Lead Radiopharmacy Clinical Scientist (Pharmaceutical Scientist)

NHS; Carlisle; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider seeks a Lead Radiopharmacy Clinical Scientist for North Cumbria. The role involves creating diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals and participating in the development of a new facility. Applicants need a relevant degree and clinical experience, with opportunities for training in radiopharmacy. Competitive salary and flexible working options are available.

Benefits

27-day holiday scheme

NHS discounts

Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• Registered Clinical Scientist or eligible within six months.
• Experience in radiopharmacy preferred but not mandatory.
• In-depth knowledge of Radiopharmacy-related legislation.

Responsibilities

• Manufacture Tc99m labelled diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals.
• Work as part of the Nuclear Medicine team.
• Provide training and mentoring to team members.

Skills

Specialist knowledge of injectable medicines

Communication skills

Ability to analyze problems

Training and mentoring skills

Education

Degree in appropriate subject

Post-graduate degree or equivalent

Job description

Overview

Lead Radiopharmacy Clinical Scientist (Pharmaceutical Scientist) – North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust. Closing date: 02 October 2025. Location: Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle; occasional work at West Cumberland Hospital, Whitehaven (approximately 40 miles away).

The Radiopharmacy located at the Cumberland Infirmary manufactures Tc99m labelled diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals as multi-dose vials supplied to both sites. The Radiopharmacy operates under and MHRA Manufacturers "Specials" Licence and sits within the Nuclear Medicine department. The team undertake both clinical nuclear medicine and radiopharmacy duties on a rotational basis.

This is an exciting time to join our department and service. The trust has recently approved a project to build a brand new radiopharmacy facility in Carlisle. This post will be heavily involved in this project and the shape of the radiopharmacy service in North Cumbria going forwards.

The nuclear medicine services in Carlisle and Whitehaven have undergone significant redevelopment with a refurbished department in Whitehaven and the installation of two new SPECT/CT cameras (one in Whitehaven and one in Carlisle). Both services undertake a wide range of imaging, non-imaging and out-patient therapy work.

Main duties of the job

We would expect you to have: specialist in-depth knowledge and understanding of the manufacture of injectable medicines as well as good knowledge of the associated legislation; good communication skills and a demonstrable ability to work as part of a team. The ideal candidate will have experience working within radiopharmacy, but applications are welcome from candidates with experience in other areas of aseptic manufacturing. Radiopharmacy specific training can be provided by the department.

The successful appointee will be an integral part of the local Nuclear Medicine team which includes clinical scientists, clinical technologists, nursing and administrative staff.

You should have a post graduate degree or equivalent qualification with significant clinical pharmaceutical scientist experience and be on or eligible to join the Register of Clinical Scientists with the HCPC within six months.

The banding is subject to band matching review.

If you would like to discuss this post further please contact:

Peter O\'Sullivan, head of Nuclear Medicine on 01228 814700, email: Peter.O\'[e-mail] or Lisa Welsh Chief Clinical Technologist for Carlisle on 01228 814701, [e-mail]

About us

At NCIC, we have an ambition to deliver outstanding healthcare services to the population of North Cumbria. The Trust is committed to creating a centre of excellence in providing rural and remote healthcare and provides a wide range of community and acute services throughout our county.

Our 5 key principles demonstrate our belief in the delivery of 'safe, high quality care every time':

• Being a clinically led organisation
• Quality and safety at the heart of our Trust
• A positive patient experience every time
• A great place to work
• Managing our money well

As an organisation we are serious about supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our local community and are very much focused on being an inclusive and compassionate place to work.

Across the North East and North Cumbria we are working together to deliver our ambition to be the greenest region in England by 2030. All staff are expected to support sustainability.

Job responsibilities

Please see attached job description and person specification for further information regarding the role and the essential and desirable criteria required to be met by applicants.

Please note, due to changes implemented by the Government to the UK immigration policy, individuals who require a Health and Care Visa or a Skilled Worker Visa may no longer be eligible for sponsorship where the UKVI salary threshold is not met or if the occupation is not included in the updated Immigration Salary List (ISL). Applicants must check their eligibility to be employed in any role they are interested in applying for, prior to completing an application for employment. Any applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be progressed.

If you are applying under the Disability Confident Scheme or Armed Forces Covenant and you meet all the essential criteria for a post, you will be guaranteed an interview

Relocation assistance may be available for successful applicants moving to the region for certain posts. Please see our policy for eligible vacancies

Please ensure that you document evidence of meeting all the essential criteria in the supporting information.

If sufficient response is received this post could be closed earlier than the specified closing date, please apply as soon as possible to ensure that your application is considered.

Candidates who have been successfully shortlisted for interview will be asked via an email notification to log on to their Trac account to select an interview time. This will usually be within 2 weeks of the closing date.

For candidates applying using a Hotmail account or have strict firewall settings please ensure the following:

• Junk Mail is checked regularly

Disclosure and Barring Service:

On 28 November 2020, the new Disclosure and Barring Service filtering rules will come into effect.

The changes mean that:

• youth cautions, reprimands and final warnings will no longer be subject to automatic disclosure
• the multiple conviction rule has been removed, meaning that if an individual has more than one conviction, regardless of offence type or time passed, each conviction will be considered against the remaining rules individually, rather than being automatically disclosed.

If you are unsure about whether you need to disclose certain criminal record information, free confidential advice may be sought from one of the charity bodies listed below. These bodies can advise you on what you are legally required to declare and may also be able to advise you on how you can disclose criminal record information to a prospective employer and your legal rights when doing so.

Unlock Tel: [phone], email [e-mail] or complete the online form on the Unlock website

The Trust is committed to safeguarding adults and children therefore if the post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended) the successful candidate(s) will be subject to a criminal records check with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The cost of the DBS must be met by the successful candidate(s) through salary deduction. DBS charges are as follows if applicable to the post:

Please note the cost of the DBS check has increased from 2nd December 2024

Standard Check: £21.50 + Administration cost of £5.90 = £27.40. Deducted from salary over following 4 months or one off payment.

Enhanced Check: £49.50 + administration cost of £5.90 = £55.40. Deducted from salary over following 4 months or one off payment.

As part of the one of the largest employers in the UK NCIC future employees will have also access to the following benefits.

A lease car may be available for this position; further details will be provided upon appointment if applicable.

27-day holiday scheme rising to 33 after 10 years

Access to NHS discounts with retailers and leisure companies

EAP (Employee Assistance Programme) a free, confidential counselling and information service to assist with personal or work-related problems

These schemes are subject to availability

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent in an appropriate subject
• Appropriate post-graduate degree at master\'s level, or equivalent level of specialist knowledge
• The post holder must be a registered Clinical Scientist, or eligible for registration within 6 months

Knowledge and Experience

• Highly specialist in-depth knowledge and understanding of the manufacture of injectable medicines.
• Highly specialist in-depth knowledge and understanding of current legislation and regulations pertinent to Radiopharmacy, Manufacturers "Specials" Licence and MHRA requirement
• Highly specialist in-depth knowledge and understanding of Quality management systems and CAPA.
• Experience of Quality management systems, CAPA, incident reporting and management
• Knowledge of radiopharmaceutical testing and use of unlicensed materials
• Advanced knowledge of scientific method and collection and analysis of data using standard scientific tools and software
• Highly specialist in-depth knowledge and understanding of the manufacture of radiopharmaceuticals for use in nuclear medicine diagnosis and therapy
• Experience of radiopharmaceuticals used in Positron Emission Tomography or therapy
• Experience of radiopharmaceutical testing and use of unlicensed material
• Advanced knowledge of working area, enabling post-holder to advise on the appropriateness of techniques, and to collaborate with clinicians in their application

Skills and Aptitudes

• Ability to interpret data, analyse problems and evaluate solutions
• Excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills
• Training, teaching & mentoring skill
• Ability to give technical advice to colleagues, senior clinicians and other professionals
• Radiopharmaceutical manufacturing experience

Other

• Excellent interpersonal skills
• A demonstrable commitment to life-long learning and CPD
• Will sometimes involve working outside normal hours, particularly early mornings

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.

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust

£55,690 to £62,682 a yearPer Annum Pro Rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working, Compressed hours