PRINCIPAL PHYSICIST
Job Specification & Terms and Conditions
Job Title and Grade / Principal Physicist (Grade Code 3816)Campaign Reference / NRS0777
Closing Date / Thursday, 1st November 2012 @ 12 Noon
Proposed Interview Date (s) / Week commencing 26th November 2012
Taking up Appointment / A start date will be indicated at job offer stage.
Location of Post / All HSE National Cancer Control Programme sites with an initial vacancy in
Dublin.
§ The Physics and Engineering Service for delivery of radiation oncology services in Dublin is delivered by a network model and the post may be located in one or more of the following locations: St. Luke’s Hospital, Dublin, the HSE facility on the campus of Beaumont Hospital, Dublin or the HSE facility on the site of St. James’s Hospital, Dublin.
§ Location of post will be determined based on workforce priorities as determined by the National Plan for Radiation Oncology (NPRO)
§ The incumbent can be expected to attend from time to time at locations other than his/her designated location.
Organisational Area / HSE: National Cancer Control Programme
Details of Service / To provide medical physics services to support the delivery of high quality radiation therapy to cancer patients.
To assume primary responsibility for the Physics aspects of external beam and brachytherapy services provided by the department
Informal enquiries can be made to either Chief Physicist Beaumont Hospital (01 704 5522) or Director of Physics St Luke’s Radiation Oncology Network (01 406 5262)
Reporting Relationship / To the relevant Chief Physicist or designate in the medical physics department.
Purpose of the Post / · To provide a leadership role and supporting management activities in delivering high quality services in a multi-disciplinary environment for radiation therapy.
· To provide leadership in and development of the Treatment Planning activities and systems in the department
· Enable the strategic development of medical physics within the National Cancer Control Programme.
· Lead on the development of the scientific elements of the discipline within the National Cancer Control Programme and the wider environment.
· To lead and provide guidance into on-going research activities within the physics department and hospital network.
· To initiate, develop and lead new research projects within the physics department and hospital network.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities / Specific duties and responsibilities will include:
Management Duties and Responsibilities
· Engaging and communicating effectively with senior management at hospital and national level.
· Contributing to the strategic development of the medical physics service.
· Leading the management and development of the medical physics department.
· All aspects of staff management to enable the deliver high quality services including performance management and disciplinary procedures.
· Representing the department across a wide range of departmental activities.
· Assisting in the development of skills and experience for staff.
· Organise, delegate and motivate others.
· Make decisions appropriate to the position.
· Developing and implementing local and national protocols and procedures.
· Maintaining and developing the existing research communication path between the physics department and clinical departments within the hospital
· Maintaining and developing the existing research communication path between the physics department and the local tertiary institutions
· Co-ordinating and developing the research strengths within the physics department.
Professional Duties and Responsibilities
· Contributing to the development and maintenance of treatment planning systems.
· Responsibility for co-ordination, motivation, scientific standards and attention to safe working practices.
· Provide a leadership role for medical physics within a multidisciplinary environment.
· Management of staff within the relevant section of the Physics Department
· Provide advice to consultants and other medical staff, radiographers, manufacturers and service engineers, and other physics staff.
· Establishing operational protocols and training protocols.
· Determining specifications for equipment purchases.
· Development and maintenance of accurate record keeping and production of reports.
· Responsibility for the organisation of high standards of work.
· Ensure an integrated working environment within the department and wider network.
· Identification of scientific and clinical developments in radiation therapy and implementation for the development o f the service.
· Initiate, evaluate and, where applicable, perform quality assurance tests.
· Initiate, develop and participate in teaching programmes.
· Identify, understand and determine implications of relevant EU Directives and Statutory Instruments.
· Development of the strategic platform of medical physics nationally.
· Identify and target areas within the clinical environment across the St Luke’s network that could be developed by physics research programs.
· Assist and encourage the publication and presentation of research activities performed by the department
· Deputise for the Chief Physicist when required
The above Job Description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.
Eligibility Criteria
Qualifications and/ or experience / Each candidate must have at the latest date of application: -
(a) (i) hold a recognised first or second class honours degree in which Physics was taken as a major subject and honours obtained in that subject;
or
or
hold a recognised first or second class honours degree in Electrical/Electronic/Mechanical/Clinical Engineering
and
(ii) hold a postgraduate (M.Sc. or PhD.) degree in Medical Physics/Clinical Engineering
or
(iii) hold recognised qualifications at least equivalent to (i) and (ii) above
(b) have at least seven years satisfactory experience, (at least three of which were at senior level), in one or more of the following fields:- Nuclear Medicine, Radiation Protection Procedures, Clinical Engineering, Radiological Physics, Medical Imaging, Radiotherapy Physics. Three of the above years must be in Radiotherapy Physics
(c) Possess the requisite knowledge and ability (including a high standard of suitability and of administrative capacity) for the proper discharge of the duties of the office.
Health
A candidate for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.
Character
Each candidate for and any person holding the office must be of good character
Age
Age restrictions shall only apply to a candidate where he/she is not classified as a new entrant (within the meaning of the Public Service Superannuation Act, 2004). A candidate who is not classified as a new entrant must be under 65 years of age on the first day of the month in which the latest date for receiving completed application forms for the office occurs.
Post Specific Requirements / · Demonstrate a track record in supervising and teaching at under graduate, graduate and professional levels.
· Demonstrate a track record in initiation, participation and completion of research and development programs
· Demonstrate experience of developing and implementing quality assurance programmes
· Demonstrate a track record of dealing with treatment planning issues and systems
Other requirements specific to the post / The individual will be required to be available on site in any of the Dublin network centres when required and to ensure consistency across the network
Skills, competencies and/or knowledge / Demonstrate the following Professional Knowledge and Experience:
· Extensive practical and theoretical knowledge of radiation therapy
· Practical and theoretical skills in advanced radiotherapy treatment
· Knowledge of different treatment planning algorithms and associated strengths and weaknesses
· Have detailed expertise of treatment machine calibration and calibration protocols
· Highly developed computer skills
· Detailed knowledge and expertise with modern medical imaging systems.
· Knowledge of DICOM-RT files
· Experience and expertise with the commissioning of new equipment and planning systems
· Experience of supervising postgraduate students to MSc and PhD level
Demonstrate evidence of the following skills and competencies:
· Strong planning and organising skills including awareness of resource management and importance of value for money
· Leadership and team management skills, including the ability to lead a multi-disciplinary team and strong motivation and innovative leadership skills for service developments
· The ability to lead change in a changing clinical and technical environment
· A quality patient/ customer focus
· Effective problem solving strategies, including the ability to be flexible and innovative in these challenging times
· Effective decision making skills regarding patient care based on clinical and scientific expertise.
· Effective communication skills which demonstrate the ability to collect, analyse, interpret and present information in a clear and concise manner and highly developed negotiation/influencing skills
· Excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to empathise with and treat patients and colleagues with dignity and respect
· A willingness to share knowledge and/or new ideas with staff and colleagues and encourage others
Competition Specific Selection Process
Ranking/Shortlisting / Interview / A ranking and or shortlisting exercise may be carried out on the basis of information supplied in your application form. The criteria for ranking and or shortlisting are based on the requirements of the post as outlined in the eligibility criteria and skills, competencies and/or knowledge section of this job specification. Therefore it is very important that you think about your experience in light of those requirements.
Failure to include information regarding these requirements may result in you not being called forward to the next stage of the selection process.
Those successful at the ranking stage of this process (where applied) will be placed on an order of merit and will be called to interview in ‘bands’ depending on the service needs of the organisation.
Code of Practice / The HSE will run this campaign in compliance with the Code of Practice prepared by the Commissioners for Public Service Appointments (CPSA). The Code of Practice sets out how the core principles of probity, merit, equity and fairness might be applied on a principle basis. The Codes also specifies the responsibilities placed on candidates, feedback facilitates for applicants on matters relating to their application when requested, and outlines procedures in relation to requests for a review of the recruitment and selection process and review in relation to allegations of a breach of the Code of Practice. Additional information on the HSE’s review process is available in the document posted with each vacancy entitled “Code of Practice, information for candidates.
Codes of practice are published by the CPSA and are available on www.careersinhealthcare.ie in the document posted with each vacancy entitled “Code of Practice, information for candidates or on www.cpsa-online.ie.
The reform programme outlined for the Health Services may impact on this role and as structures change the job description may be reviewed.
This job description is a guide to the general range of duties assigned to the post holder. It is intended to be neither definitive nor restrictive and is subject to periodic review with the employee concerned.
Terms and Conditions of Employment
Principal Physicist
Tenure / The appointment is whole-time, permanent and pensionable.A panel will be formed from which future permanent or specified purpose vacancies of full time or part time duration will be filled. The tenure of these posts will be indicated a job offer stage.
Appointment as an employee of the Health Service Executive is governed by the Health Act 2004 and the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointment) Act 2004.
Remuneration / The Salary scale for the post is (Salary Scale @ 01.01.2010):
€76,277 - €81,569 - €86,954 - €92,390 - €97,420 - €100,460 - €103,496 LSI’s
Working Week / The standard working week applying to the post is 35 hours.
HSE Circular 003-2009 “Matching Working Patterns to Service Needs (Extended Working Day / Week Arrangements); Framework for Implementation of Clause 30.4 of Towards 2016” applies. Under the terms of this circular, all new entrants and staff appointed to promotional posts from Dec 16th 2008 will be required to work agreed roster / on call arrangements as advised by their line manager. Contracted hours of work are liable to change between the hours of 8am-8pm over seven days to meet the requirements for extended day services in accordance with the terms of the Framework Agreement (Implementation of Clause 30.4 of Towards 2016).
Annual Leave / The Annual Leave applying to the post is to be confirmed at Job Offer stage and as determined by the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997.
Superannuation / All pensionable staff become members of the pension scheme.
Applicants for posts in the Mental Health service are advised that Section 65 of the Mental Treatment Act, 1945, does not apply to new entrants to the Mental Health Services as defined by the Public Service Superannuation(Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2004 (Section 12 of that Act) New entrants
Probation / Every appointment of a person who is not already a permanent officer of the Health Service Executive or of a Local Authority shall be subject to a probationary period of 12 months as stipulated in the Department of Health Circular No.10/71.
Protection of Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act 1998 / As this post is one of those designated under the Protection of Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act 1998, appointment to this post appoints one as a designated officer in accordance with Section 2 of the Act. You will remain a designated officer for the duration of your appointment to your current post or for the duration of your appointment to such other post as is included in the categories specified in the Ministerial Direction. You will receive full information on your responsibilities under the Act on appointment.
Ethics in Public Office 1995 and 2001
Positions remunerated at or above the minimum point of the Grade VIII salary scale (€ 64,812 as at 01.01.10) / Positions remunerated at or above the minimum point of the Grade VIII salary scale (€ 64,812 as at 01.01.2010) are designated positions under Section 18 of the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995. Any person appointed to a designated position must comply with the requirements of the Ethics in Public Office Acts 1995 and 2001 as outlined below;
A) In accordance with Section 18 of the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995, a person holding such a post is required to prepare and furnish an annual statement of any interests which could materially influence the performance of the official functions of the post. This annual statement of interest should be submitted to the Chief Executive Officer not later than 31st January in the following year.
B) In addition to the annual statement, a person holding such a post is required, whenever they are performing a function as an employee of the HSE and have actual knowledge, or a connected person, has a material interest in a matter to which the function relates, provide at the time a statement of the facts of that interest. A person holding such a post should provide such statement to the Chief Executive Officer. The function in question cannot be performed unless there are compelling reasons to do so and, if this is the case, those compelling reasons must be stated in writing and must be provided to the Chief Executive Officer.
C) A person holding such a post is required under the Ethics in Public Office Acts 1995 and 2001 to act in accordance with any guidelines or advice published or given by the Standards in Public Office Commission. Guidelines for public servants on compliance with the provisions of the Ethics in Public Office Acts 1995 and 2001 are available on the Standards Commission’s website http://www.sipo.gov.ie/
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