Job summary
We are looking for an enthusiastic senior dosimetrist or radiographer to join the Radiotherapy Physics group at the Sutton branch of the Royal Marsden Hospital. This post will focus mainly on producing treatment plans for all types of external-beam planning in the centre. For appointment at band 7, significant treatment-planning experience is required, showing the strong foundations to move into all areas of advanced planning. An appointment might be made at a lower band for a candidate with less experience. As part of the planning team, you will work on the full range of treatment sites at a specialist centre. Treatment planning is performed using the RayStation treatment planning system, with most treatment sites planned using a VMAT technique. We have established workflows for adaptive radiotherapy (plan of the day), 4DCT, and breathhold techniques. Multimodality imaging (CT, PET-CT, MR) is used for planning of several treatment sites. Recent clinical development work has included expanding adaptive radiotherapy planning, and developing planning techniques for helical delivery on our new Radixact units. The Radiotherapy Department in Sutton has 6 Elekta linacs, an Elekta Unity MR-Linac, a Cyberknife S7, and an Accuray Radixact with another on order.
Main duties of the job
1.1. The post holder will be expected to provide an efficient, high quality patient dosimetry service for Radiotherapy. To deputise in the management of the team of dosimetrists where necessary to provide Treatment Planning Service to the Radiotherapy Department.1.2. The post holder will be an Operator as defined by the Ionising Radiation Medical Exposure Regulations (IRMER 2017).1.3. The post holder will be expected to use specialised planning software to perform routine conformal and complex IMRT, VMAT and SABR radiotherapy treatment planning for a range of treatment sites and indications for linear accelerators.1.4. Provide advice and discuss with the Clinical Oncologists, Radiographers and Physicists highly complex dosimetric treatment plans.1.5. Assist with image fusion of CT, MR and PET images, and outlining of OAR where necessary and participate in the teaching, training and development work of the Section.1.6. The post holder will be expected to participate in treatment plan checking and development including work up for radiotherapy trials, as part of the multi-disciplinary team which makes up the Treatment Planning Service.
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, learning and development opportunities and clear career pathways. There are opportunities to work flexibly across a range of areas and specialities and we welcome flexible working requests from point of hire to support employees work life balance. 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
For further information on this role, please see the attached detailed Job Description and Person Specification:-
- Assist with outlining of the anatomy for organs at risk.
- Advise clinical oncologists on the effects of various treatment plan options on patient dose distributions. Discuss and agree approaches with clinical staff to create optimum treatment plans.
- Attend clinical audit meetings as required, advising and explaining technical treatment planning issues for individual patients to clinicians.
- Understand the operation of the treatment machines and appreciate their potential and limitations with regard to treatment techniques.
- Provide treatment radiographers with advice on planning aspects of the treatment and attend the set-up of patients on CT, mould room and treatment machines, as required.
- Re-plan less complex patient treatments where required following changes to the treatment regime. Calculate the required dose and optimise choices for treatment completion in the light of established protocols and under supervision.
- Carry out quality assurance and dosimetry support duties, as required.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For further information on this role, please see the attached detailed Job Description and Person Specification:-
- Assist with outlining of the anatomy for organs at risk.
- Advise clinical oncologists on the effects of various treatment plan options on patient dose distributions. Discuss and agree approaches with clinical staff to create optimum treatment plans.
- Attend clinical audit meetings as required, advising and explaining technical treatment planning issues for individual patients to clinicians.
- Understand the operation of the treatment machines and appreciate their potential and limitations with regard to treatment techniques.
- Provide treatment radiographers with advice on planning aspects of the treatment and attend the set-up of patients on CT, mould room and treatment machines, as required.
- Re-plan less complex patient treatments where required following changes to the treatment regime. Calculate the required dose and optimise choices for treatment completion in the light of established protocols and under supervision.
- Carry out quality assurance and dosimetry support duties, as required.
Person Specification
Radiotherapy Physics
Essential
- Degree in Therapeutic Radiographer or equivalent (e.g. DCR, HNC plus experience)
Desirable
- MSc in Radiotherapy or equivalent
Registration
Essential
- HCPC registration as a Radiographer
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Broad knowledge of the field of Radiotherapy
- Good working knowledge of radiographic procedures in Radiotherapy and multidisciplinary team operations
- Specialist knowledge of treatment planning and Radiation Dosimetry as applied to Radiotherapy treatment
- A good awareness of the workings of computerised treatment planning, including their underlying algorithms and inherent strengths and weaknesses
- A good awareness of the workings of computerised treatment planning, including their underlying algorithms and inherent strengths and weaknesses
- Some experience in complex planning including non-routine techniques and protocols in Dosimetry
- Specialist training in treatment planning techniques
Clinical
Essential
- High level of understanding of patient and staff risks arising from Radiotherapy treatment
- A good awareness of treatment setup procedures and imaging protocols
Managerial
Essential
- Able to prioritise and manage own work
- Able to exercise own initiative when dealing with issues within own specialist area of competence
- Able to exercise own initiative when dealing with issues within own specialist area of competence
IT
Essential
- Able to use Excel, Word and PowerPoint to set up documents and spreadsheets, extract information and give presentations
- Able to enter information into specialist databases
- Trained on and able to use Radiotherapy planning workstations and other related computer systems effectively
Communication
Essential
- Able to communicate complex information across professional boundaries (e.g. when resolving complex planning issues and options with medical staff)
- Able to train groups of other professional staff and students (provide training to medical staff and physicists in treatment planning)
- Diplomatic negotiation skills
Person Specification
Radiotherapy Physics
Essential
- Degree in Therapeutic Radiographer or equivalent (e.g. DCR, HNC plus experience)
Desirable
- MSc in Radiotherapy or equivalent
Registration
Essential
- HCPC registration as a Radiographer
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Broad knowledge of the field of Radiotherapy
- Good working knowledge of radiographic procedures in Radiotherapy and multidisciplinary team operations
- Specialist knowledge of treatment planning and Radiation Dosimetry as applied to Radiotherapy treatment
- A good awareness of the workings of computerised treatment planning, including their underlying algorithms and inherent strengths and weaknesses
- A good awareness of the workings of computerised treatment planning, including their underlying algorithms and inherent strengths and weaknesses
- Some experience in complex planning including non-routine techniques and protocols in Dosimetry
- Specialist training in treatment planning techniques
Clinical
Essential
- High level of understanding of patient and staff risks arising from Radiotherapy treatment
- A good awareness of treatment setup procedures and imaging protocols
Managerial
Essential
- Able to prioritise and manage own work
- Able to exercise own initiative when dealing with issues within own specialist area of competence
- Able to exercise own initiative when dealing with issues within own specialist area of competence
IT
Essential
- Able to use Excel, Word and PowerPoint to set up documents and spreadsheets, extract information and give presentations
- Able to enter information into specialist databases
- Trained on and able to use Radiotherapy planning workstations and other related computer systems effectively
Communication
Essential
- Able to communicate complex information across professional boundaries (e.g. when resolving complex planning issues and options with medical staff)
- Able to train groups of other professional staff and students (provide training to medical staff and physicists in treatment planning)
- Diplomatic negotiation skills
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.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
