Job overview
A new opportunity has arisen within the Radiation Protection Service Cardiff (RPSC) for two Senior Clinical Scientists in Radiation Protection and Diagnostic Radiology.
Whilst this post requires HCPC registration as a Clinical Scientist, we would accept applications from those who are close to the end of their training, and also those who would need to undertake training via Route 2 to achieve registration. A successful candidate who did not yet hold HCPC registration as a Clinical Scientist would be employed under Annex 21 until they achieve registration.
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.
Main duties of the job
The post holder, working across diagnostic radiology and radiation protection specialities, provides scientific support to ensure that diagnostic radiology examinations involving x-rays are properly optimised and to assist Velindre University NHS Trust and client organisations in complying with prevailing radiation protection legislation. Services are delivered to a client base located largely in SE Wales but includes Breast Test Wales (BTW) at all of its locations across Wales. This involves practical involvement in measurement, calculation, advice, quality assurance and development across all diagnostic radiology modalities but with a particular emphasis upon compliance with radiation protection legislation.
The post holder will travel independently to sites across Wales, some of which are in remote locations. The post holder provides support to the activities of the Trust’s Radiation Protection Advisers (RPAs) and provides scientific support to diagnostic radiology, under the direction of a Medical Physics Expert (MPE). Areas of activity include delivery of scientific support to Breast Test Wales and other customers of the Radiation Protection Service, calculating shielding requirements for new projects in diagnostic radiology, performing commissioning and routine checks upon diagnostic radiological equipment, preparing radiation reviews of research ethics applications and assisting in the process of optimising the radiological examination.
Working for our organisation
Here at Velindre University NHS Trust we are extremely proud of the specialist services we provide across the whole of Wales in our cutting-edge Velindre Cancer Centre and our award-winning Welsh Blood Service, as well as the expertise of our corporate functions that bring the two divisions together. We are also fortunate to host the NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership and Health Technology Wales and have developed strong partnership working with these expert services.
Formed in 1994, the Trust has a dedicated workforce that continuously strives to apply the key principles of value based healthcare through a wide array of roles. We play a vital role in the communities we support and have ambitious plans for the future to continue to improve the services we deliver. We strive to maintain our core values in everything we do by being; accountable, bold, caring and dynamic, and ensuring the best possible care for our patients and donors.
At Velindre University NHS Trust we aim to foster a culture of discovery, collaboration, and continuous improvement. We will achieve this by embedding research and innovation into everything we do, to deliver meaningful, measurable impact for our patients and communities.
If you want to work for an organisation that prides itself on making a real difference and offers exciting career opportunities then Velindre University NHS Trust is the place for you.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Detailed description of the role can be found in the attached Job Description and Person Specification
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
* MSc Medical Physics or equivalent
* Either, one of the following:
* i.Successful completion of the National School of Healthcare Scientists STP scheme
* ii.Association of Clinical Scientists certificate of attainment
* iii.UK HCPC Clinical Scientist Registration to practise Medical Physics, but for non-UK candidates the certainty of obtaining it
* Or, ability to achieve registration as a Clinical Scientist through Route 2 training via Annex 21 of Agenda for Change
Desirable criteria
* PhD in Medical Physics
* Publication record in diagnostic radiology physics
Knowledge
Essential criteria
* •Health & Safety principles and practice
* •A good overview of the place of physics in diagnostic imaging
* •Basic anatomy & physiology
* •Advanced Radiation Physics
* •Advanced Mathematics
* •Principles and practice of data analysis, aggregation of uncertainties, and statistic
* •Principles of physics research methods
* •Programming & Systems
Desirable criteria
* Appreciation of the radiobiological basis of radiation protection
* Cancer induction by radiation- principles and facts
* Understanding of the physics and technology of diagnostic radiological equipment
* Limitations & pitfalls of radiation dosimetry, calculation and computation
* Radiation Protection in diagnostic radiology
* Quality Assurance schemes and principles in diagnostic radiology
* Eligibility to hold MIPEM or equivalent status
Experience
Essential criteria
* Use of all types of diagnostic radiological equipment and proficient in their testing
Desirable criteria
* Experience of working in a breast screening program environment
* Awareness of protocols and pathways used in Diagnostic Radiology and Breast Screening
* R&D off one’s own initiative
* Experience of preparing radiation reviews of research ethics applications
Skills and Attirbutes
Essential criteria
* Ease of maths calculations
* Able to develop the subject using peer acceptable procedures
* Good written documentation of projects and procedures
* Good communicator of difficult scientific issues to scientists and non-scientists with good verbal, written and audio-visual production & presentation skills
* Proven ability with computer s/w, and its modification, e.g. able to create complex scientific programs and spreadsheets
Desirable criteria
* Proven ability to develop the physics of diagnostic radiology
* Good at option appraisals of complex alternatives
* Good planning and organisation
* Use of dose meters and their software
* Advanced computer analysis, data manipulation and its display
* Ability to speak Welsh
Other
Essential criteria
* Flexible working when required, which may be outside core hours
* The ability to travel all over Wales visiting remote sites with the possibility of undertaking overnight stays where appropriate
* Experience of working in a radiation environment
Desirable criteria
* Welsh Speaker (Level 1) or willingness to work towards
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