Senior Clinical Scientist - Radiation Safety & Imaging Physics

NHS; Ipswich, Colchester; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A large NHS organization is seeking a Senior Clinical Scientist specializing in Radiation Safety and Imaging Physics. The ideal candidate will provide services across multiple hospitals and community sites, ensuring compliance with radiation safety regulations and delivering expert scientific advice. Candidates must be HCPC registered and have a degree in Physical Science. Competitive compensation offered.

Qualifications

• Certified Medical Physics Expert in Diagnostic Radiology or Radiation Protection Adviser.
• Sufficient knowledge to act as RWA and LPA.

Responsibilities

• Fulfil the role of Medical Physics Expert in diagnostic radiology.
• Advise on regulatory compliance in relation to radiation safety.
• Provide scientific expertise in radiation safety.

Skills

Highly developed specialist knowledge

Experience of training staff

Knowledge of radiation safety legislation

Education

Degree in a Physical Science

MSc in Medical or Radiation Physics

PhD

Membership of relevant professional body

Job description

Senior Clinical Scientist - Radiation Safety & Imaging Physics

The closing date is 09 November 2025

We are looking for a Radiation Protection and Diagnostic Radiology HCPC Registered Clinical Scientist to join our friendly team of physicists and technologists.

You will join the team in providing radiation protection and diagnostic radiology physics services to Radiology, Radiotherapy, Nuclear Medicine, PET-CT and Radiopharmacy in one of the largest NHS organisations in England, including Colchester Hospital, Ipswich Hospital and multiple community sites. You will work across both hospitals with occasional visits to our community sites.

You will be a Certified Medical Physics Expert in Diagnostic Radiology or a Certified Radiation Protection Adviser. If you are currently working towards one of these and have significant post registration experience in Radiation Protection and Diagnostic Radiology, we will consider a Band 7 developmental role whilst we support you to achieve qualified expert status.

You will be expected to participate in all aspects of the scientific support we provide to the Trust and our external customers in ionising and non-ionising radiation areas. You will take the lead in some areas of service delivery, working to enhance and develop existing procedures and providing expert scientific advice to a range of stakeholders. You will work with other RPAs, MPEs, RWAs and other healthcare professionals to provide a high quality radiation protection service.

Main duties of the job

Fulfil the role of Medical Physics Expert (MPE) in diagnostic radiology as described in the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017 and/or fulfil the role of Radiation Protection Adviser (RPA) as described in the Ionising Radiation Regulations 2017

Advise the Trust on regulatory compliance in relation to radiation safety including training requirements for staff

Provide scientific and technical expertise to a wide range of healthcare professionals in relation to radiation safety and the physics of ionising and non-ionising radiation

Liaise with other scientific and technical staff within Radiation Safety and Imaging Physics to ensure that high quality services are provided to all stakeholders

Qualifications

• Degree in a Physical Science or equivalent
• MSc in Medical or Radiation Physics or equivalent qualification or experience
• Membership of relevant professional body
• State registered Clinical Scientist with HCPC
• Inclusion on RPA2000 list Certificate of Core Competence to act a Medical Physics Expert (MPE) under IR(ME)R17 within the field of diagnostic radiology or to act as Radiation Protection Adviser (RPA) under IRR17.
• PhD
• Inclusion on RPA2000 list of Certificate of Core Competence to act as Radioactice Waste Adviser (RWA)
• Inclusion on RPA2000 list of Certificate of Core Competence to act as Laser Protection Advisor (LPA)

Knowledge and Experience

• Highly developed specialist knowledge across the full range of working procedures and practices in the field of radiation safety and imaging physics, building on theoretical knowledge and practical experience
• Sufficient knowledge and experience to act as and maintain certificate of competence as MPE under IR(ME)R17 within the field of diagnostic radiology; or Sufficient knowledge and experience to act and maintain Certificate of Core Competence as RPA
• Highly developed specialist knowledge of the techniques employed to measure the performance and radiological safety of state of the art x-ray imaging equipment
• Specialised knowledge of wider clinical issues and their implications in Diagnostic Imaging
• High level of understanding of patient and staff risks associated with ionising and non-ionising radiation
• In depth knowledge and understanding of all relevant legislation, standards, guidelines and safety principles relating to the use of ionising radiation in a healthcare setting
• Experience of provision of radiation safety advice to a range of staff groups within a range of clinical areas
• Knowledge of Governance issues including ethical and regulatory considerations
• Understanding of incident reporting pathways (internal and external) in the context of diagnostic imaging
• Ability to design and implement audits
• Experience of training a wide range of professional staff groups
• Ability to identify relevant areas for R&D focus
• Sufficient knowledge and experience to act and maintain Certificate of Core Competence as RWA
• Sufficient knowledge and experience to act and maintain Certificate of Core Competence as LPA
• Highly developed specialist knowledge of the techniques employed to measure the performance and safety of non-ionising equipment such as medical lasers, ultrasound and ultraviolet
• In depth knowledge and understanding of relevant legislation, standards, guidelines and safety principles relating to the use of non-ionising radiation in a healthcare setting
• Detailed knowledge of risk management systems
• Experience of supervising STP and/or Route 2 physics trainees
• Experience of setting up and supervising research projects

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.

Employer name

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust