Job summary
We are recruiting for a Band 6 Radiotherapy Rotational Radiographer.
The Sussex Cancer Centre has recently completed a period of expansion of its radiotherapy services. This exciting development included opening a number of linked units as part of our strategy to deliver radiotherapy services across Sussex.
These center's have a mixed portfolio of machines;
- The Eastbourne Radiotherapy Unit: Two matched Elekta Versa HD Linacs which have VMAT, FFF capability with XVI, Mosaiq oncology management systems, Prosoma, Phillips Brilliance Big Bore CT
- The Royal Sussex County Hospital site: Two matched Elekta Versa HD Linacs which have VMAT, FFF capability with XVI, Mosaiq oncology management systems, Prosoma, Phillips Brilliance Big Bore CT, and HDR Brachy Therapy unit.
- The Preston Park site, in Brighton, has two high spec Accuray Tomo Therapy treatment units.
We can offer successful applicants the following benefits:
- Subsidised on site hospital accommodation.
- Recruitment and Retention package for therapy radiographers, £2,000 p.a.
- Excellent induction program.
- Preceptorship for all newly qualified staff and mentoring for other grades.
- Supported role development and CPD.
- Competency framework.
- Close association with Brighton and Sussex Medical School and Sussex Universities.
- Staff discounts in Sussex.
Main duties of the job
You will provide professional radiotherapy services within all the Sussex Cancer Centre locations covering the planning, simulating, calculating and treatment of cancer patients as well as liaising effectively with the multidisciplinary team. Once experienced the post holder will have the responsibility for the daily running of the Linear Accelerator through set competency training. The post holder requires advanced clinical knowledge of radiotherapy procedures, tissue tolerances, and physiological reactions due to radiation exposure. The post holder practices in accordance with current legislation governing the use of ionizing radiation IR(ME)R. High level of competence is required in the use of a wide range of highly complex technical and computerised systems, including;o Linear accelerators for the delivery of radiation treatment,o Computerised patient information and appointment management systemo Image matching program's for verification and evaluation procedures during treatment QA equipment for daily tolerance checkso Equipment for the delivery of high dose radiation: dual energy, dual modality Linear Accelerators Computerised Tomography ( CT ) scanners.o Computerised treatment planning systemso QA equipment for daily tolerance checks
About us
Join us at UHSussex, every day is different, you can be the change, better never stops
At UHSussex we're proud to be at the heart of the NHS. As one of the UK's largest acute Trusts, we're a leading example of the excellence, the ambition and the values that have embodied the NHS for over 70 years.
Improving lives: We are a vibrant and inclusive organisation, with hardworking, talented and dedicated individuals, who work together towards a common goal, to always put our Patient First. Our mission is summed up by our 'where better never stops' motto and no matter the role at UHSussex, you will play a part in driving us forwards and in improving the lives of patients across Sussex. We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We're here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our wellbeing programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.
Build a career with us: As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Clinical Responsibilities General.
1.1 Planning and simulating patients in preparation for radiotherapy treatment.
1.1.1 Planning using CT images:
- Determining patient position for CT scans and radiotherapy treatment. Identifying CT scanning levels dependent on diagnosis.
- Assist in the planning of radiotherapy treatment using CT images and computerised planning systems to ensure optimal radiation dose distribution.
- CT patient treatment checking all planned parameters to ensure accuracy of treatment.
- Ensure that the correct ma / kV (radiation exposure) is selected to minimise the dose to the patient when performing scans and to record the radiation dose received by the patient accurately.
- Working independently and concurrently with the Doctors when using Virtual Simulation to create a patients plan
1.2 Generate and calculate treatment plans prior to radiotherapy treatment.
- Scrutinise and interpret the radiation prescription in accordance with department protocols so radiotherapy treatment is delivered accurately and reproducibly.
- Generate a treatment plan and verify treatment parameters ensuring optimal radiation dose delivery
- Undertake complex manual and computerised calculations involving a range of radiation types and energies following strict protocols which, by law, adhere to ionising radiation IR(ME)R regulations. Recognise clinical tolerances and calculate dose to tissue (e.g. spinal cord, optic lens) and accurately input doses into the verification system to ensure tissues tolerances are not exceeded
- Independently second check calculations done by others, as stated by IR(ME)R national regulations for radiation protection
- Independently second check tolerances and tissue dose
- Refer highly complex calculations to physicist for double checking and signing off
- Write up treatment plans precisely and accurately
- Independently second check treatment plans
- Check isocentre points, entry points, collimator twist and all treatment borders on immobilisation devices and ensure everything is correctly labelled.
1.3 Prepare customised immobilisation devises for use during treatment.
- Construct customised patient immobilisation devices, bolus and wax according to protocol.
- Alter and re-fit immobilisation devices to ensure accurate radiotherapy treatment delivery.
- 4 Quality Assurance (QA).
- Be competent to carry out daily checks on all equipment for clinical use - CT, linear accelerators, electronic image matching system
- Daily checks identify and measure treatment machine parameters (within 2mm). If out of tolerance can withdraw machine from clinical use.
- Comply with departmental and national safety regulations and notify radiotherapy senior lead and engineering support of any non-compliance. Accept equipment for clinical use after any correction or alteration is made.
- Weekly audit on treatment documents to ensure that every treatment has been given and accurately recorded. Recognise any discrepancies and take appropriate action to ensure all phases of treatment are carried out correctly.
- To follow departmental protocols and IR(ME)R regulations and report any errors or near misses.
1.5 Treatment delivery.
- Deliver and supervise radiotherapy treatment to patients guided by standard protocols planned, CTd and calculated in advance.
- Monitor patients closely during delivery of radiotherapy treatment
- Able to make clinical decisions when limited information is available, e.g. to abate radiotherapy treatment pending further advice or testing.
- Use own judgement and initiative to determine treatment set-up in cases where small changes have occurred since planning (i.e. small change in patient shape).
- Re-image, re-calculate and apply compensation following small changes
- Autonomously provide patients with expert advice and guidance on treatment related side effects including the use of medication.
- To ensure all patients have a personal care plan, taking into account all holistic and best practice considerations. Therefore, ensuring that each patient, with a life threatening condition, is treated in accordance to their needs.
- Contribute to the clinical governance agenda within radiotherapy
- Ensure all patients, self and others abide by local rules radiation regulations to maintain a safe environment
- Ensure all documentation of Radiotherapy treatment and patients clinical details are documented accurately.
- Prepare images for matching by outlining specific anatomical structures on the computerised Portal Imager, using skills and knowledge to maintain a very small tolerance.
- Re-image, re-calculate and apply dose compensation resulting from these changes.
- Record all radiation dose received by the patient according to IR(ME)R regulations.
- Confirming patients set up and correct treatment field position. Checking all treatment parameters in the computerised verification system before treatment can be accurately delivered.
- Know and understand when it is necessary to deviate from planned treatment parameters.
- Override treatment machine tolerances when necessary.
1.6 Treatment Verification.
- Use I-view and a detailed knowledge of anatomy and its interaction with radiation to produce digital images of the treatment area.
- Electronically manipulate treatment images in order to compare them to planned images, with a 3mm tolerance to make clinical decisions about the accuracy of the patients treatment. This may result in continuing treatment, treatment being stopped or treatment being replanned.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Clinical Responsibilities General.
1.1 Planning and simulating patients in preparation for radiotherapy treatment.
1.1.1 Planning using CT images:
- Determining patient position for CT scans and radiotherapy treatment. Identifying CT scanning levels dependent on diagnosis.
- Assist in the planning of radiotherapy treatment using CT images and computerised planning systems to ensure optimal radiation dose distribution.
- CT patient treatment checking all planned parameters to ensure accuracy of treatment.
- Ensure that the correct ma / kV (radiation exposure) is selected to minimise the dose to the patient when performing scans and to record the radiation dose received by the patient accurately.
- Working independently and concurrently with the Doctors when using Virtual Simulation to create a patients plan
1.2 Generate and calculate treatment plans prior to radiotherapy treatment.
- Scrutinise and interpret the radiation prescription in accordance with department protocols so radiotherapy treatment is delivered accurately and reproducibly.
- Generate a treatment plan and verify treatment parameters ensuring optimal radiation dose delivery
- Undertake complex manual and computerised calculations involving a range of radiation types and energies following strict protocols which, by law, adhere to ionising radiation IR(ME)R regulations. Recognise clinical tolerances and calculate dose to tissue (e.g. spinal cord, optic lens) and accurately input doses into the verification system to ensure tissues tolerances are not exceeded
- Independently second check calculations done by others, as stated by IR(ME)R national regulations for radiation protection
- Independently second check tolerances and tissue dose
- Refer highly complex calculations to physicist for double checking and signing off
- Write up treatment plans precisely and accurately
- Independently second check treatment plans
- Check isocentre points, entry points, collimator twist and all treatment borders on immobilisation devices and ensure everything is correctly labelled.
1.3 Prepare customised immobilisation devises for use during treatment.
- Construct customised patient immobilisation devices, bolus and wax according to protocol.
- Alter and re-fit immobilisation devices to ensure accurate radiotherapy treatment delivery.
- 4 Quality Assurance (QA).
- Be competent to carry out daily checks on all equipment for clinical use - CT, linear accelerators, electronic image matching system
- Daily checks identify and measure treatment machine parameters (within 2mm). If out of tolerance can withdraw machine from clinical use.
- Comply with departmental and national safety regulations and notify radiotherapy senior lead and engineering support of any non-compliance. Accept equipment for clinical use after any correction or alteration is made.
- Weekly audit on treatment documents to ensure that every treatment has been given and accurately recorded. Recognise any discrepancies and take appropriate action to ensure all phases of treatment are carried out correctly.
- To follow departmental protocols and IR(ME)R regulations and report any errors or near misses.
1.5 Treatment delivery.
- Deliver and supervise radiotherapy treatment to patients guided by standard protocols planned, CTd and calculated in advance.
- Monitor patients closely during delivery of radiotherapy treatment
- Able to make clinical decisions when limited information is available, e.g. to abate radiotherapy treatment pending further advice or testing.
- Use own judgement and initiative to determine treatment set-up in cases where small changes have occurred since planning (i.e. small change in patient shape).
- Re-image, re-calculate and apply compensation following small changes
- Autonomously provide patients with expert advice and guidance on treatment related side effects including the use of medication.
- To ensure all patients have a personal care plan, taking into account all holistic and best practice considerations. Therefore, ensuring that each patient, with a life threatening condition, is treated in accordance to their needs.
- Contribute to the clinical governance agenda within radiotherapy
- Ensure all patients, self and others abide by local rules radiation regulations to maintain a safe environment
- Ensure all documentation of Radiotherapy treatment and patients clinical details are documented accurately.
- Prepare images for matching by outlining specific anatomical structures on the computerised Portal Imager, using skills and knowledge to maintain a very small tolerance.
- Re-image, re-calculate and apply dose compensation resulting from these changes.
- Record all radiation dose received by the patient according to IR(ME)R regulations.
- Confirming patients set up and correct treatment field position. Checking all treatment parameters in the computerised verification system before treatment can be accurately delivered.
- Know and understand when it is necessary to deviate from planned treatment parameters.
- Override treatment machine tolerances when necessary.
1.6 Treatment Verification.
- Use I-view and a detailed knowledge of anatomy and its interaction with radiation to produce digital images of the treatment area.
- Electronically manipulate treatment images in order to compare them to planned images, with a 3mm tolerance to make clinical decisions about the accuracy of the patients treatment. This may result in continuing treatment, treatment being stopped or treatment being replanned.
Person Specification
Essential
Essential
- DCR[T] or BSc [ Hons] in Therapeutic Radiography. Relevant short specialist courses in Radiotherapy.
- Must have a minimum of 18 months experience and have evidence of CPD
Person Specification
Essential
Essential
- DCR[T] or BSc [ Hons] in Therapeutic Radiography. Relevant short specialist courses in Radiotherapy.
- Must have a minimum of 18 months experience and have evidence of CPD
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).
