Job summary
Would you like to be part of shaping the future direction of radiotherapy research in the UK? An exciting opportunity has arisen to work as a research fellow within the National Radiotherapy Trials Quality Assurance Group, based at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre.
Applications are invited for this full-time research fellow post available from April 2025. The post is funded by the National Radiotherapy Trials Quality Assurance (RTTQA) Group.
The RTTQA Group is a centralised UK resource which designs and implements QA programmes for all NIHR CRN Portfolio trials that include a radiotherapy component. The group exists as a single multi-professional network of radiographers, dosimetrists, clinical scientists and clinicians working collaboratively across a number of NHS sites.
The RTTQA Group monitors the quality of radiotherapy delivery in the multicentre trials arena. Poor quality radiotherapy can compromise the outcome of a trial and may also have negative consequences on patient outcomes. QA is recognised as an integral and essential part of the radiotherapy clinical trial process.
In the UK new technologies and techniques are used in clinical trials. The RTTQA Group engages early in the clinical trial development process. You would have the opportunity to be involved in practice changing developments in areas including proton beam therapy, adaptive treatments, MR-Linac and SABR.
Main duties of the job
An opportunity has arisen within the group, ideal for those looking to broaden their radiotherapy experience and knowledge. The ideal candidate will be enthusiastic, motivated, have exemplary communication skills and enjoy working as part of a dynamic team.
The applicant will be an integral member of the RTTQA Group providing clinical support and input. The post will be hosted by Mount Vernon Cancer Centre with activities across all RTTQA Group sites. The post holder will be expected to undertake a formal research project leading to a higher degree (MD) and to attend national and international meetings and conferences.
There will be an opportunity to maintain clinical skills within Mount Vernon Cancer Centre.
About us
At East and North Hertfordshire Teaching 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:
- The Lister Hospital, Stevenage
- New Queen Elizabeth II (New QEII), Welwyn Garden City
- Hertford County, Hertford
- 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
Assist with the development of trial protocols and radiotherapy guidelines, particularly with reference to imaging, outlining, multimodality and combination treatments.
Discuss and agree approaches with trial investigators to create acceptable consensus outlines for a trial. The post holder should have knowledge of target volume and organ at risk outlining for a variety of anatomical sites.
Provide support for review and reporting of pre-accrual and during accrual outlining cases.
Provide clinical advice and support to inform development of QA audit programmes.
Take a lead in implementing outlining workshops for trial education and training purposes and be prepared to travel as required.
Provide specialist clinical advice to radiotherapy consultants and other staff regarding the treatment of patients in clinical trials.
Participate in the review of treatment plans and understand the effect of various treatment plan options on patient dose distributions. Discuss and agree approaches with the multidisciplinary group to create optimum treatment plans. The post holder should have knowledge of different planning techniques and be prepared to discuss this with other group members.
Take an active role in RTTQA Group meetings and trial management groups.
Develop an understanding of advanced radiotherapy, particularly in the areas of new treatment delivery and verification modalities and multi-modality imaging for target volume definition.
Take an active role collaborating in the assessment and development of software for trial QA case review.
The post holder will be expected to attend one or two clinical sessions per week according to training requirements and on occasions provide clinical cover during illness or absence.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Assist with the development of trial protocols and radiotherapy guidelines, particularly with reference to imaging, outlining, multimodality and combination treatments.
Discuss and agree approaches with trial investigators to create acceptable consensus outlines for a trial. The post holder should have knowledge of target volume and organ at risk outlining for a variety of anatomical sites.
Provide support for review and reporting of pre-accrual and during accrual outlining cases.
Provide clinical advice and support to inform development of QA audit programmes.
Take a lead in implementing outlining workshops for trial education and training purposes and be prepared to travel as required.
Provide specialist clinical advice to radiotherapy consultants and other staff regarding the treatment of patients in clinical trials.
Participate in the review of treatment plans and understand the effect of various treatment plan options on patient dose distributions. Discuss and agree approaches with the multidisciplinary group to create optimum treatment plans. The post holder should have knowledge of different planning techniques and be prepared to discuss this with other group members.
Take an active role in RTTQA Group meetings and trial management groups.
Develop an understanding of advanced radiotherapy, particularly in the areas of new treatment delivery and verification modalities and multi-modality imaging for target volume definition.
Take an active role collaborating in the assessment and development of software for trial QA case review.
The post holder will be expected to attend one or two clinical sessions per week according to training requirements and on occasions provide clinical cover during illness or absence.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Hold a current license to practice from the General Medical Council
- FRCR Part 1
Desirable
Previous Experience
Essential
- Broad range of experience in Oncology
- Experience of supervising undergraduates, doctors in training and other colleagues
- Experience of audit
Desirable
- Experience in organising educational activities
- NHS experience
Skills
Essential
- Ability to apply sound clinical knowledge and judgement to problems
- Demonstrable interest in and comprehension of Oncology and treatment planning
- Ability to teach clinical skills
- Participation in research
- Demonstrate an interest in clinical trials
- Able to show situational awareness and application of good decision making
Knowledge
Essential
- Able to evidence engagement with clinical governance and the identification of errors and the learning from errors
- Can evidence leading on patient safety issues and achieving a change in practice
- Up to date and fit to practice safely and aware of own training needs
- Evidence of engagement with appraisal and revalidation
Desirable
- Computer skills and IT literacy
- Formal training and/or qualification in management and administration
Other requirements
Essential
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Hold a current license to practice from the General Medical Council
- FRCR Part 1
Desirable
Previous Experience
Essential
- Broad range of experience in Oncology
- Experience of supervising undergraduates, doctors in training and other colleagues
- Experience of audit
Desirable
- Experience in organising educational activities
- NHS experience
Skills
Essential
- Ability to apply sound clinical knowledge and judgement to problems
- Demonstrable interest in and comprehension of Oncology and treatment planning
- Ability to teach clinical skills
- Participation in research
- Demonstrate an interest in clinical trials
- Able to show situational awareness and application of good decision making
Knowledge
Essential
- Able to evidence engagement with clinical governance and the identification of errors and the learning from errors
- Can evidence leading on patient safety issues and achieving a change in practice
- Up to date and fit to practice safely and aware of own training needs
- Evidence of engagement with appraisal and revalidation
Desirable
- Computer skills and IT literacy
- Formal training and/or qualification in management and administration
Other requirements
Essential
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).
