Clinical Scientist (Protons)

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust; Manchester; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester is seeking a Clinical Scientist specializing in proton treatment planning. The role involves ensuring compliance with regulations, contributing to treatment planning systems, and supervising the development of high-quality treatment plans. The ideal candidate will have a BSc in Physics and demonstrable experience in radiotherapy physics, with opportunities for continuous professional development and research involvement. This position is full-time and requires flexible working hours.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities

Support for continuing professional development

Collaborative work environment

Qualifications

• Excellent knowledge of radiotherapy physics.
• Ability to manage time effectively and work independently.
• Strong analytical skills for complex treatment planning.

Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with UK legislation for radiotherapy.
• Contribute to treatment planning software improvements.
• Evaluate patient imaging for treatment planning.
• Supervise trainee clinical scientists.

Skills

Multi-disciplinary team working

Use of radiation monitoring and scanning equipment

Clear communication of scientific concepts

Data analysis

Education

BSc in Physics

MSc in Medical Physics

Dip IPEM or equivalent experience

HCPC registration as a clinical scientist

Job description

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. General

1.1. Ensure all work complies with current UK legislation for work with ionising radiation (IRR 2017, IRMER 2017) and the Trust's ISO 9001-2015-compliant quality management system for provision of radiotherapy.

1.2. The post holder will be expected to prioritise and manage their own work on a day-to-day basis.

1.3. The post holder must participate in an agreed scheme of continuing professional development (CPD).

1.4. The post holder will be expected to work towards MPE accreditation and will be supported in doing so.

1.5. The place of work is normally The Christie, Withington, but the post holder may be required to carry out work at other hospitals with a radiotherapy service.

1.6. The post is full-time. Hours are worked flexibly, in agreement with the line manager, to provide round the clock services where necessary to cover the normal range of clinical duties.

2. Proton Treatment Planning

2.1. Contribute to the scientific management of the clinical treatment planning system.

2.2. Develop and implement treatment planning software for improved efficiency of treatment planning.

2.3. Ensure that the treatment planning data and calculation methods are accurate and the limitations understood and documented.

2.4. Participate in maintaining the provision of a proton beam treatment planning service to the radiotherapy department to ensure the accuracy of treatment plans and compliance with clinical requirements.

2.5. Provide advice on radiotherapy physics-related issues to clinical oncologists and radiographers, contributing to the effective work of the multidisciplinary team, in relation to both current practice and technique development.

2.6. Operate on a rota with other physicists to resolve problems arising with clinical treatment plans, including problems where the post holder may inspect and advise on patient set-up on treatment units.

2.7. Operate on a rota with other physicists to perform clinical proton planning room duties.

2.8. Evaluate the suitability of patient imaging, immobilisation and localisation information in preparation for treatment planning.

2.9. Produce highly complex radiotherapy treatment plans, based on the evaluation of anatomical and clinical information using a highly complex treatment planning system.

2.10. Critically analyse and independently check routine and highly complex treatment plans for transfer to treatment units.

2.11. Participate in managing the implementation of new processes and techniques including the generation of work instructions for inclusion in the quality system.

2.12. Update radiotherapy physics aspects of clinical procedures required by the ionising radiations medical exposures regulations (IRMER).

3. Proton Dosimetry and Quality Control

3.1. Maintain, develop and implement procedures for quality assurance of proton treatment units and other radiotherapy machines within the ISO 9K2K quality system, analysing current practice against recommendations of professional bodies and proposing changes to practice and procedures.

3.2. Participate in routine dosimetry and quality control programme for highly complex radiotherapy equipment, including proton treatment units, to ensure all such equipment is fit for clinical use.

3.3. Operate on a rota with other physicists responding via a bleep system to issues relating to the dosimetric performance of radiotherapy equipment raised by radiographer and engineering staff, providing scientific advice or performing measurements as appropriate.

3.4. Investigate and resolve technical and dosimetric problems highlighted through on-going quality control measurements and reported equipment faults, analysing oral and written information along with measurements in order to provide advice or identify any remedial action.

3.5. Perform acceptance testing and commissioning measurements for proton treatment units and other radiotherapy equipment, allocating tasks and supervising physicists collecting the data required to provide accurate models of radiation treatment beams necessary to ensure efficient and safe implementation into clinical service.

4. Proton Imaging and Verification

4.1. Participate in the introduction of new imaging equipment and techniques.

4.2. Work closely with the radiotherapy department to give scientific advice on imaging protocols to ensure effective use of imaging equipment.

4.3. Maintain and develop systems for quality assurance of imaging devices, within the 9K2K framework to ensure equipment is fit for clinical use. Investigate and resolve technical and image quality problems highlighted through quality control tests.

4.4. Perform, and develop new techniques for, the verification of proton therapy treatment plans.

4.5. Provide scientific support for the Proton treatment unit record and verify system.

5. Teaching and Training

5.1. Supervise trainee clinical scientists within the radiotherapy physics group (Protons).

5.2. Lecture and train postgraduate scientists, radiographers, specialist registrars and others and assist in the organisation of the department's teaching programmes.

6. Research and development

6.1. Participate in development of the proton therapy service at The Christie.

6.2. Assist M.Sc. students with project work.

6.3. Present work at local/national meetings.

6.4. Publish research in internationally recognised peer reviewed research journals.

Note

This job description indicates the duties and responsibilities that are appropriate to meet the present needs of the service. Since from time to time these needs may change it is necessary to recognise that the post holder must be willing to undertake other and/or different duties that may, after discussion, be assigned by the Director.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• BSc in Physics
• MSc in Medical Physics
• Dip IPEM (or equivalent experience)
• HCPC registration as a clinical scientist through ACS Certificate of Attainment or equivalent experience

Desirable criteria

• PhD or equivalent evidence of research training
• Corporate membership of IPEM or other equivalent professional bodies

Experience

Essential criteria

• Photon or Proton treatment planning/dosimetry experience

Desirable criteria

• Proton treatment planning / dosimetry experience
• Planning/implementation of new developments
• Research experience
• On-going MPE portfolio

Skills

Essential criteria

• Multi-disciplinary team working
• Use of radiation monitoring and scanning equipment, precise working
• Use of treatment planning software
• Scientific report writing/track record of dissemination/publication of scientific work in journals and conferences
• Data analysis including use of Excel (or similar packages)
• Clear and articulate communicator of complex scientific concepts

Desirable criteria

• Research skills

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Extensive knowledge of radiotherapy physics
• Extensive knowledge of relevant legislation, national standards, professional guidelines (e.g., IRR'17, IRMER 2017, ISO:9001:2015)
• Understanding of the clinical role of radiotherapy
• Understanding of the hazards posed by the clinical use of radiation
• Understanding of risk assessment

Desirable criteria

• Knowledge of one or more computer programming languages (e.g., Python, C#)

VALUES

Essential criteria

• Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours

OTHER

Essential criteria

• Willing to participate in a shift rota including working unsocial hours

The closing date for this post may be extended if there are insufficient applicants or brought forward if there is a high volume of applicants.

We want to ensure that everyone who works at the Christie or uses our services is welcomed, valued and treated with dignity and respect. The Christie values diversity and is committed to ensuring equal opportunities for all and fair representation across the organisation at all levels. In support of these commitments, we particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and other ethnic minority people and people with disabilities for this post. Appointment will be only on merit.

We are committed to creating a balanced and diverse workforce. As such we welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. Together we will foster inclusion and tackle inequity and health inequalities in cancer care.

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy

All positions within the Christie are subject to the receipt of satisfactory written references, medical clearance and evidence of your Right to Work in the UK. Some roles will require a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check. Please note if you are successfully appointed to a post with this Trust, you will be required to pay for your own DBS Disclosure.

By applying for this post you are agreeing to The Christie NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system. Please note, all communication regarding your application will be made via email, please ensure you check your junk/spam folders as emails are sometimes filtered there.

If you have not heard from us within four weeks of the closing date, I regret that on this occasion your application will have been unsuccessful.

The Inter-Authority Transfer (IAT) process is a critical and beneficial component of ESR and will form part of the recruitment process. In the event that you are successful following interview your previous NHS employment data, if applicable will be transferred from your current / most recent employer.

Overseas candidates wishing to apply for this position and who would require immigration sponsorship, may wish to self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship for the post on the UKVI website.

You should be aware the Trust operates a No Smoking Policy and therefore employees are not permitted to smoke at work.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Documents to download

• Job Description & Person Specification (PDF, 203.9KB)
• The Christie Values and Behaviours (PDF, 919.5KB)
• Strategy Brochure (PDF, 1.0MB)
• Travel to The Christie (PDF, 3.8MB)