Senior Dosimetrist

The Radiotherapy Physics team at Plymouth is looking for a full-time experienced Dosimetrist or Therapeutic Radiographer with experience in Treatment planning and Mould room to join the specialist team.

A major part of the work involves the production and checking of advanced treatment plans, such as IMRT, VMAT, SABR, using 4DCT and IGRT. Alongside the clinical duties the post holder will support the development of planning techniques (SABR, SEP) and participate in the introduction of Radiotherapy Clinical Trials. Adaptive Radiotherapy Planning is in development, and the department upgraded to V15.6 ARIA/Eclipse in February 2019.

As part of the service provision, the department also has HDR Brachytherapy and Stereotactic radiotherapy services (SRS/T & SABR).

The Radiotherapy Department is equipped with three Varian linacs (Truebeam & Clinac ix), all with OBI, RapidArc and gating facilities. We also have a Novalis with ExacTrac® Image-Guided radiotherapy for stereotactic treatment (intracranial SRS and SRT). HDR Brachytherapy (including MRI guided) is delivered on a Varian GammaMed unit.

Pre-treatment imaging is carried out on the department’s widebore CT scanner and there is also access to MR and PET-CT in the hospital.

Treatment Planning is carried out on the Eclipse V15.6 Treatment Planning system, with >70% of patient treatment sites having RapidArc techniques as standard. The department has been working completely paperless since September 2021.
- Support the Radiotherapy Treatment Planning team to deliver a high standard quality clinical service in Treatment Planning & Mould room)
- Work alongside Head of Treatment Planning to co-ordinate, introduce and submit data for Radiotherapy Clinical Trials.
- Participate in developing and reviewing techniques and devices within the RTP Planning & Mould Room area, identify new systems and assess the practical implications in collaboration with Senior Dosimetrists & Head of Treatment Planning.
- Develop, review and update work instructions within the Quality System
- Participate in supporting Statutory training, where required.
- The post holder will report professionally and managerially to the Head of Treatment Planning (Lead Dosimetrist/ Healthcare Science Practitioner).
- The post holder will undertake specialist scientific and technical duties in each clinical work area within agreed criteria; under the management of the lead Healthcare Science Practitioner/Scientist in the particular work area they are assigned.
- A record of achieved local competencies in each area of radiotherapy physics will be maintained.
- The post holder requires the ability to prioritise demands, accommodate unplanned events and work without direct supervision.
- The post holder performs treatment preparation sessions directly with patients attending the Plymouth Oncology centre for cancer sessions and provides support for their relatives.

The Radiotherapy Physics team is part of the Directorate of Healthcare Science & Technology providing services to Radiotherapy & Oncology and Neurology.

As a team we are passionate about putting the patient first in all aspects of the job. We are the Peninsular centre for SRS/SRT Neuro treatments andhave commissionedNHS Services for SABR & OligoMet treatments.

We activelysupportRadiotherapy Clinical Trials.

The people we work with are important to us as individuals and as part of our team.

**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.**

Clinical

Treatment planning
1. Responsible for the manual and electronic import of radiological images (CT scans) to afford accurate interpretation for radiotherapy treatment planning purposes.
2. Independently identifies and delineates critical patient organs and avoidance structures at risk from acute or late radiation damage/ necrosis within patient image data sets.
3. Work in collaboration with the Consultant Clinical Oncologist to define the extents of the tumour volume and intended irradiation area. Provide guidance to junior clinical staff (Specialist Registrars) on the tumour definition process.
4. Responsible for independent validation and confirmation of critical data relating to tumour position/site against patient data sources.
5. Produce routine and complex radiation dose plans and carry out associated complex calculations to quantify the radiation dose received by the patient, in accordance with clinical prescription and agreed procedures, using computerised planning systems as appropriate.
6. Analyse proposed treatments and make highly analytical judgements regarding treatment parameters and patient radiation dose effects. Using visual objectivity and computerised dose volume histograms, to ensure adherence of dose uniformity and dose critical constraints.
7. Advise and discuss with clinical staff th