Consultant Clinical Scientist (Radiotherapy Physics Group Leader)

Job responsibilities

JOB PURPOSE

To lead the radiotherapy physics service of The Christie Radiotherapy Physics Group across The Christie and its satellite centres. To be responsible for the management and provision of scientific and technical services to Clinical Oncology across all the radiotherapy disciplines; brachytherapy, external beam and proton therapy.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

General

• Ensure all work complies with current UK legislation for work with ionising radiation (IRR 2017, IRMER 2017) and the Trusts ISO 9001-2015-compliant Quality Management System for provision of radiotherapy.
• The post holder will be expected to prioritise and manage their own work on a day-to-day basis.
• Acts as required in the role Medical Physics Expert (MPE) under IR(ME)R, making judgements on individual patient treatments based on complex planning and delivery data where there may be conflicting information.
• The post holder must participate in an agreed scheme of Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
• The place of work is normally The Christie, Withington, but the postholder will be required to carry out work at other local hospitals with a radiotherapy service.
• Demonstrates the agreed set of values and accountable for own attitude and behaviour.
• The post is full time. Hours worked flexibly, in agreement with the line manager, to provide round the clock services where necessary to cover the normal range of clinical duties.

Management planning and organisational

• Assists the Director, along with the other group leaders, in managing the activities of the department, specifically in the development and scientific direction of the radiotherapy physics service.
• Advise Director of CMPE and Clinical Director on the future development of the radiotherapy service and provides expert input to radiotherapy business cases for such developments.
• Negotiates and ensures continuous monitoring and review of the service level agreement with the department of Clinical Oncology.
• Manages the radiotherapy physics section to ensure a safe effective and progressive clinical service is delivered to the radiotherapy department.
• Provides continuous improvement of the Clinical service through a coordinated programme of radiotherapy projects.
• Ensures that the radiotherapy departments quality management system is maintained and developed and act as deputy to the Trusts Head quality system manager.
• Works with the Business Manager, to manage the budgets of the radiotherapy physics group including commercial maintenance contracts for radiotherapy equipment.
• Holds meetings with the relevant staff to communicate trust and divisional priorities and enable staff to speak up.
• Ensures that all staff undergo regular performance development reviews to identify individual training needs, set and monitor objectives in line with the needs of the individual and objectives of the Group and Trust.
• Manages staff resources across the sections of the radiotherapy group and participate in staff recruitment to ensure staffing is adequate to provide effective, clinical physics support.
• Line manager for staff, including recruitment, performance and carer development
• Interprets highly complex national and international legislation, codes of practice and clinical guidelines concerning the work of the radiotherapy section and implement protocols to keep the sections work in line with recommended practice.
• Ensures that appropriate risk management procedures and documents are in place in line with Trust policies.
• Represents the Christie Radiotherapy physics group at the North West Radiotherapy Operational Delivery Network Oversight Group.

3.Radiation protection

• Responsible for maintaining a systems for radiation protection to comply with current national legislation.
• Coordinates radiotherapy radiation protection as part of CMPE & The Christie and the the corporate RPA body.
• Ensures that Medical Physics Experts (MPE) are closely involved in all radiotherapy activities as required under IRMER.

Equipment Management and Maintenance

• Responsible, on behalf of the Director of Clinical Oncology, for the management of the radiotherapy equipment specified in the Service Level Agreement.
• Advises on the capital and equipment needs of the Trust, as pertaining to radiotherapy (including high capital items such as linear accelerators, planning systems and proton therapy equipment), including replacement programme and opportunities to enhance the clinical service.
• Works with network services to manage the complete capital and revenue life cycle requirements of radiotherapy equipment.
• Participates, with the Networked services and CMPE in the development of business cases for the maintenance and development of the radiation therapy equipment.
• Manages, with the Head of the radiotherapy engineering section the maintenance of the radiotherapy equipment including both in-house and commercial arrangements.

Provide a scientific service ensuring the expertise across The Christie and its satellites

In Radiation Dosimetry

• Responsible for the accuracy and precision of all aspects of radiation dosimetry for external beam radiotherapy, proton beam therapy and brachytherapy.
• Responsible for the commissioning of new radiotherapy equipment.

In Treatment planning

• Responsible for the scientific integrity of treatment plans across proton and photons.
• Provides advice to the Consultant Clinical Oncologists on the development of appropriate treatment techniques.
• Ensures that imaging systems used in the planning and verification of treatments are appropriately configured for their intended use.

Brachytherapy

• Responsible for the scientific integrity of treatment plans.
• Provides advice to the Consultant Clinical Oncologists on the development of appropriate treatment techniques.
• Responsible for the commissioning and use of brachytherapy equipment including the safe custody of the radioactive sources

Research and Development

• Provides leadership for the groups research portfolio.
• Publish research in internationally recognised peer reviewed research journals and to communicate research through national and international conferences.
• Provides scientific support to the development and recruitment to clinical trials.
• Liaises with the departments of Clinical Oncology and the Radiotherapy Related Group Research maintaining a coherent R&D strategy.
• Establishes and maintains R&D collaborations with other radiotherapy physics groups, universities, and commercial organisations.
• Initiates, supervises and carries out radiotherapy research and development projects.

Teaching and training

• Liaises with the School of Oncology, School of Proton Therapy and The University of Manchester regarding the teaching commitments of The Group.
• Ensures that physicists, radiographers, dosimetrist, engineers and technicians in the Group are appropriately trained for the tasks they undertake. .
• Ensures that any other formal or informal teaching or training by members of the group is undertaken as required.
• Lectures on postgraduate and undergraduate degree courses as required and contribute to the Christies educational programme

Qualifications

Essential

• State Registered Clinical Scientist
• Honours degree in an appropriate physical science
• Higher degree.
• PhD or equivalent evidence of research training
• MPE certification

Desirable

• Corporate membership of IPEM or other equivalent professional body
• HSST or equivalent

Experience

Essential

• Extensive experience of radiotherapy physics

Desirable

• Involved with the operation of Quality management systems.
• Supervision of students and trainees
• Planning / implementation of new facilities

Skills

Essential

• Strong scientific leadership
• Good interpersonal skills
• Clear and articulate communicator of complex scientific concepts
• Excellent IT skills
• Good hand eye coordination for precise equipment set up/manipulation

Desirable

• Effective collaboration with other organisations.
• Performance of staff reviews and appraisals

Knowledge

Essential

• Expert knowledge in 1 or more aspects of radiotherapy physics.
• Working knowledge of quality management systems.
• Appropriate health and safety legislation

Desirable

• Basic understanding of NHS finance systems.
• basic understanding of nhs finance systems
• Development of business cases
• Understanding of research and clinical governance

Values

Essential

• Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours

Research

Essential

• Strong record of dissemination / publication of scientific work

Desirable

• Successful completion of externally funded research projects.

Professional Engagement

Essential

• Enthusiasm and commitment
• Ability to concentrate for prolonged periods
• Ability to cope with occasional exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances
• Occasional exposure to unpleasant working conditions (radiation)
• Willing to participate in shift rota to cover extended day working (7am to 8pm)

Desirable

• Fellowship of IPEM or other equivalent professional body

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).