Job summary
We are recruiting a Lead Clinical Scientist to join the Radiation Protection team at East and North Herts NHS Trust.
The Radiation Protection department is part of the wider radiation services team at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre. We are looking for a lead clinical scientist to provide MPE, RPA and RWA support for the Trust and to support nuclear medicine services in a number of external Trusts under service level agreements.
The Radiation Protection department support radiology services across several NHS Trust including x-ray imaging and nuclear medicine.
You will be a HCPC registered Clinical Scientist, qualified to act as an RPA, RWA and MPE in nuclear medicine. As an experienced and committed clinical scientist you will lead the delivery of scientific and technical support to nuclear medicine services.
You will line manage assistant physicists and clinical scientists as part of service delivery as well as supporting route 2 and STP trainees in the department and across the cancer centre.
At the heart of everything we do are our core values:Include,Respect, andImprove. We encourage you to embrace these values throughout the recruitment process and in your role with us.
Main duties of the job
Lead on the provision of radiation protection and scientific support to several hospitals. Working closely with the head of radiation protection and physicists within the nuclear medicine service you will be part of the leadership team delivering services to a number of Trusts.
Work alongside local service leads to ensure organisations deliver statutory obligations with respect to the safe use of ionising radiation.
Support and line manage clinical scientists, contribute to staff development and assist in the supervision of trainees undertaking the STP programme or equivalent.
Lead on the implementation, development and optimization of nuclear medicine imaging and radiation safety.
About us
At East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust,we are proud of the range of general & specialist services we provide & our 6,000 or so dedicated staff ensure our patients get the best care. Our ability to be flexible & 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, Stevenage
o New Queen Elizabeth II (New QEII), Welwyn Garden City
o Hertford County, Hertford
o 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; our staff & patients are at the heart of delivering this ambitious agenda.
We are committed to a positive work life balance for our employees. Employees are entitled to seek to work flexible working patterns & we are committed to listen and consider all requests. Such requests, of course, have to be made & considered formally, & 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
Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification applicant pack for further detailed information regarding this role.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification applicant pack for further detailed information regarding this role.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Good (1st or 2nd Class) Honours degree in a relevant subject (physics or engineering).
- Postgraduate qualification in a relevant branch of physics or medical physics to the level of at least a Master's degree (MSc).
- State registration with the Health & Care Professions Council, as a Clinical Scientist
- RPA accreditation by RPA 2000 (certificate of core competence)
- RWA accreditation by RPA 2000 (certificate of core competence)
- Current recognition as an MPE and on the IR(ME)R 2000 MPE list as maintained by RPA 2000
Desirable
- Relevant PhD or comparable history of published research
- Qualification as a DGSA
Experience
Essential
- Specialised training and practical experience in Nuclear Medicine and Radiation Protection
- Specialised training and practical experience in the use and quality assurance testing of a range of highly technical equipment, including SPECT/CT, PET/CT
- Specification, procurement and commissioning of imaging systems
- Working as an MPE in a nuclear medicine service providing imaging and radionuclide therapies
- Previous appointment as RPA and/or RWA and working at this level
- Significant experience of delivering teaching and training
Desirable
- Operational management in a healthcare service / team
- Previous appointment and experience as a DGSA
- Experience in computing relevant to Nuclear Medicine
- Previous appointment as an MPE for CT
- Experience of CT quality assurance testing
Knowledge
Essential
- Advanced theoretical and practical knowledge and deep understanding of the nature, use, risks and radiation protection of ionising radiations including X-rays, gamma rays, electrons & neutrons
- Specialist knowledge and full understanding of all the areas of legislation, approved codes and good guidance, applicable to the use of sealed and unsealed sources of ionising radiation in the field of medical, dental, veterinary and industry where appropriate
- Theoretical and practical knowledge to act as a Medical Physics Expert regarding the safety of the patient under IRMER within nuclear medicine
- Specialist experience (significant nuclear medicine experience since registration) in medical physics and radiation protection
- 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
Skills
Essential
- Good communicator of complex and sensitive information to patients and members of the public. Able to communicate highly complex scientific data to multi-disciplinary staff
- To be able to communicate effectively with Government agencies and regulatory bodies (e.g. CQC, HSE, EA, ONR etc.) on behalf of Trusts or other organisation
- 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
- Highly developed physical accuracy, manual dexterity skills and good eye-sight to achieve precision and speed in radiopharmaceutical dispensing procedures and the use of sophisticated scientific and technical equipment
- Ability to apply knowledge and experience of practical nuclear medicine and radiation protection in order to implement new procedures and suggest developments to existing ones
- Understanding of hazards posed by, and precautions needed with: Ionising radiation including X-rays, gamma rays, alpha and beta particles Electrical & mechanical hazards
- Ability to teach, train and supervise students and other members of staff within their areas of competence
Others
Essential
- Understands the impact on equality, diversity and inclusion issues in all aspects of service delivery and planning.
- 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).
- Postgraduate qualification in a relevant branch of physics or medical physics to the level of at least a Master's degree (MSc).
- State registration with the Health & Care Professions Council, as a Clinical Scientist
- RPA accreditation by RPA 2000 (certificate of core competence)
- RWA accreditation by RPA 2000 (certificate of core competence)
- Current recognition as an MPE and on the IR(ME)R 2000 MPE list as maintained by RPA 2000
Desirable
- Relevant PhD or comparable history of published research
- Qualification as a DGSA
Experience
Essential
- Specialised training and practical experience in Nuclear Medicine and Radiation Protection
- Specialised training and practical experience in the use and quality assurance testing of a range of highly technical equipment, including SPECT/CT, PET/CT
- Specification, procurement and commissioning of imaging systems
- Working as an MPE in a nuclear medicine service providing imaging and radionuclide therapies
- Previous appointment as RPA and/or RWA and working at this level
- Significant experience of delivering teaching and training
Desirable
- Operational management in a healthcare service / team
- Previous appointment and experience as a DGSA
- Experience in computing relevant to Nuclear Medicine
- Previous appointment as an MPE for CT
- Experience of CT quality assurance testing
Knowledge
Essential
- Advanced theoretical and practical knowledge and deep understanding of the nature, use, risks and radiation protection of ionising radiations including X-rays, gamma rays, electrons & neutrons
- Specialist knowledge and full understanding of all the areas of legislation, approved codes and good guidance, applicable to the use of sealed and unsealed sources of ionising radiation in the field of medical, dental, veterinary and industry where appropriate
- Theoretical and practical knowledge to act as a Medical Physics Expert regarding the safety of the patient under IRMER within nuclear medicine
- Specialist experience (significant nuclear medicine experience since registration) in medical physics and radiation protection
- 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
Skills
Essential
- Good communicator of complex and sensitive information to patients and members of the public. Able to communicate highly complex scientific data to multi-disciplinary staff
- To be able to communicate effectively with Government agencies and regulatory bodies (e.g. CQC, HSE, EA, ONR etc.) on behalf of Trusts or other organisation
- 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
- Highly developed physical accuracy, manual dexterity skills and good eye-sight to achieve precision and speed in radiopharmaceutical dispensing procedures and the use of sophisticated scientific and technical equipment
- Ability to apply knowledge and experience of practical nuclear medicine and radiation protection in order to implement new procedures and suggest developments to existing ones
- Understanding of hazards posed by, and precautions needed with: Ionising radiation including X-rays, gamma rays, alpha and beta particles Electrical & mechanical hazards
- Ability to teach, train and supervise students and other members of staff within their areas of competence
Others
Essential
- Understands the impact on equality, diversity and inclusion issues in all aspects of service delivery and planning.
- 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.
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).
