Job summary
Are you ready to use the skills you have learned in a busy NHS department? Are you looking for a challenge? We have a great opportunity for you to join our team in Radiotherapy Physics at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre and we would love to hear back from you.
Mount Vernon is a large cancer centre on the outskirts of London. We have 5 Varian TrueBeams with a 6th to be delivered before the end of March, 2 Clinacs, cyberknife and both high and low doserate brachytherapy (Varian Bravos). We have 2 CT scanners and access to both MRI and PET imaging through our links with the Paul Strickland Scanner centre. Treatment planning for our external beam patients is performed in Eclipse or Pinnacle. We have just started a project to implement AI contouring of organs at risk and are awaiting delivery of our new portal dosimetry InVivo solution.
As well as performing routine work candidates will have the opportunity to be involved in commissioning new techniques and equipment, joining our scripting group and participating in ongoing research projects. Candidates will work in either the stereotactic or brachytherapy service.
Candidates should ideally have already achieved registration as a clinical Scientist, however consideration will be given to appointing suitable candidates at a lower band for those who are within 1 year of achieving registration. Candidates who will complete the STP training scheme in September 2023 are welcome to apply.
Main duties of the job
Individual responsibility for maintaining standards according to existing protocols in Radiotherapy planning and dosimetry
Treatment planning and checking for external beam treatments
Treatment planning and checking for either stereotactic treatments or brachytherapy treatments
Quality Control measurements on treatment machines, including machine calibration and absolute dosimetry sessions
Giving advice on electron patient treatment, out of tolerance invivo results and changes in patient treatment plans due to weight loss or other setup issues
Project and commissioning work depending on the current needs of the service and the areas of expertise of the successful candidate.
All members of the radiotherapy physics team are expected to assist in ensuring that the department quality system is kept upto date.
The radiotherapy department works from 7am until 8pm, candidates will be expected to work flexibly within these hours with occasional weekend working mainly during times of machine or software commissioning. The department supports flexible working arrangements with a number of staff working 9 day fortnights.
About us
At East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, we are proud of the range of general and specialist services we provide and our 6,000 or so dedicated staff ensure our patients get the best care. Our ability to be flexible and innovative in the way in which we work and deliver our services to our catchment has never been more important than it is now.
We run the following hospitals:
o The Lister Hospital, Stevenageo New Queen Elizabeth II (New QEII), Welwyn Garden Cityo Hertford County, Hertfordo Mount Vernon Cancer Centre (MVCC), Northwood
We have ambitious plans to become an outstanding, patient-led Trust where dedicated staff provide high-quality, compassionate care to our patients. We continue to undergo significant transformation and our staff and patients are at the heart of delivering this ambitious agenda.
We are committed to a positive work life balance for our employees. This means that any employee is entitled to seek to work flexible working patterns and we are committed to listen and consider all requests. Such requests, of course, have to be made and considered formally, and will need to be balanced against service needs, but our starting point will always be to find ways to support making them happen.
Job description
Job responsibilities
ENHT is seeking to maintain and expand the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre staff as we move to an exciting new future.We welcome applications from those who would relish the opportunity to be part of new and developing cancer service, building on the excellent reputation, research and patient experience the Cancer Centre already delivers.
In the paragraphs above you have read an overview about the role we would like to offer and general information about main duties of the post holder.
Please see attached job description which describes in full details the duties, responsibilities and reporting relationships of the advertising role.
Job description
Job responsibilities
ENHT is seeking to maintain and expand the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre staff as we move to an exciting new future.We welcome applications from those who would relish the opportunity to be part of new and developing cancer service, building on the excellent reputation, research and patient experience the Cancer Centre already delivers.
In the paragraphs above you have read an overview about the role we would like to offer and general information about main duties of the post holder.
Please see attached job description which describes in full details the duties, responsibilities and reporting relationships of the advertising role.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Good (1st or 2nd Class) Honours degree in a relevant subject (physics or engineering).
- Completion of a formal period of training within radiotherapy physics (eg IPEM Part I and II or MSC specialist training program)
- Registration as a Clinical Scientist or equivalent international qualification
Desirable
- Basic training within nuclear medicine such as that provided by the rotations in year 1 of the STP scheme
- Basic training within MRI such as that provided by the rotations in year 1 of the STP scheme
Previous Experience
Essential
- Experience working within a radiotherapy physics environment
- Specialist training and practical experience on linear accelerators, treatment planning systems and dosimetry
Desirable
- Training in either stereotactic physics or brachytherapy
Skills
Essential
- Able to communicate complex information to individuals e.g. postgraduate level physics to other professional groups.
- Ability to use own judgement involving complex facts that require analysis, interpretation and comparison of a range of options as, for example, in analysing the results of scientific measurements or processes, which may conflict, and deciding upon an appropriate course of action.
- Ablity to create spreadsheets, electronic documents and individual 3D computerised patient treatment plans for radiotherapy
- Highly developed physical accuracy and dexterity in order to be able to manipulate equipment, for example, in setting up and using delicate instruments to make precise measurements to detect and calibrate radiation doses within "phantom" patients; to load milimetric, radioactive iodine-125 seeds in theatre. The post holder is also required to use 3D visualisation skills in treatment planning.
- Able to act independently, without supervision, within professional guidelines, but can refer to his manager where necessary. The individual's manager assesses work at intervals Able to concentrate where the work pattern is unpredictable, for example when working as duty physicist, or performing complex calculations
Desirable
- Occasionally, there will be a requirement for prolonged concentration
- Presentation of material to groups of staff
- Use of Macros in Excel
- Relevant use of computer programing skills
Knowledge
Essential
- Specialist theoretical knowledge of the range of work procedures of radiotherapy physics at least to Masters level with associated practical experience
- Knowledge of patient and machine dosimetry in radiotherapy (external beam and brachytherapy)
- Understanding of patient and staff risks arising from treatment planning computer system errors, equipment failure, treatment errors and incorrect dosimetry.
- Broad knowledge of radiotherapy techniques and clinical applications
- Understanding of relevant legislation, national standards, professional and other guidelines (eg IRR, IRMER, ISO 9001, BSI and ISO standards, professional and regulatory body reports and guidelines.)
Desirable
- Knowledge of imaging and therapy techniques and procedures used in nuclear medicine
- Knowledge and understanding of patient and staff risks arising from use of ionising radiation with unsealed radionuclides, including equipment failure, procedural defects and human error
Other Requirements
Essential
- Able to work with radiotherapy equipment and to manoeuvre associated physics equipment
- The post holder works in an environment of cancer patients, and may have to interact with them (for example, in performing measurements on a patient undergoing radiotherapy; loading of radioactive seeds in theatre). Therefore there may be occasional exposure to distressing circumstances and also exposure to bodily fluids.
- The post holder must be prepared to work in an environment where there is a radiation hazard, and so must understand the hazards posed by ionising radiation and sources of high voltage
- Ability to work in a team. May occasionally be expected to manoeuvre, within the limits required for manual handling, heavy loads such as radiotherapy dosimetry "phantoms"
- Role model our Trust values every day
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Good (1st or 2nd Class) Honours degree in a relevant subject (physics or engineering).
- Completion of a formal period of training within radiotherapy physics (eg IPEM Part I and II or MSC specialist training program)
- Registration as a Clinical Scientist or equivalent international qualification
Desirable
- Basic training within nuclear medicine such as that provided by the rotations in year 1 of the STP scheme
- Basic training within MRI such as that provided by the rotations in year 1 of the STP scheme
Previous Experience
Essential
- Experience working within a radiotherapy physics environment
- Specialist training and practical experience on linear accelerators, treatment planning systems and dosimetry
Desirable
- Training in either stereotactic physics or brachytherapy
Skills
Essential
- Able to communicate complex information to individuals e.g. postgraduate level physics to other professional groups.
- Ability to use own judgement involving complex facts that require analysis, interpretation and comparison of a range of options as, for example, in analysing the results of scientific measurements or processes, which may conflict, and deciding upon an appropriate course of action.
- Ablity to create spreadsheets, electronic documents and individual 3D computerised patient treatment plans for radiotherapy
- Highly developed physical accuracy and dexterity in order to be able to manipulate equipment, for example, in setting up and using delicate instruments to make precise measurements to detect and calibrate radiation doses within "phantom" patients; to load milimetric, radioactive iodine-125 seeds in theatre. The post holder is also required to use 3D visualisation skills in treatment planning.
- Able to act independently, without supervision, within professional guidelines, but can refer to his manager where necessary. The individual's manager assesses work at intervals Able to concentrate where the work pattern is unpredictable, for example when working as duty physicist, or performing complex calculations
Desirable
- Occasionally, there will be a requirement for prolonged concentration
- Presentation of material to groups of staff
- Use of Macros in Excel
- Relevant use of computer programing skills
Knowledge
Essential
- Specialist theoretical knowledge of the range of work procedures of radiotherapy physics at least to Masters level with associated practical experience
- Knowledge of patient and machine dosimetry in radiotherapy (external beam and brachytherapy)
- Understanding of patient and staff risks arising from treatment planning computer system errors, equipment failure, treatment errors and incorrect dosimetry.
- Broad knowledge of radiotherapy techniques and clinical applications
- Understanding of relevant legislation, national standards, professional and other guidelines (eg IRR, IRMER, ISO 9001, BSI and ISO standards, professional and regulatory body reports and guidelines.)
Desirable
- Knowledge of imaging and therapy techniques and procedures used in nuclear medicine
- Knowledge and understanding of patient and staff risks arising from use of ionising radiation with unsealed radionuclides, including equipment failure, procedural defects and human error
Other Requirements
Essential
- Able to work with radiotherapy equipment and to manoeuvre associated physics equipment
- The post holder works in an environment of cancer patients, and may have to interact with them (for example, in performing measurements on a patient undergoing radiotherapy; loading of radioactive seeds in theatre). Therefore there may be occasional exposure to distressing circumstances and also exposure to bodily fluids.
- The post holder must be prepared to work in an environment where there is a radiation hazard, and so must understand the hazards posed by ionising radiation and sources of high voltage
- Ability to work in a team. May occasionally be expected to manoeuvre, within the limits required for manual handling, heavy loads such as radiotherapy dosimetry "phantoms"
- Role model our Trust values every day
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).
