Senior Radiotherapy Dosimetrist

Northampton General Hospital Nhs Trust; Northampton; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust is seeking a Specialist Radiotherapy Dosimetrist to join the radiotherapy physics team. The role focuses on external beam planning using Varian Eclipse and Aria, with experience in AI contouring and knowledge-based planning established in NGH.

The post supports upcoming equipment updates including SGRT capabilities and a move to Aria Cloud for RapidArc Dynamic planning and delivery. Collaboration with oncologists, physicists and radiographers is essential.

Qualifications

• Specialist knowledge of treatment planning and radiation dosimetry.
• Proven ability to take responsibility for organising workflow in a high-pressure clinical environment.
• Able to evaluate a treatment plan produced by other staff members.
• Understanding of patient and staff risks arising from radiotherapy treatment.

Responsibilities

• Produce routine and complex treatment plans, in accordance with relevant clinical protocols.
• Check that all patient images required to produce treatment plans are available.
• Co-register images from different sources; evaluating the validity of the co-registration.
• Advise clinical staff on the effects of various treatment plan options on patient dose distributions.

Skills

Treatment planning

IMRT

VMAT

Eclipse

Aria

Education

BSc Radiotherapy

HCPC registration

Tools

Eclipse

Aria

Job description

Job summary

Applications are invited to join our dynamic, forward-thinking and friendly radiotherapy physics team as a Specialist Radiotherapy Dosimetrist at Northampton General Hospital (NGH). Joining the treatment planning team at NGH, you would predominantly be using Varian Eclipse and Aria. AI contouring and knowledge-based planning have been routinely established in Northampton radiotherapy for several years.

NGH radiotherapy is scheduled to have an exciting period of equipment updates in the near future. In 2026 we are due to install our second new linac with advanced imaging and SGRT capabilities. A move to the Aria Cloud is planned, where RapidArc Dynamic for planning and delivery will be included for the first time.

Main duties of the job

We are seeking an individual with experience across all areas of external beam radiotherapy planning. Experience planning a broad range of treatment sites, including advanced techniques, is desirable.

At Northampton, treatment planning is delivered within a multidisciplinary radiotherapy team. The post-holder will be expected to work closely with oncology and radiotherapy colleagues, including medical staff, physicists, technicians and radiographers.

The post-holder will also be expected to contribute routinely to departmental training and development activities.

About us

University Hospitals of Northamptonshire (UHN) brings together Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust. As a group, we are committed to improving services for our communities through collaboration, modernising care delivery and striving for excellence. Working together enables us to share expertise, strengthen services and create greater opportunities, and there may be a requirement to work across sites depending on service needs.

We recognise that AI tools can support application writing; however, candidates are asked to keep their use to a minimum. Responses should reflect your own experience, skills and knowledge, as over-reliance on AI-generated content may result in generic answers that do not accurately represent your abilities.

Our Excellence Values are Compassion, Accountability, Respect, Integrity and Courage. UHN welcomes applications from all backgrounds and is committed to an inclusive working environment. We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and hold the Gold Award under the Employer Recognition Scheme. Candidates who identify as members of the Armed Forces community and meet the essential criteria will be guaranteed an interview.

Job responsibilities

Supporting Clinical Excellence Produce routine and complex treatment plans, in accordance with relevant clinical protocols. Check that all patient images required to produce treatment plans are available. Co-register images from different sources; evaluating the validity of the co-registration. Accurately outline anatomical volumes from CT scans for Gross Tumour Volumes and Organs at Risk, where trained. Advise clinical staff on the effects of various treatment plan options on patient dose distributions. Check treatment plans generated by other staff for accuracy and appropriateness prior to treatment commencing. Assist with the development of new techniques in conjunction with other staff groups and take an active role in introducing new equipment and clinical techniques.

People/Management Excellence Participate in the training of trainee Physicists, student Radiographers, and Medical staff.

Quality Assurance and Monitoring Participate in the acceptance testing, commissioning and routine quality assurance programs for radiotherapy planning software. Assist in producing written protocols for treatment planning as part of the departments Quality System. Participate fully in implementing and maintaining this system. Keep careful records of all work performed. Assist in the maintenance of the Treatment Planning Database and production of management statistics. Able to report on the data. Participate in the QA of new radiotherapy trials; and plan patients according to current approved trial protocols.

Professional Responsibilities Manage own work and prioritise it on a day to day basis working flexibly where necessary. Participate in the IPEM or other agreed Continuing Personal Development (CPD) scheme. To remain up to date regarding the latest scientific and technical developments and their applications within radiotherapy physics. This to be achieved by journal reading, internet research, and attending suitable seminars and training courses as part of CPD and in furthering the work of the department. Attend suitable seminars and courses as part of training and personal development and to further the work of the Department. Ensure all activities are carried out within a quality framework and conform to Statutory Regulations, approved Codes of Practice and Local Rules.

Person Specification

Education

Essential

• Vocational degree, Radiotherapy degree or equivalent to BSc level
• RCT registration as a Technologist; or HCPC registration, as a Radiographer

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Specialist training in treatment planning techniques and volume delineation, relevant or transferrable to NHS radiotherapy practice
• Experience of Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) treatment planning
• A good awareness of the workings of computerised treatment planning systems, including their underlying algorithms and inherent strengths and weaknesses

Desirable

• Experience of Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) treatment planning
• Experience with Eclipse

Skills

Essential

• Specialist knowledge of treatment planning and radiation dosimetry, applicable to NHS radiotherapy treatment
• Proven ability to take responsibility for organising workflow in a high-pressure clinical environment
• Able to evaluate a treatment plan produced by other staff members
• Understanding of patient and staff risks arising from radiotherapy treatment
• Proven ability to communicate complex information across professional boundaries
• Proven ability to analyse and report data using appropriate format
• Able to concentrate for prolonged periods

Desirable

• Good working knowledge of radiographic procedures in Radiotherapy

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.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).