Consultant Clinical Scientist and Head of Christie Nuclear Medicine

Job description

Job responsibilities

You should have proven scientific and leadership skills as you will be responsible for the strategic direction, research and development, and day to day delivery of the Nuclear Medicine in partnership with clinical leaders in Radiology and Clinical Oncology. You will be an experienced Medical Physics Expert (MPE) in nuclear medicine physics able to provide highly specialist advice to the Trust utilising your expertise and experience in the safe and effective delivery of procedures to patients and in particular the resolution of complex or unusual problems in the delivery of the service.

Your key responsibilities will be to manage staff and resources within the Nuclear Medicine group, to ensure that Nuclear Medicine procedures are delivered accurately, safely, and in a timely fashion; to oversee development of the facilities and workforce to keep pace with current innovations in the field; and to support the development of Nuclear Medicine regionally and nationally through engagement with research, innovation and healthcare education initiatives.

1. Management of The Christie Nuclear Medicine Service

1.1. Leads, manages and directs the provision of all diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine services to The Christie NHS Foundation Trust.

1.2. Ensures that the services provided are of the highest quality by:

Keeping services under review and identifying need to change; revising / introducing new services as necessary.

Keeping abreast of developments in the field of Nuclear Medicine and ensuring that appropriate developments are implemented in clinical practice.

Being responsible for the specification, evaluation, purchase and on-going operation of equipment, including high capital value imaging and radioactive counting equipment; and for identification of equipment needs in order to maintain and improve the quality of the service provided.

Leading and managing the scientific staff providing this service; involves preparation of staff rotas, managing holidays and monitoring sickness leave.

Identifying need and recruiting new staff by preparing job adverts, short-listing, interviewing candidates and selecting suitable appointees

Ensuring that all staff are fully trained in all aspects of their work, and are up to date with the Trusts mandatory training programmes

Ensuring that work instructions and procedures are provided for the activities of the department.

Close liaison with clinical colleagues across the trust.

2. Management of the Nuclear Medicine Group

2.1. Works with the Group Leader to co-ordinate and manage the Groups services in:-

Setting the scientific direction and priorities of the service.

Managing the allocation of resources (staff and facilities) to fulfil the needs of the service.

3. Research

3.1. Participates in management and direction of research into unsealed source therapy and related topics. This includes:-

Working closely with clinical colleagues at the Christie to develop new clinical projects, and writing submissions for research grant applications, ethical committees, and research ARSAC licences

Working closely with clinical colleagues at the Christie to undertake clinical trials

Developing research collaborations with research groups elsewhere

Ensuring that all research undertaken fulfils the requirements of research governance

3.2. Contributes to the research portfolio of the group. The work involves:-

Scrutinising research opportunities as they arise Identifying new areas of research

4. Physics for Nuclear Medicine

4.1. Manipulates and accurately dispenses both radioactive and non-radioactive materials for patient administration, either orally or by intravenous injection. This may be for diagnosis or therapy. It may also be given as part of a research or clinical trial protocol.

4.2. Participates in the general scientific input to the Nuclear Medicine service as needed

4.3. Advises colleagues, radiologists and referring clinicians in difficult or unusual cases

4.4. Carries out advanced and complex mathematical calculations for both Nuclear Medicine imaging analysis techniques and clinical radiation dosimetry, especially for new unsealed source treatments.

5. Radiation Protection

5.1. Provides radiation protection advice concerning patients, staff and members of the public, within the policies and procedures existing within CMPE, in order for the Trust to comply with legislation on the use of radioactive materials in medicine

5.2. Participates in formulating and writing such policies and procedures, taking the lead role where they apply to unsealed source therapy

5.3. Advises senior Trust managers, business managers, Consultant Radiologists, clinical scientists, radiographers and clinical technologists on radiation protection matters

5.4. Advises Consultant Clinicians on the licensing requirements for the administration of radioactive substances to patients

5.5. Works with the RPA to advise planning teams for building projects relevant to facilities for diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine with respect to radiation protection and operational requirements

5.6. Represents the department at the Christie Trust Radiation Protection and Medical Exposures Committee

6. Teaching and Training

6.1. Lectures on all aspects of nuclear medicine and radiation protection to other staff groups, such as specialist registrars, nurses and clinical technologists

6.2. Supervises staff in training, including clinical scientists on training grades and clinical technologists

7. Professional

7.1. Maintains state registration as a Clinical Scientist.

7.2. Participates in a continuous professional development programme.

7.3. Keeps abreast of new techniques, technological developments and legislative changes.

7.4 Demonstrates the agreed set of values and accountable for own attitude and behaviour

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• 1st or 2nd class Honours degree in Physics or a related subject
• Qualified to PhD level and/or equivalent experience
• State-registered clinical scientist

Desirable

• Accredited RPA, as defined under IRR17, and certificated RWA as defined in EPR

Experience

Essential

• Substantial experience in providing scientific support to Nuclear Medicine at Band 8b (or equivalent) or above
• Extensive experience in Diagnostic Nuclear Medicine, well above that required for classification as a Medical Physics Expert under IRMER
• Extensive experience of Unsealed Source therapy
• Record of publication and presentation of own research or development work

Desirable

• Project management
• Service management

Skills

Essential

• Able to motivate self and others
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Excellent organisational skills
• Ability to work productively and communicate effectively with colleagues at all levels of the organisation and with patients and their relatives and carers

Values

Essential

• Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours

Other

Essential

• Must be able to drive to sites occasionally

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).

Employer details

Employer name

The Christie NHS FT

Address

CMPE Nuclear Medicine Services - D00036

Manchester

M20 4BX

Employer's website

https://www.christie.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)