Clinical Scientist, Radiotherapy PhysicsNHS

Job summary

We are looking for a motivated registered, or soon to be registered, clinical scientist to join our friendly team in Radiotherapy Physics, Leicester.

The post holder will participate in all aspects of the service under a Lead Clinical Scientist, but have scope to develop their own interests within the scientific service.

You will join the department, based at Leicester Royal Infirmary, at an exciting time. A second Varian Halcyon linear accelerator will join our existing fleet (3 TrueBeams and 1 Halcyon) to improve patient treatments using modern equipment and techniques. Existing equipment includes the ARIA 18 Oncology management system and Eclipse with Rapidplan, Per Fraction, Prosoma Virtual Simulation software, 2 wide bore CT scanners with 4DCT (Canon and GE), an XStrahl superficial unit and a Varian Bravos brachytherapy unit housed in purpose-built Brachytherapy facility.

As a registered clinical scientist, the post holder will be required to cover all aspects of Radiotherapy Physics and work closely with dosimetrists, clinical oncologists and radiographers.

Main duties of the job

Main duties of the job:

Perform routine and complex treatment planning and checking for external beam radiotherapy.

Take part in the planning aspects of radiotherapy trials, such as plan QA and governance.

Take part in routine work related to the dosimetry, brachytherapy and other elements of the service.

Work with other radiotherapy physics staff to develop techniques and new ways of working to improve safety, quality and consistency of radiotherapy plan creation and delivery.

Job description

Undertake routine and complex treatment planning for external beam radiotherapy.

Carry out associated dosimetry calculations, in accordance with clinical prescription and agreed procedures.

Analyse requirements and make complex judgements regarding treatment parameters and patient dose effects to produce the required dose distribution over the treatment volume, using computerised planning systems as appropriate.

Advise clinical staff on the effects of various treatment plan options on patient dose distributions.

Discuss and agree approaches with clinical staff to create optimum treatment plans and advise on aspects of the treatment and patient set-up, as required.

Assist with the provision of routine physics support to brachytherapy treatments. Carry out dose calculations and prepare patient dose distributions.

Assist with providing routine support for physics dosimetry and quality control in radiotherapy, according to established protocols.

Undertake dosimetry measurements to a high degree of accuracy with suitable equipment.

Perform quality control and other measurements and procedures on highly complex, expensive (>£1 million) patient-critical equipment.

Perform and advise on dosimetry measurements on patients.

Provide complex advice to clinical staff and support developments in in-vivo dosimetry and mega voltage imaging.

Assist in the maintenance, application and development of treatment planning computer systems.

Provide scientific and technical advice to radiotherapy consultants and other staff regarding the treatment of patients.

Maintain HCPC registration.

Participate in the on-call/bleep Duty Physicist rota.

Please see job description/person specification for full details on the role.

About us

Our new strategy, developed with the support and feedback of colleagues, patients, and partners, is our compass for the next seven years (2023-2030).

We have four primary goals:

• high-quality care for all,
• being a great place to work,
• partnerships for impact, and
• research and education excellence

And we will embed health equality in all we do - taking active steps to reduce the avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities.

Our strategy is underpinned by new values and we will work to ensure they are an everyday reality for all:

• we are compassionate,
• we are proud,
• we are inclusive, and
• we are one team

This is an exciting moment as we look to the future with clarity on what we already do well and where we need to focus our energies to make an even bigger difference for the people we serve.

About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust:

https://www.uhleicester.nhs.uk