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Job summary

Main area
Consultant Healthcare Scientist in Medical Physics (Diagnostic Radiology and Radiation Protection)
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 8c
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
216-AH-C6055612-A
Employer
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Derriford Hospital
Town
Plymouth
Salary
£70,417 - £81,138 Per Annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
19/05/2024 23:59

Employer heading

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust logo

Clinical Scientist Imaging/ Radiation Protection Diagnostic Radiology

NHS AfC: Band 8c

Job overview

Applications are invited for this exciting professional and managerial opportunity at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust to support the operational management and raise the scientific profile of the Clinical and Radiation Physics Group. 

Amongst other professional roles and skillsets, the successful candidate will hold a certificate of competence (RPA2000) as a Radiation Protection Adviser and Medical Physics Expert.

The role will be critical in providing managerial and leadership support to the Head of Clinical and Radiation Physics and will contribute to the strategic direction of the group during an exciting period of service development. This is a formal deputy position to the Head of Department and an excellent opportunity for those wishing to develop in leadership and management.

We welcome applications from highly demonstrably  experienced candidates, offering the possibility of advancement into senior management and leadership roles as part of our commitment to continued professional growth and progression.  

Informal enquiries are welcomed, please contact Rob Loader, Head of Clinical & Radiation Physics (01752) 439669 [email protected]

 

Main duties of the job

The Clinical & Radiation Physics group in Plymouth has an excellent reputation with both internal and external customers.  We work closely with our clinical colleagues to deliver high quality, safe and patient centred radiological imaging and therapy services to our patients and 

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust provides acute and specialist services to Plymouth and the wider Southwest Peninsula, has teaching status as part of the Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine, Dentistry, and Radiography, and hosts one of the UK’s radiology academies.  The Trust hosts the Peninsula Trauma Centre, providing all the major specialist services relevant to the care of major trauma, i.e. general surgery, emergency medicine, vascular, orthopaedic, plastic, spinal, maxillofacial, cardiothoracic and neurological surgery and interventional radiology.  Our Trust is expanding rapidly, recognising the key benefits of medical Imaging and therapeutic uses of Ionising radiation in optimising patient experience and outcome. The service provides scientific support to West Devon & East Cornwall Breast Screening Programme and excellent operational relationships with R&D, Medical Imaging, and other Service Lines as an onsite service provider.  

***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as ‘Priority’ and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***

 

Working for our organisation

We are a people business – where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY.

If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment team on 01752 432100. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission.

We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

 

PRIMARY DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

·         Appointed as Medical Physics Expert under IRMER 17 for Diagnostic & Interventional Radiology

·         Appointed as Radiation Protection Adviser under the Ionising Radiations Regulations

·         Appointed as Radioactive Waste Adviser under the Environmental Permitting Regulations (desirable)

·         Deputise to the Head of Clinical & Radiation Physics

1.  CLINICAL SCIENTIFIC

1.1          To act as an appointed Radiation Protection Adviser (RPA) for the Trust and its customers. In providing RPA services, to discuss, analyse and advise independently and without supervision, and to receive, analyse and present highly complex information, to the Trust at all levels up to, and including, the Chief Executive. RPA duties include:

1.1.1          to provide expert advice to the Chief Executive, senior management and staff at all levels on all aspects of radiation safety in the use of radiation generators and radionuclides.

1.1.2          to provide expert advice on compliance with all relevant radiation safety legislation.

1.1.3          to provide expert advice on the design of new facilities and techniques where ionising radiations are used.

1.1.4          to provide advice on protection of staff and the public from radiation hazards, and on actions to be taken in the event of a radiation incident;

1.1.6          to conduct audits of compliance with radiation safety legislation and Trust policies on a regular basis, to report the results of audits in writing, and to make recommendations for actions and improvements to the Trust at a senior level.

1.1.7          to formulate, develop and maintain the radiation safety policies and strategies of the Trust to meet standards required by radiation safety legislation, and to advise heads of departments on the implementation of these policies and strategies through local procedures and codes of practice.

1.1.8          to provide dose assessments or estimates for staff, and the public as required and to report findings and make recommendations to heads of service.

1.1.9          to conduct surveys of radiation areas in order to assess and monitor levels of radiation exposure to staff, patients and visitors, to report findings in writing and to formulate measures for dose reduction and optimisation.

1.1.10        for the Trust, to ensure, prior to purchase, that radiation equipment purchased is necessary and can be operated in a safe manner by qualified staff.

1.1.11        to advise on the specification, commissioning, acceptance and quality assurance of all equipment generating radiation, monitoring radiation or restricting radiation exposure in relation to the safety of staff and public.

1.1.13        to be responsible for, and to provide instruction and training in radiation protection.

1.2          To act as a Medical Physics Expert (MPE) to the Trust and its customers for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology. In doing so, to understand the clinical aspects of medical exposures and to present highly complex information to clinicians and other staff involved in medical exposures, and, where relevant, to patients and others undergoing a medical exposure. The MPE role is carried out independently and without supervision. MPE duties include:

1.2.1          to provide expert advice on the optimisation of diagnostic medical exposures and on patient dosimetry and quality assurance.

1.2.2          to provide dosimetry data for standard operating protocols at the request of the relevant department manager.

1.2.3          to provide radiation dose data to clinicians for individual medical exposures, including research exposures, to enable the clinical justification of an exposure to occur.

1.2.4          to give expert advice to clinicians on the appropriate information to be given to patients and research volunteers regarding their medical exposure and how they might minimise the radiation dose to themselves and others.

1.2.5          to give expert advice on the establishment of diagnostic reference levels for medical exposures and on their use in auditing current clinical practice regarding medical exposures.

1.1.5          to provide expert advice on dose minimisation to comforters and carers who may be exposed to radiation in their care of an exposed individual.

1.2.6          to give expert advice to the Trust on the implementation of legislation relating to medical exposures and in general on the radiation protection of the patient.

1.2.7          to advise on the specification, commissioning, acceptance, and quality assurance of all equipment generating radiation, monitoring radiation or restricting radiation exposure in relation to the safety of staff and public.

1.2.8          to advise on the investigation and analysis of incidents involving suspected accidental or unintended exposure to patients.

1.3   To act as a Medical Physics Expert in the Physics of Diagnostic Radiology under the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations i.e. to act as a lead source of knowledge and expertise in this field.

1.4   Responsible for the planning and delivery of the programme of radiation safety and equipment and performance testing of highly complex, patient critical, x-ray equipment, to ensure statutory compliance, and adherence to professional standards.

1.5   Test highly complex, patient-critical x-ray equipment requiring high precision measurements. Analyse results and provide reports and advice on findings to the Trust and users on the safety and efficacy of the use of the equipment.

1.6   Advise on and assist with safe methods for storage and disposal of solid and liquid waste including maintenance of disposal records, liaison with the Environment Agency, licence applications and associated assessment of the local environmental impact of disposals.

 

Person specification

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria
  • • Highly advanced theoretical and practical expert proven knowledge of the field of Radiation Safety, including the knowledge required to act as a Radiation Protection Adviser for a large teaching hospital and other academic and commercial organisations.
  • • Highly advanced specialist proven knowledge of the Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 and their application to a medical and biomedical research environment.
  • • Advanced specialist proven knowledge of radiation issues in Radiology sufficient to act as a Medical Physics Expert under the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017.
  • • Ability to apply proven knowledge and demonstrable experience in making judgements regarding the safe and optimal use of radiation by themselves and others, involving objective assessment of benefits and detriments associated with various options available.
Desirable criteria
  • • Specialist proven knowledge in other legislative areas such as Road Transport of Radioactive Materials, Trans-frontier Shipment of Radioactive Materials Radiation Emergency Preparedness etc.
  • • Demonstrable experience managing a scientific service or specialist service
  • • Proven knowledge required to act as Radioactive Waste Adviser for a large teaching hospital and other academic and commercial organisations
  • • Specialist proven knowledge of the Environmental Permitting Regulations.

Knowledge and Experience - Managerial

Essential criteria
  • • Demonstrable experience of HR processes
  • • Able to prioritise and manage own work
  • • Able to implement policies and procedures in own work and to advise on policy and procedure review, development and implementation in services provided by others
  • • Well-developed planning and organisational skills

Knowledge and Experience - Clinical

Essential criteria
  • • Highly specialised proven knowledge of clinical issues and their implications for radiation dosimetry purposes
  • • Ability to provide highly specialised advice on the use of radiation for patient diagnosis and treatment, for routine care and when planning and implementing a research programme
  • • Basic proven knowledge of relevant anatomy, physiology, and pathology
  • • High level of understanding of patient and staff risks arising from equipment failure and staff error
  • • High Level of understanding of risk management processes

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • • Good (1st or 2nd class) Honours degree in a relevant subject [e.g. Physics]
  • • MSc in a relevant subject [e.g. Radiation Physics]
  • • HCPC registration as a Clinical Scientist
  • • Certificate of competence to act in the following certificated roles: o Radiation Protection Adviser (RPA) o Medical Physics Expert (MPE)
Desirable criteria
  • • Certificate of Competence in RWA
  • • Laser Protection Adviser certificate
  • • Management Qualification
  • • Membership of IPEM (MIPEM/FIPEM)
  • • Membership of SRP
  • • Membership of BIR

Aptitudes and Abilities

Essential criteria
  • • Expert proven knowledge of the techniques employed to measure the performance and radiological safety of state of the art X-ray imaging equipment.
  • • Demonstrable ability in interpreting different situations and judging measures required to ensure compliance in areas that relate to the legislation listed above
  • • Advanced proven knowledge of the use of specialist testing equipment employed to measure the safety and performance of radiological equipment.
  • •• Able to use other specialised software relating to radiation safety information and radiation dose/exposure calculations

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Disability confident leaderArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - Gold

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Rob Loader
Job title
Head of Clinical & Radiation Physics
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01752 439669
Additional information

***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as ‘Priority’ and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***

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