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The Christie NHS Foundation Trust

About
- Radiotherapy, in one of the world's largest radiotherapy departments and at our satellite radiotherapy centres in Oldham and Salford
- Chemotherapy, in the UK's largest chemotherapy unit, as well as via 10 other sites, a mobile chemotherapy unit and in patients’ homes
- Highly specialist surgery for complex and rare cancer. Click here to find out more about surgery at The Christie.
- A wide range of support and diagnostic services
Find out more about how we treat cancer.
We are a national cancer specialist based in Manchester
We serve a population of 3.2 million people across Greater Manchester and Cheshire while 26% of our patients are referred to us from across the UK.
We have an annual turnover of £230 million, operating with 2,500 staff, 300 volunteers, 30,000 public members and one of the largest hospital charities in the UK.
Find out more about our Foundation Trust
We have been delivering world-first breakthroughs for over 100 years
The Christie has been named, by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), as one of the best hospitals providing opportunities for patients to take part in clinical research studies.
The Christie has one of the largest trials portfolios in the UK, with over 650 active clinical trials.
We are part of the Manchester Cancer Research Centre working with The University of Manchester and Cancer Research UK. We are also one of seven partners in the Manchester Academic Health Science Research Centre.
We established The Christie School of Oncology to provide undergraduate education, clinical professional and medical education - the first of its kind in the UK.
web site May 2018
Contact
- Address
- The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
- Wilmslow Road
- Withington
- Manchester
- M20 4BX
- Contact Number
- 0161 446 3000
Principal Clinical Scientist
Accepting applications until: 18-Mar-2025 23:59
Vacancy status: Open
Accepting applications until: 18-Mar-2025 23:59
Key details
Location
- Gwefan
- CMPE Radiotherapy Physics Services - D00001
- Tref
- Manchester
- Cod post
- M20 4BX
- Major / Minor Region
- Manchester
Contract type & working pattern
- Contract
- Permanent
- Oriau
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Salary
- Cyflog
- £53,755 - £60,504 per annum
- Cyfnod cyflog
- Yearly
- Gradd
- (Band 8a)
Specialty
- Prif leoliad
- CMPE Radiotherapy Physics Services - D00001
Trosolwg o'r swydd
Applications are invited for an experienced and motivated clinical scientist to work as a Principal Clinical Scientist within radiotherapy physics at The Christie. The applicant is required to have HCPC registration, and to have sufficient experience to work as a Medical Physics Expert (MPE) in at least one discipline associated with radiotherapy physics as described in the job description.
The successful applicant will require significant experience in treatment planning and will work with the wider team to support and develop the service at The Christie. There is also the opportunity to work in an additional discipline within radiotherapy physics (Brachytherapy, Dosimetry, Imaging etc.). Opportunities will be available for development and training in leadership and management skills appropriate to the role. The successful applicant will work with a wide range of radiotherapy IT systems including treatment planning systems (RayStation, Monaco, Oncentra etc.), oncology management systems (Mosaiq), and auto-contouring packages including those based on deep-learning models (Limbus, RayStation, ProKnow).
Clinical scientists in the team are encouraged to present new ideas to improve the service and will be supported to develop them by the whole team. Medical Physics Experts are expected to play a central role in the supervision and management of these project ideas.
Advert
Clinical work in RT physics
The successful candidate will contribute to all aspects of the treatment planning service including treatment planning and checking, advising the multi-disciplinary team on issues relating to clinical treatment plans, and MPE support as required.
The successful candidate will provide clinical and MPE support to other disciplines within radiotherapy physics if appropriate following discussion with section leads.
Management
The role will involve line management responsibility for other staff and supervision of trainees.
The successful candidate may be required to produce and check quality system documentation and ensure they are reviewed appropriately.
The successful candidate will be required to contribute to both clinical audit and internal quality system audits.
Research & Development
The successful candidate will be expected to take an active role in research and development work, both undertaking their own projects and supervising others.
Teaching & training
The role will involve specialist teaching on MSc and DClinSci courses in collaboration with the University of Manchester along with the supervision of projects for STP and HSST trainees from The Christie and other institutions.
Gweithio i'n sefydliad
The Christie is one of Europe’s leading cancer centres, treating over 60,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 15% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country.
We provide radiotherapy through one of the largest radiotherapy departments in the world; chemotherapy on site and through 14 other hospitals; highly specialist surgery for complex and rare cancer; and a wide range of support and diagnostic services. We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years.
We run one of the largest early clinical trial units in Europe with over 300 trials every year. Cancer research in Manchester, most of which is undertaken on the Christie site, has been officially ranked the best in the UK.
Swydd-ddisgrifiad a phrif gyfrifoldebau manwl
1. General
1.1. To deputise for Consultant Clinical Scientists where appropriate.
1.2. Act as required in the role of Medical Physics Expert (MPE) under IR(ME)R, providing expert advice to other professional groups on both patient specific issues and on matters of clinical service provision and development.
1.3. To interpret national and international guidelines concerning the work of the Radiotherapy Physics section and implement protocols to keep the section’s work in line with recommended practice.
1.4. To supervise and roster the clinical duties of clinical scientists.
1.5. Ensure all work they carry out complies with current UK legislation for work with ionizing radiation (IRR 2017, IRMER 2017) and the Trust’s ISO 9001-2015-compliant Quality System for provision of radiotherapy.
1.6. To contribute to the radiotherapy physics clinical rota.
1.7. The post holder must be and must remain registered as a clinical scientist and complete an agreed scheme of Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
1.8. Provide specialist technical advice within the trust for the procurement of high capital value complex clinical equipment
1.9. The place of work is normally The Christie in Withington, but the postholder may be required to carry out work at other local hospitals with a radiotherapy service.
1.10. Hours are worked flexibly between 7:30 and 20:00, Monday to Friday, to cover the normal range of clinical duties.
2. Dosimetry
2.1. Maintain, develop and participate in the clinical quality control programme for highly complex radiotherapy equipment, including linear accelerators and simulators to ensure all such equipment is fit for clinical use.
2.2. Manage the on-going quality assurance of individual linear accelerators assigned by the Team Leader for Dosimetry through regular audit and be responsible for ensuring that appropriate actions are performed effectively, liaising with and delegating tasks to radiotherapy engineers and physicists as required.
2.3. Investigate and resolve highly complex problems highlighted through ongoing quality control measurements and reported equipment faults.
2.4. To carry the physics bleep on a rotational basis, responding to issues relating to the performance of radiotherapy equipment and clinical treatment plans, raised by radiographers and engineering staff, and providing scientific advice or performing measurements as appropriate.
2.5. To manage and plan linear accelerator commissioning through supervision of physicists, collecting the data required to provide accurate models of radiation treatment beams necessary to ensure efficient and safe clinical implementation of the clinical service.
2.6. To liaise with the Radiotherapy Technical Services Manager to ensure efficient and accurate transfer of information and appropriate allocation of tasks and responsibilities between engineering and physics staff.
3. Treatment Planning
3.1. To scientifically develop and maintain the clinical treatment planning system for new applications particularly with respect to patients.
3.2. To ensure that the data and calculation methods are accurate and the limitations understood and documented.
3.3. To be the physics lead for one or more specified clinical site, working closely in a multidisciplinary team to develop and maintain clinical protocols, techniques and the patient pathways.
3.4. To develop and maintain the clinical pre-treatment simulation hardware and software systems and commission them for new applications particularly with respect to patients treated across the Christie Network.
3.5. To optimise clinical protocols for the safe and effective clinical use of pre-treatment simulation equipment in conjunction with clinical oncologists, physicists and radiographers across the Christie Network,
3.6. To operate, maintain and develop quality assurance procedures for computerised treatment planning systems within the ISO 9001-2015 Quality System to ensure equipment and procedures are fit for clinical use.
3.7. To maintain the provision of an external beam simulation and planning service to the Radiotherapy Department across the Christie Network to ensure the accuracy of treatment plans and compliance with clinical requirements.
3.8. To ensure effective multidisciplinary team working in pre-treatment simulation and planning by working closely with clinical oncologists and therapy radiographers.
3.9. Operate on a rota with other physicists to deal with problems arising with pre-treatment simulation and clinical treatment plans.
3.10. To implement new and improved treatment planning techniques so that patients gain maximum benefit from the available equipment throughout the Christie Network.
3.11. Produce or independently check highly complex radiotherapy treatment plans, based on the evaluation of anatomical and clinical information using a highly complex treatment planning system.
3.12. Develop systems, including software development, to increase the efficiency of clinical pre-treatment simulation and planning in order to reduce delays in treatment and make best use of staff resources.
3.13. To liaise with the group leader and head of radiation protection service in the investigation and reporting of any case of suspected or actual mistreatment of any patient due to a failure within treatment planning
3.14. To identify areas where radiotherapy treatment improvements can be made and work as part of multidisciplinary teams.
4. Brachytherapy
4.1. To manage scientifically brachytherapy clinical treatment planning systems so that treatments can be effectively planned.
4.2. To maintain a brachytherapy data set to allow accurate dose calculation in brachytherapy.
4.3. To maintain the system of dosimetry for brachytherapy treatments to ensure brachytherapy dosimetry is linked to national primary standards.
4.4. To maintain and develop systems for quality assurance for brachytherapy within the ISO 9001 -2015 Quality System.
4.5. To ensure that the data and calculation methods are accurate and the limitations understood and documented.
4.6. Manage the safe storage of sealed radiotherapy sources at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust.
4.7. Be responsible for radiation safety in brachytherapy and liaise with the relevant radiation protection supervisors and radiation protection advisors to maintain the radiation protection quality system
4.8. To supervise the scientific aspects of brachytherapy treatments
4.9. Perform complex dosimetry calculations for individual brachytherapy treatments.
4.10. To perform highly complex brachytherapy treatment planning for clinical treatments.
4.11. To ensure that the radiotherapy physics aspects of clinical procedures required by the Ionising Radiation Medical Exposures Regulations (IRMER) are adequately documented.
4.12. To manage the commissioning of new techniques through supervision of physicists to ensure efficient and safe clinical implementation of the clinical service.
4.13. To liaise with clinical DOGs and to develop brachytherapy treatments.
4.14. To implement new brachytherapy techniques so that patients gain maximum benefit from the available equipment at The Christie.
4.15. To liaise with the group leader and head of radiation protection service in the investigation and reporting of any case of suspected or actual mistreatment of any patient due to a failure within brachytherapy.
5. Management
5.1. Participate in workforce development i.e. recruitment and appraisal.
5.2. Undertake project management and analysis.
5.3. Prioritise and manage project work flow in accordance with section policies and competing service demands. Propose changes to working practices and procedures.
5.4. Manage the commissioning process for new and developing equipment as required and develop an appropriate QA program within the Trust’s Quality System.
5.5. Negotiate with clinical and technical staff and equipment manufacturers to provide all necessary support for equipment, resulting in maximum clinical usage of equipment.
6. Teaching and training
6.1. To supervise appropriate clinical staff in training
6.2. To lecture to post graduate scientists, senior physicists, radiographers, specialist registrars and others and assist in the organisation of the department’s teaching programmes
6.3. To provide suitable clinical placements for Medical Physics trainees, training for junior clinical oncologists, therapy radiographers and to take part appropriately in other relevant teaching and lecturing.
6.4. To supervise M.Sc. students performing project work.
7. Clinical development
7.1. Identify areas where radiotherapy treatment improvements can be made and work as part of multidisciplinary teams.
7.2. Implement new and improved techniques so that patients gain maximum benefit from the available equipment at The Christie.
7.3. In at least one treatment site be the physics lead in liaison with clinical DOGs, providing expert physics advice and specialist technical support for the review and development of clinical techniques.
7.4. In at least one treatment site co-ordinate ongoing significant scientific projects for the review and development of clinical techniques and the support of clinical trials.
More job details on Job Description.
The closing date for this post may be extended if there are insufficient applicants or brought forward if there is a high volume of applicants.
We want to ensure that everyone who works at the Christie or uses our services is welcomed, valued and treated with dignity and respect. The Christie values diversity and is committed to ensuring equal opportunities for all and fair representation across the organisation at all levels. In support of these commitments, we particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and other ethnic minority people and people with disabilities for this post. Appointment will be only on merit.
We are committed to creating a balanced and diverse workforce. As such we welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. Together we will foster inclusion and tackle inequity and health inequalities in cancer care.
As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy
All positions within the Christie are subject to the receipt of satisfactory written references, medical clearance and evidence of your Right to Work in the UK. Some roles will require a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check. Please note if you are successfully appointed to a post with this Trust, you will be required to pay for your own DBS Disclosure.
By applying for this post you are agreeing to The Christie NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system. Please note, all communication regarding your application will be made via email, please ensure you check your junk/spam folders as emails are sometimes filtered there.
If you have not heard from us within four weeks of the closing date, I regret that on this occasion your application will have been unsuccessful.
The Inter-Authority Transfer (IAT) process is a critical and beneficial component of ESR and will form part of the recruitment process. In the event that you are successful following interview your previous NHS employment data, if applicable will be transferred from your current / most recent employer.
Overseas candidates wishing to apply for this position and who would require immigration sponsorship, may wish to self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship for the post on the UKVI website.
You should be aware the Trust operates a No Smoking Policy and therefore employees are not permitted to smoke at work.
Applicant requirements
Person specification
Qualifications
Meini prawf hanfodol
- BSc in Physics
- MSc in Medical Physics
- Corporate Membership of IPEM
- HPC registration as a clinical scientist
Meini prawf dymunol
- PhD
Experience
Meini prawf hanfodol
- Appropriate experience to satisfy Medical Physics Expert status
Meini prawf dymunol
- Publication and public presentation.
- Experience of modern and emerging clinical radiotherapy techniques, treatment planning and image guidance in radiotherapy
- Experience of RayStation treatment planning system
Skills
Meini prawf hanfodol
- Multi disciplinary team working
- Use of radiation monitoring and scanning equipment, working to millimetre precision.
- Use of computer-based treatment planning software.
- Able to understand and adapt a range of computer systems to meet the requirements of clinical techniques or equipment quality control.
- Data analysis, including use of Excel and Access (or similar packages).
- Scientific report writing/track record of publications in scientific journals and conferences.
Meini prawf dymunol
- Research skills
Knowledge
Meini prawf hanfodol
- Extensive knowledge of radiotherapy physics.
- Extensive knowledge of relevant legislation, national standards, professional guidelines (e.g. IRR’17, IRMER 2017, ISO:9001,2015, IPEM Codes of Practice)
- Understanding of the clinical role of radiotherapy.
- Understanding of the hazards posed by the clinical use of radiation (both man-made and sealed source).
Meini prawf dymunol
- Knowledge of one or more computer programming languages (e.g. python).
- Multi disciplinary team working
Values
Meini prawf hanfodol
- Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours
Professional Engagement
Meini prawf hanfodol
- Enthusiasm and commitment
Further details / informal visits contact
- Enw
- Matthew Clarke
- Teitl y swydd
- Radiotherapy Physics Group Leader
- Cyfeiriad ebost
- [email protected]
- Rhif ffôn
- 01610 918 7180
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