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NORTHERN IRELAND REGIONAL MEDICAL PHYSICS AGENCY
JOB DESCRIPTION
Post Senior Clinical Scientist – Radiotherapy (Brachytherapy)
Grade Band 7
Base Cancer Centre, Belfast City Hospital
Travelling, as required, to any other Health Service or Medical Physics Agency supported facility (all are located within Northern Ireland at present).
Line Manager Lead Brachytherapy Clinical Scientist, Radiotherapy Physics Service
Responsible to Head of Radiotherapy Physics Service
Job Role The post holder will work predominantly in the Brachytherapy Service of Radiotherapy Physics but will also participate in the general radiotherapy physics service provision to the Northern Ireland Cancer Centre.
Principal Duties
1. To work within the Brachytherapy group and participate in:
· the calibration and quality assurance of brachytherapy treatment units
· the planning and dosimetry of clinical brachytherapy treatments
· the commissioning and implementation of new brachytherapy equipment including afterloading units, applicators and associated planning systems
· the commissioning and implementation of brachytherapy dosimetry and quality assurance equipment
· the development, implementation & support of a prostate seed implant service
2. To participate in other Clinical Scientist led services of Radiotherapy Physics in relation to external beam therapy including:
· The assessment and development of imaging techniques and tools of use in the treatment planning process
· Support the development, introduction & maintenance of new radiotherapy techniques
· Support of the quality assurance programme
· Support the commissioning of new radiotherapy and related equipment under the appropriate guidance of a senior physicist
· The reintroduction of radiotherapy equipment to clinical use following planned service or repair
· Maintain and implement current dosimetry protocols and traceability of dosimetry equipment to national standards
General Duties
3. To liaise with other staff in NIRMPA as required for the effective provision of radiotherapy physics services.
4. Supervise and take responsibility for the work of other Medical Physicists and Medical Technical staff when they are performing work under the postholder’s direction.
5. To provide and assist with the provision of in-house teaching and training of scientific, technical and other staff within the Radiotherapy Physics Section, including the production of teaching notes and materials.
6. To provide and assist with the provision of lectures, tutorials and practical instruction for medical, scientific, technical and other staff outside the Section as required.
7. To participate in and support appropriate research and development.
8. To participate in the Section’s ‘on-call’ scheme, work outside normal working hours, and provide emergency cover as and when required.
9. To attend training courses and meetings as required.
10. To comply with the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Legislation.
11. To undertake other duties to maintain existing services or develop new services.
12. To comply with the Data Protection Act, respecting our clients rights to confidentiality.
13. To participate in Staff Review.
14. To comply with the requirements of The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 and Ionising Radiations Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000.
15. To participate in the departmental Quality Assurance programme (ISO 9002), following standard procedures and protocols as required.
16. To comply with requirements under the Patients Charter
17. To assist with the supervision of trainee clinical scientists.
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES
To assist the Agency in the fulfillment of its statutory duty under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, to provide equality of opportunity and the promotion of good relations.
To support the Agency in complying with its obligations under Human Rights legislation.
To support the Agency in advancing its compliance with Risk Management Controls Assurance Standards and to contribute to improving governance across the Agency.
RECORDS MANAGEMENT
All employees of the Agency are responsible for all records held, created or used as part of their business within the Agency including patient/client, corporate and administrative records whether paper-based or electronic and also including emails. All such records are public records and are accessible to the general public, with limited exceptions, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 and the Data Protection Act 1998. Employees are required to be conversant with the Agency’s policy and procedures on records management and to seek advice if in doubt.
This job description will be subject to review in the light of changing circumstances and may include other duties and responsibilities as may be determined. It is not intended to be rigid or inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works.
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NORTHERN IRELAND REGIONAL MEDICAL PHYSICS AGENCY
Personnel Specification
Post Senior Clinical Scientist – Radiotherapy (Brachytherapy)
Grade Band 7
Applicants must clearly demonstrate on the application form evidence of the qualifications* and experience noted below. Only information contained in the application form will be considered at the shortlisting stage.
ESSENTIAL CRITERIAThe qualities without which a post holder could not be appointed / DESIRABLE CRITERIA
Extra qualities which can be used to choose between candidates who meet all the essential criteria / METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
QUALIFICATIONS / 1. A minimum of a 2nd class Honours degree, or equivalent, in Physics or other appropriate science subject.
2. HPC state registration as a Clinical Scientist or equivalent or eligible for State Registration within 12 months of appointment. / 1. MSc- Medical Physics or equivalent.
2. PhD in Medical Physics.
3. Publication record in radiotherapy physics or related subject.
4. MIPEM / Certificates / Publications
EXPERIENCE / 1. A minimum of 4 years’ post graduate experience in medical physics, predominantly in radiotherapy. / 1. Operational experience of a variety of Treatment Machines, Treatment Planning Systems, and Radiation Physics Equipment and associated QA / Application Form
Interview
References
SKILLS / 1. Able to communicate scientific issues to scientists and non-scientists with good verbal, written and audio-visual production & presentation skills.
2. Computer analysis, data manipulation and its display
3. Teaching skills / 1. Demonstrable experience of:
report production,
use of presentation packages eg PowerPoint. / Application Form
Interview
References
KNOWLEDGE / 1. Demonstrable understanding of the principles of radiation physics and Radiotherapy.
2. Understanding of the relevant Codes of Practice for dosimetry.
3. Understanding of the legislation as applied to the use of radiation in hospitals.
4. Quality Assurance schemes and principles in Radiotherapy.
5. Health & Safety principles and practice. / 1. Principles and practice of data analysis, aggregation of uncertainties, and statistics.
2. Principles of radiotherapy physics research methods.
3. Basic knowledge of radiobiology and the consequences of changing patient fractionation / Application Form
Interview
References
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES / 1. Motivated, enthusiastic team worker but with ability to work independently
2. Able to give quick reasoned accurate guidance in stressful situations.
3. Willing to work flexible hours to allow the service to be covered
4. Able to solve scientific and clinical problems independently / 1. Vision for development of the subject without supervision.
Applicants please note:
Whilst elements of the essential criteria of the Personnel Specification will form the basis for shortlisting, these may become more stringent by tightening of the current criteria.
* The appointment is subject to proof of the attainment of any qualifications deemed essential to the post and used as a basis for shortlisting. Failure to provide evidence of the required qualifications prior to taking up the post will result in the offer of employment being withdrawn.
All appointments to the Agency are subject to assessment by the Occupational Health Service.
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