About this role
Job summary
The postholder will be a Clinical Scientist within Medical Physics, responsible for providing scientific, technical, and professional expertise to support the safe commissioning, implementation, and ongoing clinical use of Elekta ProKnow across radiotherapy services in Wales. Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, the role will contribute to the national programme to standardise radiotherapy data management through a cloud-based platform designed to improve quality, safety, and service consistency.
The postholder will contribute to the continuous improvement of radiotherapy services in Wales by enabling consistent practice, supporting national audit, and promoting evidence-based use of ProKnow to enhance patient care and treatment quality.
This post is fixed term / secondment for 12 months. If you are interested in applying for the secondment position, you must obtain permission from your current line manager prior to applying for this post.PLEASE NOTE Applicants will need to get permission from their line manager before submitting their interest, a release form to be included with your application form can be downloaded here. (This form is for the staff member and line manager to complete and return to you)
Main duties of the job
The post holder will work under the direction of a section manager and / or Medical Physics Expert to perform the full range of routine, implementation and development work associated with providing radiotherapy physics services to the cancer centre
Medical Physics provides all the background scientific and technical data, advice and expertise to the radiotherapy and physics departments for the treatment machines, CT simulators, computer systems and specialized devices. This is fundamental for patient doses to be prescribed and given correctly, the safe operation of equipment and staff protection from X-Rays. It includes specifications for the equipment, their calibration and QA, repair & maintenance, data networking and computer control, and individualized patient dose computations.
The post holder will work as a registered clinical scientist working approximately 0.6WTE on the set up and support of the All Wales Elekta Proknow project. Approximately 0.2WTE will be in the treatment planning section. 0.1WTE is on general quality assurance across other sections and checking duties and 0.1WTE is assigned to personal development and research and development outside of any allocated work making up part of the work plan.
About us
Here at Velindre University NHS Trust we are extremely proud of the specialist services we provide across the whole of Wales in our cutting-edge Velindre Cancer Centre and ouraward-winning Welsh Blood Service, as well as the expertise of our corporate functions that bring the two divisions together. We are also fortunate to host the NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership and Health Technology Wales and have developed strong partnership working with these expert services.
Formed in 1999, the Trust has a dedicated workforce that continuously strives to provide the key principles of prudent healthcare through a wide array of roles. We play a vital role in the communities we support and have ambitious plans for the future to continue to improve the services we deliver. We strive to maintain our core values in everything we do by being; accountable, bold, caring and dynamic, and ensuring the best possible care for our patients and donors.
If you want to work for an organisation that prides itself on making a real difference and offers exciting career opportunities then Velindre University NHS Trust is the place for you.
Visit our website to find out more https://velindre.nhs.wales/
Job description Job responsibilities
You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click Apply now to view in Trac.
The Radiotherapy Service at Velindre Cancer Centre is undergoing significant transformation, which will continue for several years. Currently there are 7 linear accelerators (4 Varian and 3 Elekta) and an Elekta Flexitron for brachytherapy treatments. A replacement programme of all treatment devices, Oncology Information Systems and Treatment Planning Systems is underway; two Halcyon machines were installed in 2023 with another being installed in April 2024. A radiotherapy satellite centre is due to open in Abergavenny in 2025, with a new Velindre Cancer Centre due to open in 2026. Radiotherapy equipment at the new centre will include Varian BRAVOS brachytherapy, Varian Halcyon / Ethos machines, Varian Edge (SRS) and a dedicated research machine.
We have multiple Clinical Scientist posts available, which will be based at either Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff or the satellite centre in Abergavenny.
South East Wales is an attractive place to live and work with the benefits afforded by a capital city. Outside of the city there are coastal areas and the Bannau Brycheiniog national park within a half hour drive.
Person Specification
Qualifications and/or Knowledge Essential
MSc- Medical Physics, Computer Science or equivalent Completion of STP or completion of other routes to registration as a clinical scientist with the HCPC or close to achieving it
Desirable
PhD in Medical Physics Published papers in the field
Experience Essential
Experience in radiotherapy physics through training or in post.
Desirable
Use of Radiotherapy Treatment Machines, Treatment Planning Systems, and Radiation Physics Equipment. Awareness of protocols and pathways used in Radiotherapy R&D off one's own initiative.
Aptitude and Abilities Essential
Aptitude for maths calculations Able to develop the subject using peer acceptable procedures Good written documentation of projects and procedures Good communicator of difficult scientific issues to scientists and non-scientists with good verbal, written and audio-visual production & presentation skills Proven ability with computer s/w, and its modification, e.g. able to create complex scientific programs and spreadsheets Be able to demonstrate tact and diplomacy when working with others Evidence of undertaking presentation to groups
Desirable
Ability to speak Welsh Proven ability to develop the physics of RT Good at option appraisals of complex alternatives Good planning and organisation Use of dosemeters and their software Good 3D visualisation and precise positioning of dosimetry Advanced computer analysis, data manipulation and its display Use of Monte-Carlo radiation transport codes
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 Velindre Cancer Centre
Address Velindre Cancer Centre
Velindre Road
Cardiff
CF14 2TL
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://velindre.nhs.wales/velindrecc/ (Opens in a new tab)