Treatment Planning Clinical Technologist/Dosimetrist (XR07)

Leeds Teaching Hospitals; Leeds; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Leeds is seeking a Band 7 Treatment Planning Clinical Technologist for a 12-month secondment. The role involves computer planning of radiotherapy treatments, quality control, and contributing to innovative projects. Candidates should have a degree in Clinical Technology or Therapy Radiography and significant experience in treatment planning. Join a team dedicated to providing high-quality patient care and participate in a dynamic environment focused on research and development.

Qualifications

• Significant post-qualification experience in treatment planning.
• Registered as a Clinical Technologist or Therapy Radiographer.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to day-to-day work of treatment planning section.
• Participate in routine dosimetry and quality control programme.

Skills

Teamwork

Problem-Solving

Flexibility

Professionalism

Workload Management

Education

Degree in Clinical Technology

BSc Therapy Radiography

Tools

RayStation

Monaco

Simulator

Virtual Simulator

Job description

Job summary

Applications are invited for a 12-month (secondment cover) Band 7 - Treatment Planning Clinical Technologist in St Jamess University Hospital, Leeds. We are looking for an enthusiastic Radiographer/Clinical Technologist with experience in Radiotherapy to participate in all aspects of providing a specialist service individual to all patients.

This post is based in Treatment Planning and Mould Room. The main responsibilities are to contribute to the day-to-day work of the treatment planning section, principally the computer planning of patients undergoing radiotherapy including both routine and highly complex treatments; to participate in the routine dosimetry and quality control programme on treatment machines and treatment simulators in the department; to assist with the work of the Mould Room and Brachytherapy sections of the Department when required.

In Leeds, we produce over 5000 radiotherapy plans per year, the majority of which use VMAT and FFF technologies.

Research and innovation are at the heart of the service, with opportunities to be part of projects as well as a large portfolio of local and national clinical trials. We are a national leader in extra-cranial SABR.

Main duties of the job

This post is based in treatment planning. The main responsibilities are:

1. Contribute to the day-to-day work of the treatment planning section, principally the computer planning of patients undergoing radiotherapy including both routine and highly complex treatments.
2. Participate in the routine dosimetry and quality control programme on treatment machines and treatment simulators in the department.

About us

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is one of the largest and busiest acute hospital trusts in the UK. We are committed to delivering the highest quality and safest treatment and care to every patient, every time. Our staff helped to define the values and behaviours that we should work to so that we can achieve this vision. This has become known as The Leeds Way, and forms the foundation of our culture, our ethos, and how we work every day.

The radiotherapy service in St Jamess treats over 7500 new radiotherapy patients per annum. The centre is equipped with the latest technology, including 12 Versa HDs, RayStation treatment planning, a Flexitron HDR remote afterloading platform for advanced image-guided brachytherapy, I-125 prostate brachytherapy service, MRSim, and Gamma Knife ICON. The managed equipment service was recently renewed, ensuring equipment replacement and comprehensive support for the next 15 years.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk' members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job adverts are subject to this policy, and we reserve the right to close, delay, or remove adverts while this process is completed. If you experience a delay in the shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any questions.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Managerial

• Prioritise and manage own work.
• Keep careful records of all work performed on the patient database and other appropriate records as required for statistical purposes on the computerised information systems.
• Monitor stocks and order supplies as required to enable duties to be performed.
• Represent the treatment planning department in site-specific MDT meetings.
• Represent the treatment planning department at radiotherapy policy meetings in the absence of the Chief Dosimetrist.

Clinical and Scientific

• Act as a Practitioner, Referrer, and Operator, under IRMER, for specified areas of work.
• Responsibility for the operation of linear accelerators, virtual simulators, simulators, treatment planning systems, and other high capital investment items of equipment.

Treatment Planning

• Interpret complex patient treatment planning requests from clinicians and advise medical staff on planning techniques.
• Generate clinically acceptable 3D computer treatment planning options, review with clinicians, and discuss effects on patient dose distributions.
• Plan radiotherapy with external beam photons or electrons using manual and computer methods.
• Ensure all patient images required for treatment plans are available.
• Perform CT planning using 3-D techniques, analyzing requirements, and making complex judgments regarding treatment parameters and patient dose effects.
• Identify and contour all critical organs at risk on CT scans.
• Work as part of the virtual simulator multidisciplinary team, providing planning input.
• Re-plan treatments as required, following changes to treatment regime or patient shape.
• Develop new treatment techniques under the direction of the Chief Dosimetrist.
• Coordinate patient visits, start dates, and ensure they meet the required timescales.
• Understand the operation and limitations of treatment machines, advise treatment radiographers, and attend patient setup on machines.
• Participate in evaluation and implementation of new radiotherapy planning equipment and training.
• Assist in producing protocols for localisation, simulation, treatment planning, and treatments.
• Organise and adapt staff rota to cover departmental workload.
• Maintain accurate records in electronic format.
• Communicate complex technical information across disciplines.
• Develop effective relationships with Trust staff and other professional groups.
• Participate in departmental information flow and MDT sessions.
• Assist Mould Room and Brachytherapy staff as required.

Dosimetry Services

• Participate in Quality Assurance programmes for planning and machine calibration.
• Ensure doses are within tolerance levels.

Teaching and Training

• Contribute to ongoing staff training and supervision.

Research and Development

• Contribute to NHS service research and development efforts.

Professional

• Stay updated with scientific developments and attend seminars and courses.
• Ensure activities meet regulatory standards within a quality framework.
• Contribute to service development and clinical trial planning.

Person Specification

Other Criteria

• Essential: Proven ability to concentrate, communicate complex information, train staff, and work under pressure.
• Qualifications: Degree in Clinical Technology or BSc Therapy Radiography with significant experience, registered as a Clinical Technologist or Therapy Radiographer, or on a clear path to registration.
• Experience: Significant post-qualification experience in treatment planning, knowledge of radiotherapy principles, anatomy, and pathology.
• Desirable: Experience with Simulator, Virtual Simulator, Monaco, RayStation, and radiotherapy equipment.
• Skills & Behaviours: Teamwork, flexibility, initiative, professionalism, problem-solving, and workload management.

Other Criteria

• Essential: Ability to work under unpredictable patterns, communicate effectively, and train others.
• Qualifications: Same as above, emphasizing registration and experience.
• Experience: Same as above, with emphasis on treatment planning experience.
• Desirable: Same as above, with additional familiarity with specific systems and equipment.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to a DBS check due to the nature of the work and regulatory requirements.

Employer details

Employer name: Leeds Teaching Hospitals

Address: St. James's University Hospital, Beckett Street, Leeds, LS9 7TF

Employer's website