Principal Clinical Technologist

The Methodist Church in Britain; Packmoor; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working arrangements

Job summary

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Principal Clinical Technologist in Radiotherapy Physics to lead treatment planning and equipment QA, including brachytherapy; the role involves complex planning, dosimetry checks, and advising oncologists. The post can be based at satellite centres in Swindon or Milton Keynes with flexible working offered.

HCPC or RCT registration is required, with substantial experience in VMAT/RapidArc and IMRT preferable.

Qualifications

• Relevant degree or equivalent knowledge to NVQ Level 4.
• Membership of a relevant professional body.
• HCPC radiographer registration or RCT Clinical Technologist registration.

Responsibilities

• Lead Radiotherapy Physics service focusing on planning and equipment QA.
• Advise oncologists on complex planning problems and dosimetry.
• Train radiotherapy staff in planning techniques and QA.
• Develop new techniques and contribute to service improvement.
• Perform calculations and measurements for accurate planning and treatment.
• Contour images and organs at risk using imaging software.
• Execute complex treatment planning tasks and verify plans.
• Check plans and dosimetry including brachytherapy for accuracy.
• Identify problems with QA equipment and propose fixes.
• Participate in QA programme, commissioning and calibration of equipment.

Skills

Ionising radiation knowledge

Radiotherapy planning

Treatment QA

VMAT/RapidArc

IMRT

Contouring software

Excel/Word/Access

Education

NVQ Level 4 equivalent

Professional body membership

Tools

Treatment planning software

CT simulations

Job description

The Principal Clinical Technologist post sits in the Radiotherapy Physics team at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and centres on treatment planning and equipment quality assurance. The work includes complex planning, checking plans and dosimetry including brachytherapy, advising oncologists on planning problems, and training radiotherapy staff. The post can be based part or fully at satellite centres in Swindon or Milton Keynes, with flexible working offered. Applicants must hold HCPC registration as a radiographer or RCT registration as a Clinical Technologist.

What the job involves

• Take a leading role in the Radiotherapy Physics technical and clinical service, mainly treatment planning and equipment quality assurance
• Give expert advice to consultant oncologists and other staff on problems with complex equipment and treatment plans
• Train radiotherapy staff in treatment planning techniques and equipment QA
• Help develop new techniques for the service
• Carry out calculations and measurements needed for accurate patient planning and treatment
• Use medical images and software to contour patient outlines and organs at risk
• Carry out complex treatment planning tasks
• Check treatment plans, calculations and treatment accessories, including brachytherapy, for beam arrangement and accurate dosimetry
• Identify problems with treatment and QA equipment, investigate causes and suggest remedial action
• Take part in the Radiotherapy Physics QA programme, including commissioning, quality control and calibration of equipment

Qualifications

• Relevant degree or equivalent knowledge to NVQ Level 4
• Membership of a relevant professional body

Registration & licences

• HCPC registration as a radiotherapy radiographer, or RCT registration as a Clinical Technologist

Experience

• Substantial experience in radiotherapy physics, including judging treatment options, solving equipment problems and making safe decisions, often under time pressure
• Experience planning VMAT/RapidArc and IMRT procedures, with further training given for complex cases

Skills & knowledge

• Theoretical and practical knowledge of ionising radiation, radiotherapy treatment planning, and treatment and pre-treatment equipment
• Specialist knowledge of working procedures in radiotherapy treatment planning and equipment QA
• Ability to use complex treatment planning and virtual simulation systems
• Ability to use Excel, Word and Access to set up documents and spreadsheets and extract information

Other

• Evidence of continuing professional development

Nice to have

• Relevant MSc or equivalent knowledge
• Experience commissioning radiotherapy equipment
• Specialist training and practical experience with treatment planning computers, CT scanners and linear accelerators

What’s offered

• Flexible working arrangements