Senior Clinical Scientist (Radiation Physics)

University College London Hospital; London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity exists at University College London Hospital for a clinical scientist to enhance the radiation protection services within the Medical Physics & Biomedical Engineering Department. Applicants should possess a solid foundation in safety protocols and diagnostic radiology, along with requisite qualifications including HCPC registration and a relevant Master's degree.

Benefits

Flexible working opportunities

Cycle to work scheme

Interest free season ticket loan

Access to staff discount platform

Qualifications

• Essential knowledge of radiation protection and diagnostic radiology.
• Registered with HCPC as a Clinical Scientist.
• Experience in ultrasound QA and/or laser safety is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Provide medical physics services across all departments and sites.
• Collaborate with teams utilising radiation and engage with external clients.
• Contribute to teaching and research initiatives.

Skills

Radiation safety

Diagnostic radiology

Imaging techniques

Education

Good (1st or 2nd class) Honours degree in Medical Physics

Masters Degree in Medical Physics or similar

UK State Registration as a Clinical Scientist

Formal Medical Physics training through a recognised scheme

Job description

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Job overview

Due to internal promotion, an exciting career opportunity has arisen in the Radiation Physics section of the Medical Physics & Biomedical Engineering Department at UCLH. We are looking for a self-motivated clinical scientist to make a major contribution to the radiation protection services provided across UCLH. We are particularly interested in those candidates with experience of radioactive materials safety and diagnostic radiology QA. Experience of ultrasound QA and/or laser safety would also be an advantage.
Applications will only be accepted from individuals who are currently registered with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a clinical scientist and who either have or are close to obtaining their MPE certificate.
The role requires knowledge of radiation protection in healthcare and academic research environments. The role also requires an understanding of other physics services such as Nuclear Medicine and Radiotherapy - for a more detailed description please refer to the job description.

Main duties of the job

As a member of the team providing medical physics services you will work across all departments and sites within UCLH and cover a broad range of external customers in and around London.
The department has close links with UCL and opportunities exist to take an active role in teaching and research.

We are committed to supporting your professional growth, including the development of leadership skills and the acquisition of new knowledge to be able to thrive at UCLH.

In this role, you will collaborate closely with departments utilising radiation and engage with a diverse portfolio of external clients across London and the Southeast. Our department maintains strong ties with UCL, offering opportunities to contribute to teaching and research initiatives.

Working for our organisation

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.

We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:

• University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)

• National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery

• Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals

• University College Hospital Grafton Way Building

• Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine

• University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre

• The Hospital for Tropical Diseases

• University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street

We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women's health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.

We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.

You will be joining a recently expanded team which includes 13 full time and 2 part time clinical scientists and technologists. The team are motivated, enthusiastic and friendly who are working hard and gaining competencies in a range of subject areas. We currently have three RPAs, two RWAs, 8 MPEs and three LPAs and are well placed to develop staff to achieve their best and develop their own careers.

Radiation Physics is part of the Medical Physics Department which can be found in the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing at UCLH, just on Grafton Way. Radiation Physics is opposite the UCLH Grafton Way Building which houses one of two NHS Proton Beam Therapy Treatment Centres in the UK.

UCLH is located in central London with easy access to the West End and major transport hubs.

The nearest train stations are Euston, St Pancras and Kings Cross with a range of underground stations including Euston Square, Warren Street and Euston.

Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*

* UCLH top trust to work at in England - In the most recent NHS staff survey UCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England - for the third year in a row.

UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff - To find out more, visit: Flexible working.

To discover more about what makes UCLH a great place to work, visit: Why Choose UCLH?

Person specification

Knowledge and Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Good (1st or 2nd class) Honours degree in Medical Physics (or similar)
• Formal Medical Physics training, including substantial content of Imaging with Ionising Radiation and Radiation Protection, delivered through a recognised training scheme e.g. IPEM.
• UK State Registration as a Clinical Scientist through the HCPC.
• Either have obtained MPE certification or very close to submitting portfolio for MPE certification.
• Masters Degree in Medical Physics or similar

Desirable criteria

• Relevant PhD or equivalent
• Membership of professional body e.g. SRP/IPEM/BIR
• Healthcare Leadership Qualification

Experience

Essential criteria

• Significant post-graduate experience specifically in radiation protection and diagnostic radiology
• A thorough knowledge of the principles and practice of radiation safety in a clinical context, to include a full understanding of: • The physics of radiation protection, and the principles of operation of radiation detectors.
• Current diagnostic and therapeutic radiological procedures. The operation of current diagnostic radiology equipment and image processing workstations.
• Equipment calibration, quality assurance and performance assessment.
• The principles and practice of external radiation dosimetry, sufficient to perform estimates of the patient dose arising from non-standard procedures
• Current methodologies for the processing and analysis of radiological and CT imaging data
• Windows operating system and PC applications software
• Highly developed specialist knowledge of radiation protection sufficient to act as an independent source of contact for advice.
• Radiation safety legislation and practice, the safe use of unsealed radioactive materials

Desirable criteria

• An understanding of : • Statistical methods appropriate for analysis of radiological data. • Techniques for image fusion and registration. • Techniques for kinetic modelling. • Monte Carlo modelling. • Windows operating systems. • Website development, databases. • Clinical governance and audit, NHS research strategy etc
• The presentation of scientific findings at conferences and seminars, and their publication in peer-reviewed literature.

Skills and Abilities

Essential criteria

• Scientific and Technical Skills: The ability to analyse and solve complex scientific and technical problems, particularly under pressure.
• A demonstrated commitment to, clinical research and development.

Personal and People Development

Essential criteria

• Ability to work within a multi-disciplinary team with a demonstrable commitment to participate fully in delivering a professional, high-quality clinical service.
• Ability to communicate tactfully at all times with other staff groups and patients, remaining calm and objective under stressful conditions, and willing to seek advice when necessary.
• Ability to provide expert scientific and technical support and advice on the correct operation, safe use and proper care of the department's imaging equipment.
• Ability to deliver training, education and supervision of staff and students; including CPD and the development of staff competencies; to fulfil UCLH policies and legislative requirements.
• Ability to communicate complex radiation safety processes and protocols to fellow health professionals and other radiation protection specialists.
• To undertake formal teaching and lecturing as required in support of internally and externally organised courses, contributing also to the formal and informal education and training of visitors of all staff groups to the department.

Specific Requirements

Essential criteria

• To deliver support to the work of the INM and Radiology departments
• Physical Skills - keyboard skills, hand-eye co-ordination)
• Able to operate keyboard, mouse and trackball including at clinical image processing and review workstations where the fine control of screen icons is required to manipulate and process image data precisely.
• Able to distinguish subtle changes in the quality and features of physics QC phantom images. Able to manipulate liquid radioactive materials and waste safely and to manage sealed sources accurately and responsibly.
• By agreement, the post holder may need to work flexibly on occasions, outside their core hours, to support the clinical and research activities of the department.

At UCLH, we have a real 'One Team' ethos, and our values - safety, kindness, teamwork and improving, are central to the way we work. This is supported by our staff, who voted us as the #1 NHS Acute Trust to work for in the whole of England.

At UCLH we take equality of opportunity seriously and are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer, with a culture that creates a real sense of belonging and trust. It is our fundamental aim, to recruit, retain and promote a diverse mix of people who are representative of our local communities. Applications are encouraged from candidates of all backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives to support our world class research, innovation and creativity.

UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff and has a dedicated policy which allows staff to apply for flexible working right from the beginning of employment. For more information please go to: https://www.uclh.nhs.uk/work-with-us/why-choose-uclh/flexible-working.

We offer our permanent staff an interest free season ticket loan for travel, all our staff have access to free independent and confidential support, large retail discounts, a staff discount platform, cycle to work scheme and on-site accommodation to name a few.

Additionally, UCLH Arts and Heritage's staff wellbeing programme, Creative Comfort, offers a variety of ways to engage with the arts as a member of UCLH staff. You can try out the weekly choir, weekly art club and join the Culture Club for exclusive access to free and discounted tickets for opera, exhibitions, theatre and more.

We recognise, reward and thank colleagues by nominating them for our annual Celebrating Excellence Awards, which are funded by UCLH Charity.

We are also members of www.mytrustbenefits.co.uk/ which offers discounts on high street retail stores, offers on travel deals, and also to take advantage of cash back schemes.

This vacancy may close before the current listed closing date. You are advised not to delay submitting your completed application.

Please note that all correspondence regarding your application will be via email. The emails will be sent to you via TRAC.jobs and not via NHS Jobs, we encourage you to check your inbox regularly.

Please note that if you are at present in a training position on the 2016 new junior doctor's contract and are applying for a Trust doctor role your salary will not be pay protected.

You will be placed on the appropriate point of the Trust Doctor pay scale based on your previous experience.

Please note that if you have not heard from us within 3 weeks of the closing date of the advert to assume that you have not been shortlisted on this occasion.

The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

• Job Description (PDF, 552.3KB)
• Functional Requirements (PDF, 262.3KB)
• UCLH Values (PDF, 860.9KB)