Job overview
A new opportunity has arisen within the Radiation Protection Service Cardiff (RPSC) to support the establishment of Lung Screening Wales run by Public Health Wales (PHW). We are looking for an experienced Medical Physics Expert (MPE) who will lead physics support for the roll-out of the low dose CT lung screening programme across the whole of Wales. The post holder will also act as modality lead MPE for CT within the RPSC team. It is envisaged that opportunities will be available for the post holder to also be involved in the delivery of MPE diagnostic radiology and RPA services across the RPSC customer base.
RPSC provides radiation protection services to NHS Health Boards in South East Wales as well as the screening programmes in Wales, and clients in academia, private healthcare, and industry. We are a growing team of Clinical Scientists, Clinical Technologists, trainees, and administrative staff. We will soon be moving to a new cancer centre and are currently supporting a variety of exciting development projects across our client base. This post presents a unique opportunity to develop your skills as a Clinical Scientist and MPE across a range of modalities and clients.
We have a strong track record of supporting staff development including MPE and RPA portfolios and part time PhDs. The Trust offers opportunities for development in management and teaching roles and a variety of staff benefits.
Main duties of the job
Please see the attached Job Descriptions and Person Specifications for key duties and responsibilities. Applicants not meeting the full criteria for the band 8B post would be considered for appointment at band 8A; for this reason, there are two separate job descriptions and person specifications.
One set of interviews will be held for this post with the decision on banding being dependent on the skills and experience of the successful candidate. For a candidate with suitable skills and experience to be appointed as the lead MPE for the lung screening programme, the 8B job description would be applicable. The 8A job description would be applicable to a candidate with less extensive experience who still meets the essential criteria on the relevant person specification.
The post holder will be an HCPC registered Clinical Scientist with sufficient experience to be appointed as MPE to PHW and other clients of RPSC. A detailed understanding of the underlying physics principles of CT imaging is essential, as is direct experience of the quality assurance of low dose CT for lung screening applications.
The post will be based at Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff. As the screening programme covers the whole of Wales, there is a requirement to travel relatively long distances on a regular basis and undertake overnight stays on occasion to support the service.
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.
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
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
As described above, depending on the level of experience of the applicant, there are two separate job descriptions. The main differences between the two are highlighted below (please note that this is only a summary, and the full job descriptions and person specifications are attached to this advertisement):
8B Principal Clinical Scientist, Lung screening and diagnostic radiology MPE
The post holder will be responsible for:
1. Acting as lead MPE for low dose CT lung screening to PHW as required by the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017 and as the lead technical QA adviser for low dose CT lung screening to PHW.
1. Acting as an MPE for diagnostic radiology in health care, medical research and development and teaching with a focus upon low dose CT lung screening and to be appointed in this role by Velindre NHS Trust and its client organisations.
1. Leading the provision of quality assurance and scientific support for the physics aspects of low dose CT lung screening to PHW and for general radiography to the RPS Cardiff portfolio of clients.
1. Leading and managing projects undertaken in support of developments in radiation protection and diagnostic radiology both within Velindre University NHS Trust and its client organisations. E.g. procurement of new equipment, research and development etc
Interpersonal Skills
To provide specialist advice on specification and selection of a wide range of highly complex x-ray equipment including low dose CT lung screening equipment to ensure patient and staff safety.
Lead the training of junior clinical scientists and technical officers with respect to the physics of low dose CT lung screening and general radiology. To present and explain complex and highly complex information and concepts in a manner that is both appropriate and accessible.
Lead the delivery of training courses on low dose CT lung screening physics, with a particular emphasis on PHW and the general use of CT, ensuring that material presented is both appropriate and accessible.
Undertake audits of compliance with radiation protection legislation with customers ensuring that communication styles and methods used are aimed at obtaining the necessary information in a concise and efficient manner. To bear in mind that communication styles need to take into account that those being audited may be extremely apprehensive or nervous.
Contribute to the management of PHW in an advisory capacity through membership of working groups.
Team working and planning
As part of the RPS Cardiff team, plan a number of complex activities, requiring formulation, adjustment of plans in respect to customers’ changing requirements:
* To act as a project manager within the radiation protection service, delivering objectives set by the Head of Radiation Protection Service in a timely and efficient manner, deploying the resources of the Radiation Protection Service.
* To act as a Medical Physics Expert for research ethics applications in diagnostic radiology and to ensure that reviews assigned are completed against Radiation Protection Service agreed performance criteria.
Customer service
To have sufficient knowledge and experience to be competent to act as the Employer’s appointed Medical Physics Expert for low dose CT lung screening as defined in the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2018 for all RPS Cardiff clients in providing scientific support and advice to medical and senior radiography staff with respect to the protection of patients.
To act as the lead specialist resource in the field of CT physics for RPS Cardiff and its customer base.
To be a member of the multi-disciplinary Image Optimisation Groups run by Velindre University NHS Trust and its client organisations with a view to ensuring that radiological image quality and patient radiation dose is optimised across a wide range of procedure types.
Development of service and documentation
To develop policies and procedures on behalf of Velindre NHS Trust and its client organisations, particularly in respect of PHW, reflecting the latest position in respect of radiation protection legislative requirements, professional guidance and NHS Screening Programme standards. Examples are Trust or Health Board over-arching policies relating to radiation protection, implementation of specific regulations and working procedures that reflect professional best practice.
To provide feedback on customers’ policies and documentation relating to radiation safety and technical quality assurance of radiological equipment with a focus on CT equipment as a consequence of local periodic reviews.
Managerial Responsibility
As the team expands, to take on line management responsibilities for junior staff.
Digital and Information
As required to arrange for the taking and transcription of the formal minutes of meetings held within the Radiation Protection Service, Velindre University NHS Trust and PHW and to arrange for the preparation of final drafts of these minutes for approval by these groups.
Improvement and Monitoring
Carries out research or development work as part of routine post including the following examples:
1. To prepare and authorise radiation reviews of ethics applications in support of clinical research.
1. Development of the clinical radiology service as part of membership of image optimisation groups and presentation of results at national meetings or in peer reviewed journals.
8A Principal Clinical Scientist, Lung screening and diagnostic radiology MPE
The post holder will be responsible for:
Acting as an MPE for low dose CT lung screening to PHW as required by the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017 and as the technical QA adviser to PHW.
1. Acting as an MPE for diagnostic radiology in health care, medical research and development and teaching with a focus upon low dose CT lung screening and to be appointed in this role by Velindre NHS Trust and its client organisations.
1. Co-ordinating the provision of quality assurance and scientific support for the physics aspects of low dose CT lung screening to PHW and for general radiography to the RPS Cardiff portfolio of clients.
Interpersonal Skills
To provide specialist advice on specification and selection of a wide range of highly complex x-ray equipment including low dose CT lung screening equipment to ensure patient and staff safety.
Participate in the training of junior clinical scientists and technical officers with respect to the physics of low dose CT lung screening and general radiography. To present and explain complex and highly complex information and concepts in a manner that is both appropriate and accessible.
Participate in the delivery of training courses on low dose CT lung screening physics, with a particular emphasis on PHW, ensuring that material presented is both appropriate and accessible.
Customer service
To act as the Employer’s appointed Medical Physics Expert for low dose CT lung screening as defined in the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2018 for all RPS Cardiff clients in providing scientific support and advice to medical and senior radiography staff with respect to the protection of patients.
To act as a specialist resource in the field of CT physics for RPS Cardiff and its customer base.
Development of service and documentation
To assist in the development of policies and procedures on behalf of Velindre NHS Trust and its client organisations, particularly in respect of PHW, reflecting the latest position in respect of radiation protection legislative requirements, professional guidance and NHS Screening Programme standards.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
* MSc Medical Physics or equivalent.
* UK HPC Clinical Scientist Registration to practise Medical Physics, but for non-UK candidates the certainty of getting it.
Desirable criteria
* PhD in Medical Physics.
* Publication record in diagnostic radiology physics
* Eligibility to hold MIPEM, or FIPEM, or equivalent status.
* Accreditation as a Medical Physics Expert for diagnostic radiology including CT
Knowledge
Essential criteria
* Principles of Radiation Physics beyond the MSc level in the field.
* Principles of radiation protection with a view to minimising exposure of patients, staff and public.
* Principles and operation of all types of X-ray imaging systems, radiological test equipment, dosimetry equipment and associated Quality Assurance schemes and principles including CT systems.
* Methods of subjective and objective assessment of radiological image quality including low dose CT lung screening.
* Thorough understanding of principles of X-ray imaging in general radiography including CT
* A sound knowledge of the processes involved in lung screening and an appreciation of the key issues facing each of the professions involved.
* Appreciation of the methods involved in patient dosimetry and patient dose modelling.
* Data Protection; Health & Safety principles and practice.
* A good overview of the place of diagnostic radiology and CT physics in the delivery of a high quality radiology service.
Desirable criteria
* Advanced Radiation Physics.
* Advanced Mathematics.
* Principles and practice of data analysis, aggregation of uncertainties, and statistics.
* Principles of physics research methods.
* Principles of operation of accredited Quality Assurance schemes in diagnostic radiology
* Thorough understanding of the legislation as applied to the use of radiation in hospitals.
Experience
Essential criteria
* Appropriate experience compatible with acknowledgement of Medical Physics Expert status in CT.
* Experience in the application of radiation protection practice in the field of diagnostic radiology.
* Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary environment and of leading change.
Desirable criteria
* Experience of the practice of radiation metrology.
* Involvement with advising upon the application of radiation protection legislation.
Skills and Attributes
Essential criteria
* Able to communicate difficult scientific issues to scientists and non-scientists with good verbal, written and audio-visual production & presentation skills.
* Teaching skills
* Conscientious, reliable, tidy, and a careful user of expensive sensitive equipment.
* Motivated, enthusiastic team worker but with independent flair
* Able to give quick reasoned accurate guidance in stressful situations.
* Able to take responsibility for own work and decisions.
* Willing to work flexible hours to allow the service to be covered
* Able to solve difficult scientific problems independently.
Desirable criteria
* Familiarity with a range of medical image processing software packages.
* Familiarity with designing customised database applications.
* Good negotiator in advising on the implementation of statutory requirements where there may be local disagreement or competing requirements from legislation or professional guidance relating to other areas of endeavour.
* Advanced computer analysis, data manipulation and its display
Other
Essential criteria
* Values consistent with Velindre NHS Trust Organisational Values.
* Possession of a full, clean, UK driving licence, or the preparedness to obtain one within 6 months.
* Ability to travel between sites in a timely manner.
* 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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