Clinical Scientist in Nuclear Medicine

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical & Scientific

Participate in the provision of quality assurance for highly complex nuclear medicine equipment (e.g. gamma cameras,radionuclide calibrators, sample counters, sentinel node probe systems) to ensure their safe use by other members of staff.

Participate in the scientific development of the Nuclear Medicine service.

Carry out radiation risk assessments and carry out administration of therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals to inpatients and outpatients.

Take responsibility for the release of radioactive inpatients and the hand-over of the treatment room for routine clinical use after decontamination.

Provide radiation protection advice to hospital staff, community care staff, patients and family members.

Ensure the consistency and quality of diagnostic test results by developing and improving computer based data analysis methods.

Use highly complex image processing software to reconstruct planar images and to generate quantitative data from a range of diagnostic scans.

Provide scientific support to departments using radioactive substances across BCUHB.

Act as a trained Operator under the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017

Write and develop Standard Operating Procedures for the Nuclear Medicine service.

Investigate complaints, errors and deviations, including root cause analysis, determination and implementation of corrective and preventative actions.

Check image data for radionuclide bone imaging investigations, requesting further nuclear medicine imaging if necessary.

Dispense and prepare radioactive substances for equipment quality control purposes.

Prepare and present scientific and technical information at scientific and multidisciplinary meetings and conferences.

Transport radioactive materials between hospital sites in accordance with Carriage of Dangerous Goods Regulations.

Assist and provide advice in case of a radiation incident or emergency.

Planning and Design

Prioritise and manage own work.

Work independently within occupational guidelines, making decisions within the scope of competence, deciding when it is necessary to refer to their senior colleagues and/or manager

Improvement and Monitoring

Participate in, and initiate developments to, the service in response to legislative and regulatory changes, evolving consensus of good practice and the availability of new diagnostic tests and treatments.

Communications

The post holder will give complex information on radiation physics and risks to staff and patients where tact will be required and understanding often limited.

Work closely with senior medical staff (Consultant Radiologists, Physicians, Cardiologists), scientific staff and technical staff.

Discuss clinical results and results from testing of complex equipment with relevant staff who have a range of knowledge.

Management, Leadership and/or Training

Continue personal development through further study, projects, participation in scientific meetings etc.

Be aware of, and work in accordance with, documented procedures and safety instructions bringing any perceived deficiencies or improvements to the notice of the Head of Radioisotope Physics

Providing training on radiation protection issues, use of specialist equipment etc.

Provide supervision for trainees when required.

Research and Development

Collaborate in programmes of research and development commensurate with the achievement of clinical objectives.

Interpret legislation and national professional guidelines for this specialist area.

Undertake research projects and present the results of complex scientific research to large groups and produce scientific papers for wide dissemination.

Translate the results of research findings into service improvements

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• BSc (Hons) in a Physical Science (upper second or first class)
• MSc Medical Physics
• Registered Nuclear Medicine Clinical Scientist with HCPC (or registration pending following completion of training scheme)

Desirable

• PhD in a relevant subject
• Chartered Scientist (C.Sci)

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Knowledge of guidelines and legislation relevant to delivery of a nuclear medicine service
• Nuclear medicine equipment QC and management
• Liaising with patients, relatives and other healthcare professionals
• Safe handling, storage, accumulation, transport and disposal of radioactive materials

Desirable

• Experience of teaching and training
• Scientific publications
• Participation in national or international professional groups
• Computer programming knowledge

Skills

Essential

• Adhere to and can demonstrate BCUHB Values & Behaviours
• Good analytical skills for scientific research and development
• Excellent scientific report writing skills, communication and organisational skills

Desirable

• Welsh Language Skills

Other

Essential

• Good time-keeping and ability to work flexibly
• Be able to work independently and as part of a team
• A good communicator and an ability to obtain co-operation of staff and patients
• Ability to work under pressure
• physical dexterity to draw up radiopharmaceuticals accurately and to fill radioactive test phantoms
• Can travel between sites in North Wales in a timely manner, on occasions transporting heavy test objects.

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

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board

Address

Glan Clwyd Hospital

Bodelwyddan

LL18 5UJ

Employer's website

https://bcuhb.nhs.wales/train-work-live/ (Opens in a new tab)