Clinical Scientist in Radiotherapy Physics

Job summary
There is an opportunity for an enthusiastic Clinical Scientist to join the radiotherapy physics team at the Arden Centre Coventry. The successful candidate will have an opportunity to work in all major areas within the department.

The Arden Centre is equipped with five Elekta linacs, an orthovoltage treatment machine and Elekta HDR brachytherapy after loader. We have a modern portfolio of techniques including a growing SABR service.

The Radiotherapy Physics department has active research collaborations with the University of Warwick and Coventry University with which the post holder will be encouraged to participate. We are an accredited training department at all levels of medical physics including HSST.

Applicants should be a registered Clinical Scientist or be about to complete training as a Clinical Scientist. We are open to the discussion of part time, flexi-time and limited working from home arrangements.

The Centre is located on the University Hospital site at Walsgrave which is on the edge of historic Coventry with convenient transport to the City and easy access to rural Warwickshire, the M6 and the M69 motorways.

Successful applicants will be required to provide an immunisation and vaccination report, from either their current UK occupational health provider or their UK GP.

Main duties of the job
To provide Scientific Expertise for patients undergoing cancer treatment.

When required by the Radiotherapy Physics Rota, to provide Clinical Technical Services in the provision of Treatment Planning, Mould Room, Brachytherapy and Machine Quality Control in Radiotherapy.

About us
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, rated as good by the Care Quality Commission, is one of the largest teaching Trusts in the UK.

We are extremely proud of our employees across our hospital sites, with high quality patient care at the heart of everything we do.

Boasting some of the most modern facilities in Western Europe, the Trust is renowned for being at the forefront of research and innovation as part of its blossoming reputation as a worldwide leader in healthcare.

We are proud to be recognised as a Pathway to Excellence designated organisation - please click the link for further details about this prestigious award. Pathway To Excellence - University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire (uhcw.nhs.uk)

By joining our exciting journey, you will form part of a passionate, talented team and will be able to access a wide range of learning and development opportunities. There has never been a better time to join our team.

The Trust is committed to building an organisation that makes full use of the talents, skills, experience, and different perspectives available in our diverse society. We want everyone to feel they are respected, valued, can achieve their potential and receive the most appropriate and relevant care. We will create an environment where the equality and human rights principles of fairness, respect, equality, dignity and autonomy are promoted and are part of the organisation's core values.

Job responsibilities

• To provide scientific expertise in all aspects of Radiotherapy Physics.
• Duty Physicist: When required by the Rota to act as the first response source of specialist scientific advice in all aspects of Radiotherapy Physics.
• Treatment Planning: To check dose predictions and identify both errors and whether the treatment plan achieves the clinical objectives as far as practicable.
• Brachytherapy: To undertake treatment planning and to check the calculation of treatment machine settings.
• Treatment machine quality control: To carry out quality control checks, calibration and equipment tests on highly complex radiotherapy equipment.
• Dosimetry: To undertake all routine dose measurements including patient specific doses and machine calibration doses.
• Research and development: To initiate, supervise and carry out research and development in Radiotherapy Physics.
• To develop expertise towards the achievement of HCPC registration and Medical Physics Expert status (if not already achieved).

For further details of the role please see the attached job description.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Relevant Science Degree plus Relevant MSc and IPEM Diploma; or PhD plus State Registration or equivalent1 of these equivalence must be to the satisfaction of assessor

Experience
Essential

• Experience in a similar post or relevant research.

Knowledge
Essential

• Specialist knowledge and understanding of a broad range of the principles and practice of Radiotherapy Physics

Desirable

• Basic knowledge and understanding of a broad range of the principles and practice of Medical Physics.
• Basic knowledge of practice in other hospital departments.

Skills and Abilities
Essential

• Able to operate radiotherapy treatment and dosimetry equipment safely.
• Able to determine the exact cause of subtle or non-reproducible anomalies in test results.
• Able to propose and manage the introduction of new services and new pieces of equipment
• Able to communicate complex technical information to a variety of non-specialist staff.
• Able to carry out measurements on a radiotherapy treatment machine.
• Able to analyse data by creating or modifying spreadsheets and databases.
• Able to prepare and deliver presentations using PowerPoint or equivalent.

Desirable

• Able to present scientific papers to large groups.
• Able to write complex computer programs in a high level language (e.g. Python or C++)

Commitment to Trust Values and Behaviours
Essential

• Must be able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Trust's values. (As detailed in UHCW's Values in Action document below)
• Applicants applying for job roles with managerial responsibility will be required to demonstrate evidence of promoting equal opportunities through work experience

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).

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).

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).