Job summary
As one of the largest radiotherapy departments in England, the Kent Oncology Centre provides specialist cancer services to those living in Kent, Medway and parts of East Sussex through its centres in Maidstone and Canterbury.
We have an exciting opportunity for a full-time permanent HCPC Registered Clinical Scientist to join our Radiotherapy Physics service at our Maidstone site.
We will also consider applications from trainee clinical scientists or other suitably qualified and experienced individuals with a particular interest in radiotherapy physics who are seeking to achieve registration as Clinical Scientists by following ACS Route 2. Initial appointment would be subject to an amended job description and salary band.
KOC currently has nine Varian linear accelerators across the two sites including six TrueBeam and one Halcyon machine at the Maidstone site with a second Halcyon currently being commissioned. We have dedicated CT-Simulators on each site, Varian HDR Gamma-Med Plus iX and Prostate Seed Brachytherapy facilities at Maidstone and access to MRI and PET-CT imaging. We have Varian Eclipse, Varian Brachy TPS and Variseed for treatment planning and ARIA networked across the two sites.
Main duties of the job
You will be expected to support all areas of radiotherapy physics, including treatment planning, performance checking of treatment and imaging equipment, brachytherapy, the development of new and novel techniques and radiation protection.
This is an excellent opportunity for you to develop your skills and progress your career.
We offer full support to trainee clinical scientists undertaking STP or Route 2 to HCPC Registration as Clinical Scientists and to more experienced staff undertaking Higher Specialist Scientist Training.
We are committed to introducing the latest techniques as well as the latest equipment: current areas of development include expansion of the SABR service, expansion of IGRT, further development of Deep Inspiration Breath-hold, Adaptive Radiotherapy and implementation of new technologies following the CT Simulator replacement and alongside the implementation of the Halcyon machines. KOC actively participates in clinical trials. You will be encouraged to play a role in one of the multi-disciplinary groups which implement service developments and introduce new techniques.
About us
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust is a large acute hospital Trust in the county of Kent.
The Trust provides a full range of general hospital services and some areas of specialist complex care to around 500,000 people living in the south part of West Kent and the north part of East Sussex.
The Trust's core catchment areas are Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells and their surrounding boroughs. We work from two main clinical sites: Maidstone Hospital and Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury. Tunbridge Wells Hospital opened in 2011 and provides single rooms with en-suites for all in-patients - the first of its kind in the country.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please note that appointment to this post will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure & Barring Service Check at standard level.
We would encourage all employees working for the NHS that you keep yourself protected against COVID-19. Please follow the link below to find out more information and to book your COVID-19 vaccine today
Book or manage a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
We are passionate in supporting our staff to develop and have great opportunities for career progression. We take equality and diversity seriously and seek to empower all diverse groups within our trust. We seek to develop a culture where diversity in all its forms is celebrated. We are committed to ensuring that women are empowered to work at all levels of management and that working patterns are as flexible as possible giving all members of staff opportunity to flourish in using their skills for our patients. We work across our trust to enable those who consider themselves to have a disability both visible and invisible to have access to all they need to thrive in their work environment. We work hard to embed an inclusive and accepting culture for all lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and non-binary staff. We have 78 nationalities working in our trust and we are proud of this. We are active in embracing the ethnic and cultural diversity in our trust. We work to empower people with any protected characteristic to have opportunities to work in an environment that helps them to contribute to the best of their ability, recognising and valuing the unique contributions each of us brings for best quality care and service to our patients. We are committed to supporting the delivery of the Equality Act with zero tolerance for any discrimination, harassment or victimisation of applicants and staff with these protected characteristics. MTW also has active Disability, LGBT+ and Cultural Ethnic Minorities Networks to bring staff together and in act positive change!
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please note that appointment to this post will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure & Barring Service Check at standard level.
We would encourage all employees working for the NHS that you keep yourself protected against COVID-19. Please follow the link below to find out more information and to book your COVID-19 vaccine today
Book or manage a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
We are passionate in supporting our staff to develop and have great opportunities for career progression. We take equality and diversity seriously and seek to empower all diverse groups within our trust. We seek to develop a culture where diversity in all its forms is celebrated. We are committed to ensuring that women are empowered to work at all levels of management and that working patterns are as flexible as possible giving all members of staff opportunity to flourish in using their skills for our patients. We work across our trust to enable those who consider themselves to have a disability both visible and invisible to have access to all they need to thrive in their work environment. We work hard to embed an inclusive and accepting culture for all lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and non-binary staff. We have 78 nationalities working in our trust and we are proud of this. We are active in embracing the ethnic and cultural diversity in our trust. We work to empower people with any protected characteristic to have opportunities to work in an environment that helps them to contribute to the best of their ability, recognising and valuing the unique contributions each of us brings for best quality care and service to our patients. We are committed to supporting the delivery of the Equality Act with zero tolerance for any discrimination, harassment or victimisation of applicants and staff with these protected characteristics. MTW also has active Disability, LGBT+ and Cultural Ethnic Minorities Networks to bring staff together and in act positive change!
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Good (1st or 2nd class) Honours degree in physics or a relevant subject
- IPEM Certificate of completion of post qualification Higher Training, Certificate of completion of NSHCS Scientist Training Program or equivalent
- HCPC Registration as a Clinical Scientist
- Accredited M.Sc or relevant higher degree
Experience
Essential
- Specialist knowledge of medical physics with a particular interest in radiotherapy physics
- A high level of understanding of treatment planning and patient immobilisation
- Working knowldge of relevant legislation, national standards, professional and other guidelines [e.g. IRR, IR(ME)R, ISO 9001.]
- A high level of understanding of radiation dosimetry of photon and electron beam
Desirable
- Able to advise on radiobiological compensation for treatment interruptions
- A high level of understanding of brachytherapy planning and dosimetry
Skills
Essential
- Able to write scientific reports
- Able to use Excel, Word etc. to set up documents and spreadsheets and extract information
- Able to present scientific papers at national and international conferences
- Able to train groups of other professional staff
- Working knowledge of clinical networks
- Able to apply correct statistical techniques to scientific data.
Desirable
- Able to take minutes of technical meetings
- Able to chair technical meetings
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Good (1st or 2nd class) Honours degree in physics or a relevant subject
- IPEM Certificate of completion of post qualification Higher Training, Certificate of completion of NSHCS Scientist Training Program or equivalent
- HCPC Registration as a Clinical Scientist
- Accredited M.Sc or relevant higher degree
Experience
Essential
- Specialist knowledge of medical physics with a particular interest in radiotherapy physics
- A high level of understanding of treatment planning and patient immobilisation
- Working knowldge of relevant legislation, national standards, professional and other guidelines [e.g. IRR, IR(ME)R, ISO 9001.]
- A high level of understanding of radiation dosimetry of photon and electron beam
Desirable
- Able to advise on radiobiological compensation for treatment interruptions
- A high level of understanding of brachytherapy planning and dosimetry
Skills
Essential
- Able to write scientific reports
- Able to use Excel, Word etc. to set up documents and spreadsheets and extract information
- Able to present scientific papers at national and international conferences
- Able to train groups of other professional staff
- Working knowledge of clinical networks
- Able to apply correct statistical techniques to scientific data.
Desirable
- Able to take minutes of technical meetings
- Able to chair technical meetings
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).
