Job summary
We are looking for an enthusiastic IT specialist to join the Radiotherapy Physics group at band 8a at the Sutton branch of the Royal Marsden Hospital, working 0.5 FTE. This post is intended to help clinical physicists in the department to support radiotherapy-specialist IT and would suit someone with strong IT skills and some knowledge of radiotherapy. HCPC registration as a clinical scientist would be an advantage but is not required. An appointment may be made at a lower band for a less qualified candidate.
The Radiotherapy Department in Sutton has 5 Elekta linacs, an Elekta Unity MR-Linac, two Accuray Radixact units and a Cyberknife S7. Treatment planning on conventional linacs and Radixact is performed using the RayStation treatment planning system, with most treatment sites planned using a VMAT technique in a highly developed scripting environment. 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. Recent clinical development work has included developing planning and quality control techniques for helical delivery on our new Radixact units. As would be expected, the IT setup is complex, with management shared between radiotherapy physics and the hospital IT department with which we have an excellent relationship.
Main duties of the job
1.1. The post holder will be expected to participate actively and creatively in all IT matters within the clinical Radiotherapy Physics Group in Sutton. The postholder will help to ensure the provision of the best possible IT service to radiotherapy and radiotherapy physics, responding to immediate concerns and developing longer-term improvements.1.2. The post holder will support increasing IT skills throughout the radiotherapy physics department, taking every opportunity to support colleagues to learn the skills for the project in which they are involved.
1.3. The post holder will conduct maintenance and QC activities on IT equipment, and supervise of any repair work.1.4. The postholder will ensure the highest level of communication between physicists, oncologists, technicians and radiographer staff.1.5. Key working relationships are with the Head of Translational Radiotherapy Physics, who is the Trust lead for radiotherapy physics IT, radiotherapy physicists, pre-treatment and treatment radiographers, radiotherapy engineers, RM Digital and suppliers.1.6. The post holder will also be expected to keep abreast of the latest IT developments and to propose changes to IT infrastructure as appropriate.1.7. The post holder will participate in the evaluation, selection and commissioning of new IT equipment or systems and work closely with the Head of Radiotherapy Physics and other leaders as relevant.
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 please refer to the job description and personal specification
- Lead IT staff in the Radiotherapy Physics Group to provide timely and appropriate responses to IT problems, under guidance of senior leaders.
- Under the strategic direction of the Head of Translational Radiotherapy Physics, develop the IT service for staff in radiotherapy and radiotherapy physics.
- Be responsible for the maintenance and development of all treatment planning scripts.
- Participate in the daily monitoring of all IT systems and supporting users in addressing those issues and other day-to-day IT matters.
- Set and maintain high standards in the safe and effective use of IT in the radiotherapy environment.
- Ensure Radiotherapy Physics IT facilities and practices are of a high standard, and comply with national regulations, codes of practice, professional guidelines, Trust and other requirements.
- Ensure that IT equipment is properly maintained through updates, backup and archiving.
- Support developments in every area of radiotherapy physics by assisting with IT elements
Job description
Job responsibilities
For further information please refer to the job description and personal specification
- Lead IT staff in the Radiotherapy Physics Group to provide timely and appropriate responses to IT problems, under guidance of senior leaders.
- Under the strategic direction of the Head of Translational Radiotherapy Physics, develop the IT service for staff in radiotherapy and radiotherapy physics.
- Be responsible for the maintenance and development of all treatment planning scripts.
- Participate in the daily monitoring of all IT systems and supporting users in addressing those issues and other day-to-day IT matters.
- Set and maintain high standards in the safe and effective use of IT in the radiotherapy environment.
- Ensure Radiotherapy Physics IT facilities and practices are of a high standard, and comply with national regulations, codes of practice, professional guidelines, Trust and other requirements.
- Ensure that IT equipment is properly maintained through updates, backup and archiving.
- Support developments in every area of radiotherapy physics by assisting with IT elements
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Good (1st or 2nd class) Honours degree in a relevant subject
- MSc in relevant subject (or equivalent)
Desirable
- PhD in relevant subject (or equivalent)
Registration
Desirable
- HCPC registration as a Clinical Scientist
Scientific Technical Skills
Essential
- Significant experience and knowledge of radiotherapy with particular reference to IT
- Extensive knowledge of scripting in a Radiotherapy Planning system
- Extensive knowledge of working on large scale software projects
- Experience of IT project management
- Significant experience of programming, ideally including python
Desirable
- Extensive knowledge of operating systems, networks, and database and storage management
- Experience of the management of radiotherapyspecific IT systems such as treatment planning systems and oncology information systems.
Clinical
Essential
- Knowledge of clinical issues and their implications for radiotherapy physics practices relating to IT
Managerial
Essential
- Experience of managing scientific projects
- Able to prioritise and manage own work
- Able to exercise own initiative when dealing with issues within own specialist area of competence
Mental
Essential
- Able to concentrate frequently when subject to unpredictable working patterns.
- Able to concentrate for prolonged periods (e.g. performing lengthy upgrade operations)
- Able to deal with complex and unpredictable situations while maintaining a calm manner and professional standard.
- Able to deal with occasional distressing circumstances (e.g. working with patients having advanced cancer in Radiotherapy)
Communication
Essential
- 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 deal with complex and unpredictable situations
Environmental
Desirable
- Understanding of hazards and precautions needed with: 1. Ionising radiation 2. Lasers 3. Electrical hazards, including high voltage
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Good (1st or 2nd class) Honours degree in a relevant subject
- MSc in relevant subject (or equivalent)
Desirable
- PhD in relevant subject (or equivalent)
Registration
Desirable
- HCPC registration as a Clinical Scientist
Scientific Technical Skills
Essential
- Significant experience and knowledge of radiotherapy with particular reference to IT
- Extensive knowledge of scripting in a Radiotherapy Planning system
- Extensive knowledge of working on large scale software projects
- Experience of IT project management
- Significant experience of programming, ideally including python
Desirable
- Extensive knowledge of operating systems, networks, and database and storage management
- Experience of the management of radiotherapyspecific IT systems such as treatment planning systems and oncology information systems.
Clinical
Essential
- Knowledge of clinical issues and their implications for radiotherapy physics practices relating to IT
Managerial
Essential
- Experience of managing scientific projects
- Able to prioritise and manage own work
- Able to exercise own initiative when dealing with issues within own specialist area of competence
Mental
Essential
- Able to concentrate frequently when subject to unpredictable working patterns.
- Able to concentrate for prolonged periods (e.g. performing lengthy upgrade operations)
- Able to deal with complex and unpredictable situations while maintaining a calm manner and professional standard.
- Able to deal with occasional distressing circumstances (e.g. working with patients having advanced cancer in Radiotherapy)
Communication
Essential
- 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 deal with complex and unpredictable situations
Environmental
Desirable
- Understanding of hazards and precautions needed with: 1. Ionising radiation 2. Lasers 3. Electrical hazards, including high voltage
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).
