Clinical Scientist - Radiotherapy Physics

East And North Hertfordshire Nhs Trust; Tankerton; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

High Cost Area Supplement 15%

Job summary

East and North Hertfordshire Nhs Trust is seeking a Clinical Scientist in Radiotherapy Physics for Mount Vernon Cancer Centre. The role supports treatment planning, dosimetry, and QA across LDR/HDR brachytherapy and external beam radiotherapy, in a multidisciplinary team dedicated to patient-centred care.

The post involves leading complex planning activities, research/ developments as required by the Head of Radiotherapy Physics, and may include STP/Route 2 progression.

Qualifications

• Honours degree in physics or engineering with relevant radiotherapy training.
• Registration as Clinical Scientist or equivalent, with radiotherapy physics experience.
• Experience in planning and QA for radiotherapy methods.

Responsibilities

• Undertake routine and complex treatment planning for external beam radiotherapy.
• Provide routine physics support to brachytherapy treatments.
• Act as duty Physicist and support R&D initiatives as directed.

Skills

Communication skills

Independent judgement

3D treatment planning

Programming (MATLAB/Python)

Teamwork

Education

Honours degree in physics or engineering

Formal radiotherapy physics training (STP/Route 2)

Registration as Clinical Scientist or equivalent

Tools

MATLAB

ESAPI

Python

Job description

Job overview

We are recruiting for a Clinical Scientist Radiotherapy Physics who shares our vision to be trusted to provide consistently outstanding care and exemplary service to our patients.

Due to promotion, we have a vacancy in our Radiotherapy Physics team at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre. You will be joining an enthusiastic, dedicated and friendly team from both radiographic and physics backgrounds who create a dynamic, vibrant working environment that focuses on patient-centred care.

The multi-professional team constantly strive to improve patient treatments through the application of cutting-edge techniques and the latest radiotherapy technology.

The department has recently started treating adaptive patients on Ethos and are a Varian reference site for brachytherapy.

The treatment planning team utilise AI and script automation technology to ensure radiotherapy patients receive optimal, high quality treatment plans with minimal delays to their cancer treatment pathways.

At the heart of everything we do are our core values: Include, Respect, and Improve. We encourage you to embrace these values throughout the recruitment process and in your role with us.

Main duties of the job

Our internationally recognised Brachytherapy department undertakes a range of treatments using both LDR and HDR techniques.

In Dosimetry and QA, you will work with an extensive library of modern dosimetry equipment and detector technology. Modern trend analysis through QATrack has recently been implemented and Per Fraction secondary MU check is being rolled out.

This post is suitable for candidates who are due to complete STP/Route 2 within 6 months. Applicants who have not yet completed their training may be considered for appointment via annex 21.

You will provide support to all aspects of the work of Radiotherapy Physics (acting as duty Physicist), and in areas of research and development, which may be designated from time to time by the Head of Radiotherapy Physics

You will work over a range of areas in Radiotherapy Physics - treatment planning, undertake routine and complex treatment planning for external beam radiotherapy.

Check routine treatment plans produced by other staff, analysing options and appraising whether plans are clinically acceptable.

Assist with the provision of routine physics support to brachytherapy treatments.

Assist with the provision of routine physics support to stereotactic physics service, including treatment planning and machine QA.

Assist with providing routine support for physics dosimetry and quality control in radiotherapy, according to established protocols.

Working for our organisation

At East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust, we are proud of the range of general and specialist services we provide and our 6,000 or so dedicated staff ensure our patients get the best care. Our ability to be flexible and innovative in the way in which we work and deliver our services to our catchment has never been more important than it is now.

We run the following hospitals:

• The Lister Hospital, Stevenage
• New Queen Elizabeth II (New QEII), Welwyn Garden City
• Hertford County, Hertford
• Mount Vernon Cancer Centre (MVCC), Northwood

We have ambitious plans to become an outstanding, patient‑led Trust where dedicated staff provide high‑quality, compassionate care to our patients. We continue to undergo significant transformation and our staff and patients are at the heart of delivering this ambitious agenda.

We are committed to a positive work life balance for our employees. This means that any employee is entitled to seek to work flexible working patterns and we are committed to listen and consider all requests. Such requests, of course, have to be made and considered formally, and will need to be balanced against service needs, but our starting point will always be to find ways to support making them happen.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification applicant pack for further detailed information regarding this role.

ENHT is seeking to maintain and expand the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre staff as we move to an exciting new future.

We welcome applications from those who would relish the opportunity to be part of new and developing cancer service, building on the excellent reputation, research and patient experience the Cancer Centre already delivers.

In addition, you will receive a High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of basic salary, subject to a minimum payment of £4,314 and a maximum payment of £5,436

Person specification

Qualifications / Training

Essential criteria

• Good (1st or 2:1) Honours degree in a relevant subject (physics or engineering)
• Completion of a formal period of training within radiotherapy physics (eg Scientist Training Program or Route 2)
• Registration as a Clinical Scientist or equivalent international qualification

Previous Experience

Essential criteria

• Experience working within a radiotherapy physics environment
• Specialist training and practical experience on linear accelerators, treatment planning systems and dosimetry
• Training in either stereotactic physics or brachytherapy

Skills

Essential criteria

• Able to communicate complex information to individuals e.g. postgraduate level physics to other professional groups.
• Ability to use own judgement involving complex facts that require analysis, interpretation and comparison of a range of options as, for example, in analysing the results of scientific measurements or processes, which may conflict, and deciding upon an appropriate course of action.
• Ablity to create spreadsheets, electronic documents and individual 3D computerised patient treatment plans for radiotherapy
• Highly developed physical accuracy and dexterity in order to be able to manipulate equipment, for example, in setting up and using delicate instruments to make precise measurements to detect and calibrate radiation doses within “phantom” patients; to load milimetric, radioactive iodine-125 seeds in theatre. The post holder is also required to use 3D visualisation skills in treatment planning.
• Able to act independently, without supervision, within professional guidelines, but can refer to his manager where necessary. The individual’s manager assesses work at intervals
• Able to concentrate where the work pattern is unpredictable, for example when working as duty physicist, or performing complex calculations. Occasionally, there will be a requirement for prolonged concentration
• Teamwork
• Presentation of material to groups of staff
• Relevant use of computer programing skills (eg MATLAB, ESAPI, Python)

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Specialist theoretical knowledge of the range of work procedures of radiotherapy physics at least to Masters level with associated practical experience
• Knowledge of patient and machine dosimetry in radiotherapy (external beam and brachytherapy)
• Understanding of patient and staff risks arising from treatment planning computer system errors, equipment failure, treatment errors and incorrect dosimetry.
• Broad knowledge of radiotherapy techniques and clinical applications
• Understanding of relevant legislation, national standards, professional and other guidelines (eg IRR, IRMER, ISO 9001, BSI and ISO standards, professional and regulatory body reports and guidelines.)
• Knowledge and understanding of patient and staff risks arising from use of ionising radiation with unsealed radionuclides, including equipment failure, procedural defects and human error.

Desirable criteria

• Knowledge of imaging and therapy techniques and procedures used in nuclear medicine

Other Requirements

Essential criteria

• Understanding of, and commitment to, equality, diversity and inclusion
• Role model our Trust values every day
• Able to work with radiotherapy equipment and to manoeuvre associated physics equipment
• The post holder works in an environment of cancer patients, and may have to interact with them (for example, in performing measurements on a patient undergoing radiotherapy; loading of radioactive seeds in theatre). Therefore there may be occasional exposure to distressing circumstances and also exposure to bodily fluids.
• The post holder must be prepared to work in an environment where there is a radiation hazard, and so must understand the hazards posed by ionising radiation and sources of high voltage
• Must be prepared to work shifts between 7am and 9pm if required (regular shifts are between 8am and 8pm with options for 9 day fortnight, usually 1 late shift per 2 week period). Occasional weekend or bank holiday working (usually no more than 1 per year) may be requested