Specialist Clinical Scientist in Radiotherapy Physics (MPE)

Integrated Care System; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity exists for a Specialist Clinical Scientist in Radiotherapy Physics to join a leading team at a notable cancer service in Cardiff. This role involves ensuring the safe delivery of radiotherapy, leading in treatment planning and dosimetric issues, and implementing new technologies. Ideal candidates will possess extensive experience in radiotherapy equipment, alongside strong communication and teaching skills, contributing to service development and research.

Qualifications

• Highly specialized knowledge in radiotherapy physics and treatment planning required.
• PhD and extensive relevant experience preferred.
• Ability to communicate complex scientific information effectively.

Responsibilities

• Provide complex scientific and technical advice to clinical staff.
• Lead in treatment planning, dosimetry, and implementation of new technologies.
• Teach principles of Radiotherapy Physics in various settings.

Skills

Communication

Problem Solving

Teaching

Data Analysis

Presentation Skills

Education

First degree in physics or related discipline

MSc in medical physics

PhD in Medical Physics or similar

RPA2000 Certificate of Competence

Job description

Specialist Clinical Scientist in Radiotherapy Physics (MPE)

1 full time (37.5 hours)1 part time (18.75 hours)

We are offering an exciting opportunity for Specialist Clinical Scientist (Medical Physics Expert, MPE) to join our team in a forward thinking radiotherapy physics department at the Velindre Cancer Service based in Velindre Hospital, Whitchurch, Cardiff.

The post holder, in conjunction with other Medical Physics Experts (MPEs) and senior staff within the Radiotherapy Department, is responsible for ensuring the safe delivery of radiotherapy. They will act as Medical Physics Expert under the IR(ME)R 2017 legislation across all areas of radiotherapy, taking the lead in areas in which they have specific expertise e.g. treatment planning, dosimetry, imaging physics, brachytherapy or computing. They will lead the implementation and commissioning of new technologies and techniques, provide specialist advice at MPE level to multidisciplinary teams and provide advice on the most complex patient treatment plans, radiobiology and dosimetric issues and provide expert support for clinical trials and research.

Main duties of the job

Provide highly complex scientific and technical advice on imaging, treatment planning and dosimetric issues to radiotherapy consultants and other clinical staff regarding patient external beam radiotherapy or brachytherapy treatments.

• Liaise with manufacturers and colleagues at other centres as necessary on issues related to radiotherapy treatments, imaging and image optimisation.
• Discuss with clinical staff and patients issues associated with Radiotherapy

Treatment set up, radiobiological, dosimetric and other issues describing complex scientific information and its implications on the patient's treatment.

• Present and disseminate clinical results through oral or poster presentations at local, national and international meetings and conferences and where appropriate prepare papers for publication in scientific journals.
• Teach the principles of Radiotherapy Physics to all disciplines in classroom and workplace settings.
• In accordance with IR(ME)R(2017), ensure all operators of relevant radiotherapy equipment have received sufficient training and achieved the required level of competency.
• Discuss the status of the quality system with internal and external auditors including justification of process changes, resolution of non-conformances and the reporting of reportable incidents according to IR(ME)R 2017

About us

Here atVelindre University NHS Trustwe are extremely proud of the specialist services we provide across the whole of Wales in ourcutting-edgeVelindre Cancer Centreand ouraward-winningWelsh Blood Service, as well as the expertise of our corporate functions that bring the two divisions together. We are also fortunate to host theNHS Wales Shared Services PartnershipandHealth Technology Walesand have developed strong partnership working with these expert services.

The Radiotherapy Service at Velindre Cancer Centre is undergoing significant transformation, which will continue for several years. Currently there are 8 linear accelerators (4 Varian and 4 Elekta) and an Elekta Flexitron for brachytherapy treatments. A replacement programme of all treatment devices, Oncology Information Systems and Treatment Planning Systems is underway; the first Varian Halcyon machine was installed in January 2023 with another being installed in September 2023. A radiotherapy satellite centre is due to open in Abergavenny in 2024, with a new Velindre Cancer Centre due to open in 2025. Radiotherapy equipment at the new centre will include Varian BRAVOS brachytherapy, 6 Varian Halcyon machines, 2 Varian Truebeams (HD) and a dedicated research machine.

Job responsibilities

You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click Apply now to view in Trac.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• First degree in physics or related discipline
• MSc or equivalent in medical physics
• Registration as a Clinical Scientist with the HCPC
• RPA2000 Certificate of Competence to act as an MPE demonstrating knowledge significantly beyond Clinical Registration and MPE, or close to achieving it
• Knowledge and understanding of the principles of Radiation Physics significantly beyond the level
• Knowledge and understanding of the principles of radiotherapy treatment devices.
• Knowledge and understanding of the principles of all imaging modalities used in Radiotherapy of an MSc in the field.
• Thorough understanding of the legislation as applied to the use of radiation in hospitals
• An understanding of the limitations & pitfalls of radiation dosimetry, calculation and computation, including electrons.
• An understanding of Quality Assurance schemes and principles in RT
• Knowledge of Data Protection; Health & Safety principles and practice.
• A good overview of the place of physics and RT in cancer therapy.
• PhD in Medical Physics or similar.
• Publication record in radiotherapy physics or related subject.
• Advanced Mathematics skills.
• Knowledge and understanding of the principles and practice of data analysis, aggregation of uncertainties, and statistics
• Knowledge and understanding of the principles of physics research methods.
• Knowledge and understanding of the radiobiological basis of RT and its use for
• Knowledge and understanding of cancer induction by radiation- principles and facts
• A good knowledge of anatomy

Experience

• Extensive experience in Radiotherapy to MPE level
• Specialist experience in the operation of radiotherapy equipment and treatment planning systems and associated QA.
• Experience of taking a supervisory role
• Specialist experience to MPE level across all of treatment planning, dosimetry and brachytherapy
• Involvement with radiation legislation

Aptitude and Abilities

• Able to communicate difficult scientific issues to scientists and non-scientists with good verbal, written and audio-visual production & presentation skills.
• Advanced computer analysis, data manipulation and its display
• Able to demonstrate effective implementation of positive change in service development
• Able to demonstrate the successful clinical implementation of new treatment techniques and / or equipment
• Good negotiator in advising of practice changes
• Teaching skills
• Ability to speak Welsh to level 1

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.

Radiotherapy Physics Deputy Head of Department