Job summary
This fixed-term (12months) role in the radiotherapy physics team at Worcester will be focused on supporting the local radiotherapy clinical trial activity, but will also provide plenty of opportunities to gain experience in working alongside clinical scientists. It is ideally suited to candidates intending to pursue a career as a radiotherapy clinical scientist or technologist.
Worcester is a small, friendly department that delivers all but the most rare forms of external beam radiotherapy. You will be part of a team of 9 clinical scientists, 7 dosimetrists and 4 engineers. You will also work closely with Radiographers, clinical oncologists and staff in the trials team. We have 3 Elekta linacs, a Raystation treatment planning system, a Canon CT scanner, An XStrahl superficial treatment unit and a Mosaiq R&V system.
We are entering a period of equipment replacement at Worcester so there will be plenty of opportunity to help with exciting commissioning work and development of new techniques.
Candidates
who have completed a Physics Degree and expect confirmation of successful
results (with suitable referee confirmation) within 2 months, can tick to
confirm they have the degree for the purposes of this application.
Please note that we will be interviewing for this post on Friday 19th July. In-person or remote interview (over Teams) will be available.
Main duties of the job
The main duties of the role are:
1. to support all aspects of the radiotherapy clinical trials activity
2. to support a range of clinical tasks performed by radiotherapy clinical scientists
3. to support development projects within the team
About us
Our purpose is simple - Putting Patients First. We are looking for exceptional colleagues who can help us achieve this.
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a larger population in Herefordshire and beyond.
The Trust operates hospital-based services from three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester
Our workforce is over 7,000 strong, and our caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred care. You could be one of them.
We are committed to recruiting the best people to work with us to achieve our Vision - working in partnership to provide the best healthcare for our communities, leading and supporting our teams to move 4ward. Our 4ward behaviours, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.
Our objectives are simple:
- Best services for local people
- Best experience of care and best outcomes for our patients
- Best use of resources
- Best people
Better never stops, and our Clinical Services Strategy provides a clear future vision for our Trust, our hospitals, our services and our role in the wider health and care system.
We are proud to have achieved Timewise accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working within our organisation as a flex positive employer.
Job description
Job responsibilities
1. To
provide support to clinical scientists and other staff groups in all aspects of
radiotherapy clinical trials, including administration, data collection, data
analysis, internal presentations and basic training.
2. To
provide support to clinical scientists and other staff groups in all aspects of
Radiotherapy Physics; treatment planning, dose measurement, Mould Room, machine
quality control, technique development and Commissioning of new equipment and
techniques.
3. To
work under supervision within standard operating procedures in all areas of
work following a period of training. To seek advice from supervisors and
experienced colleagues as required. To always ensure accuracy of data and
information. To plan own workload to ensure priority tasks are completed when
required, raising issues early with supervising staff.
4. Treatment
Planning:
4.1. To
produce a range of basic radiotherapy plans as required to support the clinical
service
4.2. To
communicate relevant complex information to the supervising clinical scientist or
clinician as required.
4.3. To
check that adequate records of all outlining, treatment planning and
calculations have been made.
5.
Dosimetry:
5.1. To
undertake under supervision all routine dose measurements including patient
specific doses and machine calibration doses.
5.2. To
highlight treatment machine doses and patient doses which fall outside accepted
tolerances, giving accurate and complete information to the responsible
clinical scientist as required.
5.3. To
participate in the calibration of the Department's dosimeters against the
Regional Secondary Standard.
5.4. To
carry out quality control checks on dosimetry systems, including safe handling
of radioactive Strontium source for quality control purposes.
6. Mould
Room:
6.1. To
support the manufacture of patient fixation devices, blocking devices and
build-up materials for patient treatment.
6.2. To
carry out this work according to standard operating procedures, observing
required standards of safety, tidiness and cleanliness in this workspace
7. Treatment
machine quality control:
7.1. To
carry out (under supervision) quality control checks, calibration and equipment
tests on highly complex radiotherapy equipment, following agreed protocols.
7.2. To
ensure that calibrations and equipment tests that directly affect radiation
dose to the patient are carried out with strict reference to procedures and
safety tolerance levels set out in the quality system.
7.3. To
accurately record machine performance data, communicating relevant complex
information to the supervising clinical scientist as required.
8.
Duty Physicist: to support the duty physicist in
responding to urgent clinical queries.
9.
Quality System:
9.1. To
support the development of procedures throughout Radiotherapy Physics to
enhance the service. These procedures will impact on the work of radiographers
and radiotherapy consultant staff.
9.2. To
contribute to the development and maintenance of the Radiotherapy Quality
System
10. Computing:
10.1. To develop
basic knowledge and expertise in computing software, networks and image
processing for radiotherapy.
10.2. To develop
radiotherapy physics computing by contributing to software to meet physics and
clinical specifications.
11. Research
and Development:
11.1. To carry
out research work under supervision (e.g. data measurement, data analysis),
taking initiative to pursue further investigations within the scope agreed by
the supervising clinical scientist.
11.2. To contribute
to, and where appropriate to present, the results of research at local scientific
meetings and by published papers in refereed journals.
12. To
minimise financial costs by safe and effective use of high capital value
equipment (in excess of £30,000).
13. To
work such unsocial hours as are necessary for the safe and effective
performance of their duties.
14. To
keep abreast of current scientific and technical developments in radiotherapy
physics.
15. To
undertake any other duties required by the Head of Radiotherapy Physics in
accordance with the grade and nature of the post.
Job description
Job responsibilities
1. To
provide support to clinical scientists and other staff groups in all aspects of
radiotherapy clinical trials, including administration, data collection, data
analysis, internal presentations and basic training.
2. To
provide support to clinical scientists and other staff groups in all aspects of
Radiotherapy Physics; treatment planning, dose measurement, Mould Room, machine
quality control, technique development and Commissioning of new equipment and
techniques.
3. To
work under supervision within standard operating procedures in all areas of
work following a period of training. To seek advice from supervisors and
experienced colleagues as required. To always ensure accuracy of data and
information. To plan own workload to ensure priority tasks are completed when
required, raising issues early with supervising staff.
4. Treatment
Planning:
4.1. To
produce a range of basic radiotherapy plans as required to support the clinical
service
4.2. To
communicate relevant complex information to the supervising clinical scientist or
clinician as required.
4.3. To
check that adequate records of all outlining, treatment planning and
calculations have been made.
5.
Dosimetry:
5.1. To
undertake under supervision all routine dose measurements including patient
specific doses and machine calibration doses.
5.2. To
highlight treatment machine doses and patient doses which fall outside accepted
tolerances, giving accurate and complete information to the responsible
clinical scientist as required.
5.3. To
participate in the calibration of the Department's dosimeters against the
Regional Secondary Standard.
5.4. To
carry out quality control checks on dosimetry systems, including safe handling
of radioactive Strontium source for quality control purposes.
6. Mould
Room:
6.1. To
support the manufacture of patient fixation devices, blocking devices and
build-up materials for patient treatment.
6.2. To
carry out this work according to standard operating procedures, observing
required standards of safety, tidiness and cleanliness in this workspace
7. Treatment
machine quality control:
7.1. To
carry out (under supervision) quality control checks, calibration and equipment
tests on highly complex radiotherapy equipment, following agreed protocols.
7.2. To
ensure that calibrations and equipment tests that directly affect radiation
dose to the patient are carried out with strict reference to procedures and
safety tolerance levels set out in the quality system.
7.3. To
accurately record machine performance data, communicating relevant complex
information to the supervising clinical scientist as required.
8.
Duty Physicist: to support the duty physicist in
responding to urgent clinical queries.
9.
Quality System:
9.1. To
support the development of procedures throughout Radiotherapy Physics to
enhance the service. These procedures will impact on the work of radiographers
and radiotherapy consultant staff.
9.2. To
contribute to the development and maintenance of the Radiotherapy Quality
System
10. Computing:
10.1. To develop
basic knowledge and expertise in computing software, networks and image
processing for radiotherapy.
10.2. To develop
radiotherapy physics computing by contributing to software to meet physics and
clinical specifications.
11. Research
and Development:
11.1. To carry
out research work under supervision (e.g. data measurement, data analysis),
taking initiative to pursue further investigations within the scope agreed by
the supervising clinical scientist.
11.2. To contribute
to, and where appropriate to present, the results of research at local scientific
meetings and by published papers in refereed journals.
12. To
minimise financial costs by safe and effective use of high capital value
equipment (in excess of £30,000).
13. To
work such unsocial hours as are necessary for the safe and effective
performance of their duties.
14. To
keep abreast of current scientific and technical developments in radiotherapy
physics.
15. To
undertake any other duties required by the Head of Radiotherapy Physics in
accordance with the grade and nature of the post.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Honours degree in Physics (2.2 or higher)
Desirable
- Evidence of recent research experience
Skills
Essential
- A committed in depth interest in Scientific Practice and its application to direct clinical care of patients in a clinical environment.
- Demonstrate an understanding of quality control in a science or work-based context.
- Excellent attitude towards learning and continuing professional development.
Desirable
- Able to write complex computer programs (e.g. Python, Excel macros, Java)
Experience
Essential
- Able to demonstrate recent experience in designing, carrying out, analysing and reporting scientific investigations and experiments.
- Able to work autonomously to complete own workload under guidance of supervisors.
Desirable
- Experience of working within a healthcare science discipline.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Honours degree in Physics (2.2 or higher)
Desirable
- Evidence of recent research experience
Skills
Essential
- A committed in depth interest in Scientific Practice and its application to direct clinical care of patients in a clinical environment.
- Demonstrate an understanding of quality control in a science or work-based context.
- Excellent attitude towards learning and continuing professional development.
Desirable
- Able to write complex computer programs (e.g. Python, Excel macros, Java)
Experience
Essential
- Able to demonstrate recent experience in designing, carrying out, analysing and reporting scientific investigations and experiments.
- Able to work autonomously to complete own workload under guidance of supervisors.
Desirable
- Experience of working within a healthcare science discipline.
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).
