About this role
Job summary We have an exciting opportunity to join our friendly, forward-thinking Radiotherapy Physics department in a key role at theNorth Middlesex Hospital sitein North London.You will be a Senior Radiotherapy Physicist at Band 8A, responsible for the safedelivery and development of Radiotherapy. You will be involved in all aspects of the service, with a specific focus on machine dosimetry & QC, deputising for the principal physicist leading that section. You will act as a Medical Physics Expert under IR(ME)R, providing expert advice to the Radiotherapy department and tomembers of the Radiotherapy Physics team. The department provides a comprehensive physics service to support the delivery of radiotherapy treatment atNorth Middlesex Hospital. This includes all treatment planning, machine quality assurance and the provision of molecular radiotherapy. The department consists of 10 clinical scientists, including this post, 6 dosimetrists and 6 engineering and technical staff. The Radiotherapy department has a mix of Varian TrueBeam and Halcyon Linacs and an XStrahl superficial unit. Varian Eclipse is used for all treatment planning activities, and we have ongoing projects to implement and expand knowledge based planning, AI auto-contouring, scripting and automation, and lots more besides.
Main duties of the job
The senior physicist's role is to ensure the safe delivery of the Radiotherapy Physics Service at North Middlesex University Hospital, assisting the Head of the service as well as other designated Medical Physics Experts (MPE) in their various areas of responsibility.
The role is autonomous and the post-holder is expected to carry out their duties without supervision.
The senior physicist will have MPE responsibility in the safe delivery and development of the following areas:
Treatment Planning
Quality Assurance
Molecular Radiotherapy
About us
North Mid is part of North Central London integrated care system - consisting of the NHS and Local authority organisations in Camden, Islington, Barnet, Enfield and Haringey. As with other ICS's, we are working increasingly closely with partners and indeed many of our financial and performance objectives are measured at this system level. Whilst all organisations remain as standalone, statutory bodies we have an ICS infrastructure for making shared decisions and agreeing shared approaches.
We are proud of our staff and want to ensure their training allows them to provide excellent clinical care. We are also a training unit for medical students from UCL and St George's University Grenada, and for nursing and midwifery students from Middlesex and City Universities.
Take a tour of our hospitalhere
Job description Job responsibilities
Clinical Scientific
Treatment Planning
1.1. Assist the Treatment Planning Lead Physicist and provide MPE advice where needed to ensure safe delivery of service.
1.2. Produce routine and complex treatment plans for external beam radiotherapy. Use computerised planning systems to design and customise treatment plans. Analyse requirements and make complex judgements regarding treatment parameters and patient dose effects to produce the required dose distribution over the treatment volume. Take responsibility for the accurate production of individualised treatment plans and associated dosimetry calculations.
1.3. Advise clinical staff on the effects of various treatment plan options on patient dose distributions. Discuss and agree approaches with clinical staff to create optimum treatment plans and advise on aspects of the treatment and patient set-up, as required.
1.4. Check and approve routine and complex treatment plans, dose calculations and templates produced by other members of staff.
1.5. Re-plan patient treatments where required, following a treatment error or changes in patient shape. Use judgement to analyse and determine the most appropriate compensation method. Calculate the compensation required and subsequent patient dose. Carry out manual dose calculations.
Quality Assurance
1.6. Assist the Quality Control and Dosimetry Lead Physicist, providing MPE advice where needed to ensure safe delivery of service.
1.7. Take responsibility for the development of the annual quality assurance programme including liaison with maintenance contract suppliers; radiotherapy physics engineers and radiotherapy.
1.8. Take responsibility for physics dosimetry and quality control in radiotherapy, according to established protocols. Undertake dosimetry measurements to a high degree of accuracy with suitable equipment. Perform quality control and other measurements and procedures on highly-complex patient-critical equipment.
1.9. Take responsibility for the revision of protocols and dosimetry techniques. Develop and revise working practices in accordance with national guidelines and codes of practice. Ensure the accurate calibration of all dosimetry equipment and Radiotherapy treatment machines is maintained.
Molecular Radiotherapy
1.10. Take responsibility for administration of radioisotopes for therapeutic use. Explain procedures to patients and liaise with other groups such as ward staff as required. Assist with resolving problems with the procedure, including those arising with the patient present.
1.11. Ensure all equipment used in the monitoring of patients, environment and source activity maintain a valid calibration.
1.12. Ensure all procedures undertaken comply with relevant radiation protection regulations, including waste and sealed sources management.
General
1.13. Provide support to physics computing in radiotherapy. Write software to the requirements of the department and adapt existing software packages as required. Monitor and resolve problems on computing systems in radiotherapy and radiotherapy physics.
1.14. Participate in acceptance testing and commissioning of new equipment as appropriate.
1.15. Provide scientific and technical advice to radiotherapy consultants and other clinical staff regarding patients treatment.
1.16. Develop clinical and clinical scientific procedures and protocols under the Departments Quality System. Consult with Radiotherapy where changes impact on their systems. Take part in working parties to agree changes to protocols affecting both Pre-treatment and Treatment sections.
1.17. Act as liaison contact for identified radiotherapy equipment. Oversee work carried out on this equipment and give physics advice and direction as required. Investigate and resolve complex problems on complex, patient-critical radiotherapy and associated equipment.
1.18. Act as a Medical Physics Expert in Radiotherapy Physics in accordance with the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations, exercising professional judgement within their scope of practice.
1.19. Act as an operator under the definitions of the IR(ME)R regulations in accordance with Trust Policies and Practices.
1.20. Implement legislation in radiation protection. The post holder is required to be up to date with current legal requirements, will analyse current practice against these requirements and make recommendations regarding alterations to practice and procedures.
2. Managerial
2.1. Prioritise and manage own work to meet agreed outcomes.
2.2. Keep careful records of all work performed and complete other appropriate records.
2.3. Supervise the professional work of other junior staff groups working in areas or on projects being managed by the post holder.
2.4. Perform regular 1-to-1 review meetings with junior staff.
3. Teaching, training and research
3.1. Provide practical training to physicists, medics and radiographers in Treatment Planning, QC & Dosimetry, and in Molecular Therapy.
3.2. Assist with training other staff, as required (e.g. radiation protection advice to nursing staff on wards with molecular radiotherapy in-patients)
3.3. Supervise trainee clinical scientists on placement.
3.4. Assess and approve staff competencies within specified areas of work.
3.5. Present original work at meetings and conferences, and in publication. Present seminars and feedback on meetings.
3.6. Instigate and participate in Research and Development projects and clinical audit. Develop and improve equipment and techniques for radiation therapy.
4. Professional
4.1. Participate in an approved Continuing Professional Development scheme and maintain HCPC registration.
4.2. Keep abreast of the latest technical and scientific developments and their applications in medical and associated fields. Attend suitable seminars and courses as part of training and personal development and to further the work of the department.
4.3. Ensure all activities are carried out within a quality framework and conform to Statutory Regulations, approved Codes of Practice and Local Safety Rules.
5. Miscellaneous
5.1. Ensure compliance with accredited Quality Systems in the areas of work for which the post holder carries responsibility. Participate in the development and routine operation of quality systems.
5.2. Carry out all duties in accordance with the requirements of the Health & Safety at Work Act, relevant Statutory Regulations, Approved Codes of Conduct and Local Rules.
5.3. Work hours necessary for the proper and efficient performance of the work. In practice, the appointee will occasionally be required to perform duties outside the normal working hours of the department.
5.4. When working in other departments, the postholder will liaise with local heads of department, medical consultants, superintendents, nursing sisters or their representatives as appropriate, adhering to local policies and practices. The post holder will behave courteously and professionally at all times and seek to ensure that the highest level of service is provided by Radiotherapy Physics.
5.5. Perform other appropriate duties which may be required from time to time by the Head of Service, Radiotherapy Physics.
Person Specification
Education and Qulaifications Essential
(1st or 2nd class) Honours degree in a physical science or equivalent. Relevant Masters degree or equivalent HCPC registered Clinical Scientist Medical Physics Expert certificate (RPA2000). Or able to achieve within 12 months of appointment (evidence will be required at interview)
Desirable
Member of the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (or equivalent)
Skills and Abilities Essential
Able to communicate complex, technical material to colleagues and other professionals Able to organise own workload Exhibits a keen interest in research and development Good interpersonal and negotiation skills
Desirable
Ability to develop software for datamining and dataanalysis. Able to use packages such as MatLAB Able to lift medium/heavy weights (eg QA equipment)
Experience Essential
Several years relevant experience in Radiotherapy Physics Several years relevant experience of Radiotherapy Dosimetry and QA Several years relevant experience of Radiotherapy Treatment Planning Knowledge of appropriate legislation [eg IRR, IR(ME)R, BSI and ISO standards, professional and regulatory body reports and guidelines]
Desirable
Relevant experience in radioisotope therapies Experience working with Varian hardware and software
Personal qualities and values Essential
Ability to work as one of a team. Exhibits personal initiative and responsibility Demonstrable ability to meet Trust values
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 Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
Address North Middlesex University Hospital
Sterling Way
London
N18 1QX
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.royalfreelondonjobs.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)