Clinical Scientist - Band 7NHS

Job summary

We are looking for motivated and enthusiastic scientist to join our team.

The Radiotherapy Physics department provides a specialist technical radiotherapy physics service to the Lincolnshire Oncology Centre, contributing to safe treatment of patients for radiotherapy. It is responsible for ensuring the accurate calibration, according to national recommendations, of all radiotherapy treatment machines and providing a routine quality control service for all equipment used in simulating, planning, verifying and treating radiotherapy patients.

This role will include:

• To contribute to routine clinical service provision in all areas of radiotherapy physics.
• To work as part of the clinical scientist group, across machine quality assurance & dosimetry, treatment planning & brachytherapy.
• To contribute to developmental and project work within the section, taking a lead or supporting role as appropriate.
• To work as part of a multi-disciplinary team providing effective, caring and compassionate services to patients.

Main duties of the job

Participate in Radiotherapy duties as required, assisting in the dosimetry and maintenance of Radiotherapy Treatment machines and associated equipment, and assisting Treatment Planning as required.

Work scheduled late shifts and weekends to facilitate software upgrades, commissioning, QA etc, and work flexibly to support the service; Participate in the morning run-up when required.

Manage clinical development projects assigned to them by senior scientists.

Keep careful records of all work performed and complete other appropriate records.

Be an active member of the radiotherapy physics service.Be managerially responsible to the Head of the Radiotherapy Physics service through area leads.

Perform/assist in quality assurance, maintenance and repair work related to external beam and brachytherapy treatment machines, simulators, the CT Scanner and associated equipment.

Participate in the maintenance and calibration of physical assets used for dosimetry, ensuring that all equipment is working effectively and safely.

Participate in performing inter-departmental audits at local, national and international levels.

Perform treatment planning and treatment planning related developments.

Participate/assist in radioiodine ablation therapy.

Attend and participate in training courses as required and to participate in scientific meetings and conferences, as appropriate.

Be state registered as a Clinical Scientist with the HCPC and maintain such registration.

Job description

Communication and Relationship SkillsAble to communicate complex information effectively with colleagues in pressured situations, such as equipment failure or breakdowns.

Able to work as part of a team and foster good working relationships with colleagues and suppliers.

Responsible for ensuring effective communications within their service and across professional boundaries, overcoming barriers to understanding.

Analytical and Judgemental SkillsPerform patient specific QA measurements, using a range of equipment and software, and analyse and advise on clinical suitability. Analyse and interpret the results. To include understanding of when escalation to an MPE is appropriate.

Analyse quality assurance and commissioning data related to external beam and brachytherapy treatment machines, CT scanners and associated equipment. Exercise judgement on when tolerances are exceeded, escalating as appropriate.

Analyse and interpret patient dosimetric calculations, assessments or measurements, e.g., electron cut-out factors, and investigate deviations from the required dose.

Advise on the acceptability of individual dose assessments, compare options and suggest treatment modifications to meet clinical tolerances.

Understand and apply relevant legislation, national standards, professional and other guidelines, e.g. IRR, IR(ME)R, ISO 9001, Data Protection Act, Caldicott and other relevant BSI and ISO standards, professional and regulatory body reports and guidelines.

Planning and Organisational SkillsAble to plan work required for commissioning new equipment within agreed time frames, often forming part of a wider plan, and involving multiple staff groups.

Understands the radiotherapy pathway and systems, enabling the effective management and support of clinical workflows.

Responsibilities for patient/client careProvide specialist clinical technical services within Radiotherapy Physics, assisting in the dosimetry, QA and maintenance of radiotherapy treatment machines and associated equipment, as well as in routine radiotherapy treatment planning as required; this work requires familiarity with the Radiotherapy Physics Quality Assurance procedures and national guidelines.

Develop and maintain specialist knowledge in Radiotherapy Physics.

Take the lead in particular projects (under supervision) intended to provide service development and improvement, achieved particularly through hardware and software developments.

Propose and play a part in the development of clinical and scientific procedures and work instructions to implement changes in clinical or scientific practice under the service quality management system.

Responsible for safe use of equipment by other staff members.

Responsibility for human resources (including training)Participate in the teaching, training and supervision of staff, students and other trainees, as required. This may include the preparation and giving of lectures on areas of Radiotherapy Physics to Scientific, Technical, Clinical, nursing and ancillary staff.

Able to plan workload for self and junior colleagues to ensure machine QA is completed within maintenance window, or dosimetry equipment is calibrated within appropriate time frame.

Keep careful records of all work performed and maintain department records as required.

Prepare reports, analyse and present scientific data when needed.

Participate in the development and introduction of new treatment technologies, techniques and dosimetry.

Freedom to ActWork independently, balancing the demands of routine planning, QA and dosimetry work, within clearly defined occupational policies with developmental projects.

Participate in wider radiotherapy activities, undertaking projects and tasks in accordance with agreed priorities and strategies.

Physical EffortMust be able to frequently sit in a restricted position for several long periods during a work session.

Able to move complex equipment, sometimes in confined spaces, and to install or remove delicate hardware components, taking appropriate anti-static precautions.

Able to lift medium/heavy weights on occasion (e.g. large monitor screens, Lead shielding blocks), attach scanning equipment to treatment machines, move large water reservoirs etc. Safe systems of work are imposed to minimise risk of injury.

Mental EffortFrequent requirement for concentration and is able to respond appropriately when subject to frequent unpredictable working patterns (e.g. when interrupted to provide urgent advice on the processing of data for a particular patient or treatment machine) or to meet service requirements, e.g., QA sessions.

Able to manage time flexibly to meet the requirements of the service.

Able to concentrate frequently and for prolonged periods (e.g. carrying out computer software development, troubleshooting, installation and testing or a sequence of Quality Assurance measurements) and processing measured beam data for the treatment planning system, commissioning measurements and radiation dosimetry.

Emotional EffortAble to deal with stressful circumstances (e.g. working to restore clinical systems to working order when patients and staff activity has been disrupted)

About us

Lincoln Hospital is a thriving university city and with the opening of the medical school, it provides all major specialties and a 24-hour major accident and emergency serviceUnited Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust has been granted teaching hospital status, after demonstrating evidence to significant teaching commitment. From now on it will be known as United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS) and United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust (ULHT) have come together in a Group arrangement, with the goal of improving the care provided to patients across the county.This will not constitute a formal merger of the two organisations, but will bring the Trusts together under a single Board and Executive Leadership Team, with the goal of improving the care that is provided to patients both in the community and in hospitals across Lincolnshire. Both Trusts will retain their separate statutory names and legal obligations.The Group will be known as Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals NHS Group (LCHG).