Practice Educator

Job Summary:

We are seeking a highly skilled Clinical Scientist to join our team as a Practice Educator - Principal Clinical Scientist (Diagnostic & Protection). This is a unique opportunity to combine practice education and leadership development within radiation protection and radiology physics.

Main Duties:

• Manage the delivery of training programmes and provide support to trainees, including planning, delivery, and assessment.
• Develop and review training activities, training plans, and assessments for the training programmes.
• Lead the optimisation of the training framework to accelerate training delivery and improve quality and effectiveness.
• Collaborate with the CMPE STP Training Coordinator and other specialism training officers in relation to training delivery.
• Provide support in maintaining the Departments accreditations as a training centre.
• Alert the senior managers to funding opportunities for training posts and courses, as appropriate.
• Support students and be concerned for their health and wellbeing.
• Participate in workforce development, including selection, recruitment, and retention of staff.
• Act as day-to-day manager and training supervisor for clinical technologist and clinical scientist trainees, undertake inductions, regular 1:1 meetings, and conduct annual appraisals.
• Support the DRRPS Training Lead in engaging with stakeholders to develop a strategy on increasing and optimising training capacity and training delivery in the North West.
• Support the DRRPS Training Lead in liaising with other training centres in the North West, with the Northern Training Consortium (and potentially nationally) to explore opportunities of collaboration and sharing delivery.
• Support the DRRPS Training Lead and Group Leader in workforce planning and managing the Groups activities.
• Support the DRRPS Training Lead in working with the North West Imaging Academy to design and deliver multi-professional training.
• Support the DRRPS Training Lead in preparing funding bid submissions and progress reports for NHSE, as required.
• Participate in the ISO9001 Quality System for the Group.
• Ensure work is carried out with regard for H&S training and policy.

Teaching and Training:

• Manage the development, review, and delivery of training activities, training plans, and assessments for the training programmes.
• Participate in the delivery of training activities and assessments.
• Work closely with, support, and monitor progress of trainees.
• Provide clear, concise, and constructive feedback to trainees and other relevant staff.
• Promote a culture of learning, development, and reflective practice.
• Develop a trainer/supervisor training and mentoring programme.
• Improve the existing communication channels between trainees and supervisors.
• Collect and act upon feedback from trainees, training offices, and other scientific and clinical staff who are involved in the delivery of the Groups training programmes.
• Undertake IPEM training moderator training to fulfil this role to support the clinical technologist training scheme(s).
• Expand our apprenticeship pathway utilisation level 4 medical physics.
• Explore advanced practice pathways for clinical technologists involvement in clinical practice, leadership, and management, education, and research leading to a recognised award (and subsequent opportunity for promotion).
• Open up workshops on professional practice to other groups as appropriate other physics departments or HCS disciplines.

Communication:

• Communicate effectively highly complex scientific/regulatory knowledge and advice to scientific/clinical staff, using effective and appropriate skills and digital technologies.
• Liaise with Universities and other training providers in relation to academic programme matters.
• Liaise with clinical services and other relevant services in relation to clinical training matters.
• Modify your own means of communication to address individuals communication needs and preferences.
• Share appropriate information with our customer base, potentially as a training course.

Research and Development:

• Identify appropriate areas for project development and provide support and supervision to BSc and MSc projects.
• Keep up to date with developments in the field of diagnostic radiology physics and radiation protection (and optical).
• Undertake research and service development work aimed at both improving the CMPE service and the optimisation of radiological techniques in the health service.
• Publish research in internationally recognised peer-reviewed research and/or educational journals and present at national/international meetings (secondary aspect though promotion of work is encouraged/expected).

Professional:

• Be aware of national strategies and bring these into the teaching/development of trainees and the department approaches to operating digital, workforce, networks, etc.
• Be involved in relevant national activities and initiatives, including the development of national guidance and playing an active role in national professional organisations.
• Network and collaborate effectively with key stakeholders HCS leads, Imaging Networks/ICB leads, NHSE, other educators, and professional leads within and outside DRRPS.
• Collaborate with Practice Educators at a national level.
• Share learning as appropriate.
• Maintain state registration as a Clinical Scientist.
• As appropriate, maintain recognition as a Medical Physics Expert, an up-to-date certificate of competence as a Radiation Protection Adviser, and Laser Protection Adviser.
• Ensure that all aspects of work comply with current regulations, standards, policies, the Groups Quality Management System, and the Trusts policies, values, and behaviours.
• Attendance at a suitable course may be appropriate to fulfil this post effectively and can be identified with your manager education, leadership, and management, etc.
• Behave professionally at all times.

General:

• Daily, long period use of screens.
• Concentrate for long periods with frequent interruptions.
• Occasional distressing circumstances as a result of managing the performance of others.

Person Specification:

Qualifications:

Essential:

• Good honours degree in appropriate physical science.
• Higher degree (MSc or equivalent).
• State registered Clinical Scientist.
• Recognition as MPE and/or certificate of competence as RPA (or expected to gain one within 12 months).

Desirable:

• Postgraduate diploma in learning and teaching in higher education.
• Corporate membership of IPEM or other equivalent professional body.
• PhD or equivalent research experience.
• LPA certification.

Experience:

Essential:

• Previous experience in our field post Clinical Scientist registration, or equivalent (minimum agreed time to gain entry-level expert competence).
• In-depth experience in testing x-ray equipment.
• Provision of highly specialist scientific support in diagnostic radiology and radiation protection (to RPA and/or MPE level).
• Experience in delivering Clinical Scientist training programmes.

Desirable:

• Experience in delivering Clinical Technologists training programmes.
• Identifying, planning, and undertaking research or service development work.
• Supervision and management experience.

Skills:

Essential:

• Good computer skills (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access).
• Ability to position intricate test tools with precision and within a tight timescale.
• Analysis & interpretation of investigations/results, drawing conclusions.
• Problem-solving.
• Scientific report writing.
• Ability to apply health & safety and risk management principles to practical scenarios.
• Teaching skills.
• Clear and articulate communicator.
• Good organisational skills.
• Good interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to prioritise and manage own work.
• Ability to critically self-reflect and improve own practice.
• Ability to handle challenging/distressing situations with professionalism.
• Ability of self-motivated working.
• Resilience.

Desirable:

• Advanced computer applications such as image analysis and processing.
• Ability to produce good publications in scientific journals and conferences.

Knowledge:

Essential:

• Expert knowledge of radiological physics and radiation protection and regulatory framework.
• In-depth knowledge of X-ray equipment.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of teaching methods and assessment.
• Basic understanding of HR policies and procedures.
• Working knowledge of quality management systems.
• Related professional standards.

Values:

Essential:

• Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours.