Job overview
We have a vacancy for a Clinical Scientist within the Radiotherapy Physics Department at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We are seeking an experienced, highly skilled and motivated HCPC registered clinical scientist to join our multidisciplinary team at the Rosemere Cancer Centre. Applications from staff close to registration will be considered for appointment under the terms of Agenda for Change annex 21.
You will join an enthusiastic and friendly team of 17 clinical scientists, 12 dosimetrists, 8 engineers and a quality manager. In addition to this we also currently have 3 STP trainees and looking to actively recruit apprentice engineers into our team.
1. Treatment planning is conducted on Pinnacle throughout the department. Some treatment planning is also being carried out on Raystation.
2. Independent VMAT plan verification is carried out using Sun Nuclear DoseCHECK.
3. Rosemere is commissioned to provide SABR for primary lung tumours and oligometasteses (non-spine and spine, lung, liver and adrenal) in addition to intracranial SRS.
Main duties of the job
This post is concerned with the delivery of a radiotherapy physics service at Rosemere Cancer Centre. The post holder will perform day to day scientific tasks across all areas of radiotherapy physics, which will ensure: that equipment is commissioned for clinical use; clinical equipment is operating within defined specification, and that individual patient treatment plans are produced and checked accurately.
You will also support research and development work across all aspects of the service that the radiotherapy physics team covers.
Rosemere Cancer Centre is on the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Royal Preston Hospital site and provides an external beam radiotherapy service for the adult population of Lancashire and South Cumbria (1.6 Million population). The centre has:
4. Eight clinical Elekta linacs (including two Harmony Pro linacs), all with Vision RT surface guided technology, CBCT, flattening filter free treatment capability and equipped with Response ABC system. Two dedicated Philips Big Bore CT scanners with Vision RT surface guided technology. MOSAIQ and SYNERGISTIQ.
Working for our organisation
We have 10,000 fantastic people working hard to deliver quality services to our patients. Whatever your role, you help look after 370,000 people in our local area & give specialist care to 1.5 million people across Lancashire & Cumbria.
Working with us gives you the knowledge and sense of pride that every activity you do genuinely does make a difference to support our patients & staff, ensuring we keep thriving & delivering outstanding healthcare right across our local towns.
You’ll have access to varied development opportunities, learn new skills, meet fab people & do things you’d never have done. You’ll learn about working in a hospital, interacting with people from all different roles to build skills & enhance your career path.
You’ll make an impact, be challenged to think differently, be bold & help innovate to keep improving things. Everything we do centres around patient care and enhancing their experience which means your role is pivotal and something really to be proud of.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
See attached Job Description for details of main responsibilities.
To produce and check routine and complex radiotherapy treatment plans in accordance with agreed local and national standards and evidence based guidelines.
• To perform quality assurance on the treatment planning computer based on departmental practice.
• To be involved in aspects of the commissioning of radiotherapy treatment planning equipment and software upgrades as and when necessary, liaising with all involved parties to coordinate the required activities.
• To perform highly accurate routine and non-routine quality control checks of the radiotherapy equipment to ensure that it remains within clinically acceptable tolerances.
• To contribute to the commissioning of dosimetry, radiotherapy treatment delivery and pretreatment equipment and software upgrades as and when necessary, liaising with all involved parties to coordinate the required activities.
Person specification
Qualifications & Education
Essential criteria
5. Honours degree in an appropriate physical science
6. Postgraduate Degree (e.g. Masters level and above)
7. State Registered Clinical Scientist
Desirable criteria
8. Membership of IPEM or other equivalent professional body
9. PhD or equivalent evidence of research training
Knowledge & Experience
Essential criteria
10. Treatment planning experience
11. Dosimetry experience
12. Knowledge of relevant legislation, national standards, professional guidelines
13. Knowledge of computer software packages used for analysing and presenting data
Desirable criteria
14. Working knowledge of quality management systems
15. Understanding of research and clinical governance
16. Knowledge of one or more computer programming languages