Job overview
We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated person to join our radiotherapy treatment planning team as an assistant to the treatment planning team. We provide a radiotherapy physics service to the Sussex Cancer Centre producing customised computer plans and manufacturing patient positioning devices for radiotherapy treatment.
The successful applicant will have a good general level of education, excellent communication skills and be computer literate.
Main duties of the job
The principal aspects of the work are to monitor and manipulate patient task lists on the radiotherapy database, liaise with different staff groups to ensure workflows are followed and to import and prepare patient imaging data on the radiotherapy computer treatment planning system. Duties also include assisting in the manufacture of patient specific treatment aids and immobilisation devices used for radiotherapy treatments. Some of this work includes patient facing activities and so the ability to interact with cancer patients in an empathetic manner is essential. Full in-house training in these processes will be given.
Possession of excellent communication skills is essential and you should enjoy working collaboratively within multi-disciplinary teams. Computer literacy and the ability to perform a variety of tasks accurately and efficiently in the demanding conditions of a busy clinical environment are essential.
Working for our organisation
At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.
We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our Wellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.
As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.
We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.
Candidate Information Pack
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please note: This role does not meet the minimum criteria for visa sponsorship under the current UK immigration rules, which set specific salary and skill thresholds. As such, we are unable to provide sponsorship for this post. Applicants will therefore need to already have the right to work in the UK to be considered. We include this information at the outset to provide clarity and avoid unnecessary inconvenience for applicants.
If you are applying using a Graduate visa as your right to work, you must have a minimum of 18 months remaining on your visa at time of application.
Communication
1.Communicate information sensitively in situations that have tight time frames.
2.Negotiate, motivate, and persuade to ensure timely completion of plans for treatment delivery.
3.Create and maintain effective communication systems and working relationships with the scientific, technical, and administrative staff in the Medical Physics Department, and with medical, radiographic, nursing and administrative staff in the SCC.
4.Respect and maintain patient’s rights to confidentiality according to the Data protection act 2018, and in line with Trust policy.
5.Interact with cancer patients in an empathetic manner recognising the stress and anxiety that a diagnosis of cancer brings.
6.Participate in relevant meetings.
7.Behave courteously and professionally at all times and seek to ensure that the highest level of service is provided.
Patient Care Delivery
1.Monitor check lists on Mosaiq for incoming plans from the CT scanner. Be aware of any patients coming through requiring a rescan and organise a doctor to volume where necessary.
2.Liaise with the radiotherapy bookings team to discuss any updates to patient start dates. Consideration must be given to complying with government cancer waiting time standards.
3.Update patient appointments and check list tasks in MOSAIQ for voluming, planning, plan review, plan checking and patient specific QA. Consider consultant and physics staff availability and leave, etc. to ensure smooth pathway.
4.Liaise with clinical staff to ensure workflows are followed and readjust pathways to ensure timely completion.
5.Import and prepare imaging data ensuring all image data sets are present and are in the correct format for volume delineation by the doctors. This will include both CT and MR images for some anatomical sites.
6.Perform image fusion on images in treatment planning systems according to local procedures.
7.Identify and outline Organs At Risk on planning images following departmental protocols, using careful manual outlining for final approval/adjustment by clinicians.
8.Manage doctors check lists on MOSAIQ ensuring plans for voluming or review are allocated to the correct clinician and are given the appropriate time scale. In situations where the workload is high, determine the best way forward to ensure timely completion; this may involve negotiating with other clinicians to complete the task.
9.Pro-actively inform the physics plan checking and radiographer calculation teams of late plans.
10.Monitor the workflow within the planning section to ensure plans are released in time for radiographer data preparation tasks to be completed before the scheduled start of radiotherapy treatment.
11.Retrieve and import from electronic archives details of previous radiotherapy treatment(s) for patients referred for further radiotherapy.
12.Assist in the production of patient specific treatment aids such as paraffin gauze bolus, wax blocks, lead or low melting point alloy electron cut-outs using a range of manufacturing techniques.
13.Assist in the manufacture of customised patient immobilisation masks and impressions for the production of lead shielding masks.
14.Proactively deal with delays in the patient pathway. This will involve co-ordinating with staff groups further along the pathway who will be affected by any change and informing patients of changes to their appointments.
15.Assist with regular audits to improve the service and identify bottlenecks for a more efficient service.
16.Assist in carrying out routine QC checks on computerised treatment planning systems according to departmental protocols as part of the Quality System.
17.Identify and recommend changes to administration procedures within the service which will improve the quality of service to patients and assist in the writing of local Work Instructions to support this.
18.Work under own initiative seeking advice when necessary and identify areas for improvements.
19.Carry out other departmental duties commensurate with role as directed by the line manager.
Please see the attached documents for a more detailed job description.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. GCSEs in English and Maths or equivalent
Desirable criteria
2. A Level, Diploma, NVQ3 level or equivalent
Experience
Desirable criteria
3. Experience in working in healthcare or customer service environment
Communication
Essential criteria
4. Excellent oral and written communication skills
Equality Diversity and Inclusion
Essential criteria
5. Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
6. Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
Important information for applicants:
A Note on AI Use in Applications
We value the individuality and authenticity that each candidate brings to the application process. While AI tools are increasingly accessible, we strongly discourage their use in completing your application. Your responses should reflect your own voice, experiences, and motivations—elements that are essential to a fair and accurate evaluation.
Applications that rely heavily on AI-generated content may misrepresent your abilities and could result in your application being rejected. We encourage you to take the time to present your genuine self, as this helps us better understand your potential and ensures a transparent selection process.
Closing Adverts Early: In the event of exceptional interest, we may close adverts earlier than specified.
Some of our adverts are capped for a limited number of applications; therefore, the advert will close once the cap has been reached. We therefore encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible if you are interested in the position to prevent you from missing out on applying for the opportunity.
Flexible Working: If you would like to explore potential options regarding flexible working please speak with the appropriate recruiting/line manager.
DBS Checks: As part of our commitment to a safe working environment, we undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check on all new employees where the role is eligible for a criminal record check. We make offers in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975.
Skilled Worker Visa: Applications for Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome for the roles that meet the Visa and Immigrations eligibility criteria. For further information please visit the gov.uk website searching for Skilled Worker. It is your responsibility as the applicant to ensure that you meet this criteria.
UHSussex reserves the right to close the role early if we receive a high volume of applications