Job summary
Fixed term - 1 Year
Are you a graduate who is interested in a career in medical physics? We are looking to recruit an enthusiastic, motivated and dynamic individual as an Assistant Physicist - Healthcare Science Practitioner at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust for a period of one year to cover an increase in workload in the Radiation Physics & Radiobiology (RPRB) team.
This post provides an ideal starting point for someone who may wish to pursue a career as a Healthcare Science Practitioner or who may wish to gain experience prior to starting Clinical Scientist training (STP) in Medical Physics. The post will involve practical work within the department including the assisting with the delivery of I-131 therapies, measurements on our radiotherapy treatment units.
This is an exciting time to join our team as we are implementing SABR for a full range of clinical sites, continuing the roll out of Raystation with paperless working, and supporting the service to develop new systems of work and foster collaborative working with a strong focus on integrated governance. Treatment planning is mainly from our Charing Cross site where our equipment portfolio, supported by Aria OIS, includes four TrueBeam Linacs; two with ExacTrac and 6DoF couches, Philips Brilliance CT scanner and an Xstrahl unit; our Elekta Flexitron Brachytherapy unit and a newly installed TrueBeam with SGRT and 6DoF couch is based at Hammersmith Hospital in a newly refurbished department.
Main duties of the job
The main role of this post is to support the clinical scientific service to Radiotherapy
Physicists, mechanical & electronic engineering technicians, Mould Room technicians,Radiotherapy Department clinical staff. The post-holder reports to the Head of theRadiotherapy Physics Section and the supervised work is carried out in a clinicalenvironment and involves liaising with clinical scientists, technicians, radiographers,nurses and medical staff.
About us
At Imperial College Healthcare you can achieve extraordinary things with extraordinary people, working with leading clinicians pushing boundaries in patient care. Become part of a vibrant team living our values - expert, kind, collaborative and aspirational. You'll get an experience like no other and will fast forward your career.
Benefits include career development, flexible working and wellbeing, staff recognition scheme. Make use of optional benefits including Cycle to work, car lease schemes, season ticket loan or membership options for onsite leisure facilities. We encourage staff to have the Covid vaccination to protect themselves, patients, other colleagues as well as the wider community. Please note it is an operational requirement to comply with infection prevention and control procedures within the Trust such as lateral flow testing, handwashing and the wearing of masks, according to the procedures in place at any time or location.
As part of our continued response to Covid19 we are still conducting the majority of our interviews virtually.
We are committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and will consider applications to work flexibly, part-time or job share.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical / technical
- Assist with the preparation and delivery of I-131 therapies
- Assist with complex measurements required on the linear accelerators.
- Assist in data analysis, particularly taking personal responsibility for ensuring that all data collected is accurate
- Store and retrieve measured data
- Perform initial analysis and judgement on data to ensure that it follows expected trends. For example this may involve entering data in spreadsheets and plotting graphs and comparing results.
- Assist with the processing of data from one computer format to another
- Enter data in a variety of computer systems
- Assist in the production of complex treatment plans for a limited range of anatomical sites. Assist physicist performing routine complex QA on the current clinical accelerators. This may involve helping collection, assembly and set up of equipment and performing routine tasks under supervision.
- Assist in routine care and checks of all equipment in use in the department, including appropriate storage.
- Assist with the run up and daily checks of the treatment machine prior to clinical use
- Assist with brachytherapy procedures
- To monitor rooms following their use by patients who have received treatment with unsealed sources
- Act as an operator under the definitions of IR(ME)R, in accordance with Trust Policies and Practices.
- Assist with the operation of the Radiotherapy Mould Roo
Managerial
- Manage own work to meet agreed outcomes.
- Keep careful records of all work performed and complete other appropriate records.
- Participate in regular & ad-hoc internal group meetings as may be necessary.
Teaching, training and research
- Undertake training in the use of highly specialised measurement equipment
- Undertake training in the use of treatment planning systems
- Undertake in-house training as necessary to perform your role.
Professional
- Ensure all activities are carried out within a quality framework and conform to Statutory Regulations, approved Codes of Practice and Local Safety Rules.
- Makes full use of electronic and library information facilities to keep abreast of developments within the subject.
- Ensure all logbooks, portfolios and competency charts are maintained, examined and signed off as appropriate.
Miscellaneous
- 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.
- Have a working knowledge of IR(ME)R and other pertinent regulations under which a radiotherapy department operates.
- The post-holder is required to move/carry heavy items, e.g. lead shielding blocks, heavy scientific apparatus, etc.
- The post holder has occasional exposure to urine, faeces, bodily fluids, foul linen, etc. and is required to continue to perform any essential duties in such an environment.
- To perform other functions which may be appropriate to the post and which would be introduced in consultation with the post-holder.
General Responsibilities
- Carries out all duties in accordance with the requirements of the Health & Safety at Work Act, radiation Local Rules, IR(ME)R procedures, etc.
- To work outside normal hours as may be dictated by clinical and service commitments.
- The post-holder works in a busy clinical environment and is expected to observe high standards of professionalism and patient confidentiality at all times.
- The post-holder routinely works in the close vicinity of potentially hazardous radiation and must have sufficient manual dexterity, physical ability and mental concentration to execute his/her functions in a manner which is safe to his/herself and to all others nearby. This ability must be maintained in frequently stressful and emotive situations where there is continual background pressure to maintain the clinical service.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical / technical
- Assist with the preparation and delivery of I-131 therapies
- Assist with complex measurements required on the linear accelerators.
- Assist in data analysis, particularly taking personal responsibility for ensuring that all data collected is accurate
- Store and retrieve measured data
- Perform initial analysis and judgement on data to ensure that it follows expected trends. For example this may involve entering data in spreadsheets and plotting graphs and comparing results.
- Assist with the processing of data from one computer format to another
- Enter data in a variety of computer systems
- Assist in the production of complex treatment plans for a limited range of anatomical sites. Assist physicist performing routine complex QA on the current clinical accelerators. This may involve helping collection, assembly and set up of equipment and performing routine tasks under supervision.
- Assist in routine care and checks of all equipment in use in the department, including appropriate storage.
- Assist with the run up and daily checks of the treatment machine prior to clinical use
- Assist with brachytherapy procedures
- To monitor rooms following their use by patients who have received treatment with unsealed sources
- Act as an operator under the definitions of IR(ME)R, in accordance with Trust Policies and Practices.
- Assist with the operation of the Radiotherapy Mould Roo
Managerial
- Manage own work to meet agreed outcomes.
- Keep careful records of all work performed and complete other appropriate records.
- Participate in regular & ad-hoc internal group meetings as may be necessary.
Teaching, training and research
- Undertake training in the use of highly specialised measurement equipment
- Undertake training in the use of treatment planning systems
- Undertake in-house training as necessary to perform your role.
Professional
- Ensure all activities are carried out within a quality framework and conform to Statutory Regulations, approved Codes of Practice and Local Safety Rules.
- Makes full use of electronic and library information facilities to keep abreast of developments within the subject.
- Ensure all logbooks, portfolios and competency charts are maintained, examined and signed off as appropriate.
Miscellaneous
- 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.
- Have a working knowledge of IR(ME)R and other pertinent regulations under which a radiotherapy department operates.
- The post-holder is required to move/carry heavy items, e.g. lead shielding blocks, heavy scientific apparatus, etc.
- The post holder has occasional exposure to urine, faeces, bodily fluids, foul linen, etc. and is required to continue to perform any essential duties in such an environment.
- To perform other functions which may be appropriate to the post and which would be introduced in consultation with the post-holder.
General Responsibilities
- Carries out all duties in accordance with the requirements of the Health & Safety at Work Act, radiation Local Rules, IR(ME)R procedures, etc.
- To work outside normal hours as may be dictated by clinical and service commitments.
- The post-holder works in a busy clinical environment and is expected to observe high standards of professionalism and patient confidentiality at all times.
- The post-holder routinely works in the close vicinity of potentially hazardous radiation and must have sufficient manual dexterity, physical ability and mental concentration to execute his/her functions in a manner which is safe to his/herself and to all others nearby. This ability must be maintained in frequently stressful and emotive situations where there is continual background pressure to maintain the clinical service.
Person Specification
EDUCATION
Essential
- BSc in a Science or Engineering Discipline or equivalent, involving data measurement and analysis.
- Maths and Physics A level or equivalent
SKILLS/ABILITIES
Essential
- Self-organised - able to work in a very busy environment
- Diligence and attention to detail commensurate with clinical nature of systems to be supported
- Numerate
- Computer literate - able to use Excel and Word
EXPERIENCE
Essential
- Project work involving extensive measurement and analysis of data
- Ability to perform routine measurements on treatment machines with guidance where required
Desirable
- Previous experience of the healthcare environment
Person Specification
EDUCATION
Essential
- BSc in a Science or Engineering Discipline or equivalent, involving data measurement and analysis.
- Maths and Physics A level or equivalent
SKILLS/ABILITIES
Essential
- Self-organised - able to work in a very busy environment
- Diligence and attention to detail commensurate with clinical nature of systems to be supported
- Numerate
- Computer literate - able to use Excel and Word
EXPERIENCE
Essential
- Project work involving extensive measurement and analysis of data
- Ability to perform routine measurements on treatment machines with guidance where required
Desirable
- Previous experience of the healthcare environment
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).
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).
