Detailed job description and main responsibilities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1.General

1.1. The place of work is normally The Christie, Withington, but the post holder may be required to carry out work at the Oldham, Macclesfield or Salford satellite centres, and other local hospitals according to work demand.

1.2. The post is full-time. Hours are worked flexibly, in agreement with the line manager, to provide round the clock services where necessary to cover the normal range of clinical duties.

1.3. Ensure all work complies with current UK legislation for work with ionizing radiation (IRR 2017, IRMER 2017) and the Trust’s ISO 9001:2008-compliant Quality Management System for the provision of radiotherapy.

1.4. The post holder must be and must remain registered as a Therapy Radiographer with the health professions council or be on the register of clinical technologists and undertake regular continuing professional development.

1.5. The post holder will be expected to perform Personal Development Reviews (PDRs) for colleagues within the Radiotherapy Physics team.

1.6. The post holder will assist with recruitment of new members of the Radiotherapy Physics team where appropriate.

2. Clinical Treatment Planning 

2.1. Assess the suitability of patient imaging, immobilisation and localisation information in preparation for treatment planning.

2.2. Produce highly complex radiotherapy treatment plans, based on the evaluation of anatomical and clinical information using a highly complex three-dimensional treatment planning system for photons.

2.3. Critically analyse and independently check routine highly complex treatment plans for transfer to linear accelerators.

2.4. Provide and independently check calculations for external beam radiotherapy.

2.5. Evaluate and approve pre-treatment verification details of final plans.

2.6. Transfer patient data to imaging systems and treatment machines.

2.7. Identify and report problems with clinical treatment planning systems

2.8. Use professional judgement to solve treatment planning problems in collaboration with medical physics experts.  

2.9. Give expert advice to clinicians on problems arising in clinical treatment planning.

2.10. Advise radiographers in the radiotherapy department on issues relating to the implementation of treatment plans.

2.11. Handle internal and external enquiries from other professional groups and patients. 

2.12. Communicate with patients (including pediatric patients) and relatives during preparation of specialist radiotherapy techniques and when problem solving in radiotherapy.

2.13. Participate in managing the implementation of new processes and techniques including the generation of work instructions for inclusion in the quality system.

2.14. Participate in clinical audit for the evaluation of service provision

2.15. Provide expert advice to other professional groups on both patient specific issues and on matters of clinical service provision, escalating issues where appropriate.

3.      Dosimetry and Quality Control

3.1. Perform routine patient specific treatment plan verification (including measurement and analysis) on the radiotherapy treatment machines and provide specialist training and advice in this discipline to Physicists and Dosimetrists.

3.2. The post holder will participate in the clinical quality control programme for highly complex radiotherapy equipment, including linear accelerators, imaging equipment and superficial therapy devices to ensure all such equipment is fit for clinical use.

3.3. Perform routine morning run-up and output measurements on linear accelerators. Provide specialist training and advice in this discipline to physicists and Dosimetrists.

3.4. Be involved in the commissioning process during the installation of new linear accelerators in the department. This work will include data collection working as part of a team with other staff groups and scheduling other Dosimetrists to perform tasks defined by the project leader.

3.5. Participate in the departments system for performing in-vivo dosimetry measurements. This will include calibration of dosimeters, analysing in-vivo dosimetry results, investigating measurements that are out of tolerance and maintaining a database of results.

4. Training and Education

4.1. Co-ordinate and deliver specialist training to Radiographers, Dosimetrists, and students in appropriate areas of radiotherapy physics. Assist with the specialist training of clinical scientists and clinical oncologists in the use of the treatment planning systems and treatment planning techniques.

4.2. Disseminate knowledge via lectures, tutorials, case studies and other appropriate methods; contribute to the departments CPD lectures.

4.3. Mentor less experienced staff and undertake regular reviews of progress and training.

5. Management

5.1. To deputise for lead advanced practitioner where appropriate.  

5.2. To supervise and roster the clinical duties of radiotherapy physics staff, assigning resources in the most appropriate way.

5.3. The post holder will be expected to prioritise and manage their own work and that of others on a day-to-day basis enabling daily targets to be met as per service level agreements.

5.4. Promote best practice and raise standards within a multi-disciplinary group.

5.5. Lead by example and facilitate less experienced staff to develop their skills and experience.

5.6. Identify problems, errors or near misses and follow up as appropriate, escalating to the team leaders and offering solutions or improvements.  

5.7. Provide leadership within the treatment planning team to ensure quality, safety and efficiency.

5.8. Participate in the development of the use of clinical IT systems for the benefit of the radiotherapy physics department and develop workflow efficiencies.

6. Research and Development

6.1. To be the radiotherapy advanced practitioner lead in clinical disease orientated groups, providing expert advice and specialist support in at least one treatment site.

6.2. Participate in projects for the review and development of clinical techniques, and for the support of clinical trials, in at least one treatment site.

6.3. To interpret national and international guidelines concerning the planning of the treatment sites allocated and to implement protocols to keep practice in line with recommended practice.

6.4. To work with other professionals to provide a coordinated service implementing new techniques and technologies to maximise efficiency and align priorities.