging
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).
