Technical Assistant

Job summary

An excellent opportunity has arisen for a permanent Band 4 Technical Assistant within the Imaging Physics and Radiation Protection group. You will work alongside a team of Scientists and Technologists to provide technical and scientific support delivering radiation assurance services across to several NHS Trusts.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be responsible for assisting with duties within Imaging Physics and Radiation Protection group.

The role will involve implementing operational procedures and will require organisational skills and a working knowledge of radiation protection, to support quality assurance testing, personal dosimetry services amongst other key group processes.

About us

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research.

The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call thisDelivering Compassionate Excellenceand its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence. These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via theOUH YouTube channel

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Description

JOB TITLE: Technical Assistant (Imaging Physics and Radiation Protection) GRADE: Band 4

Hours of work: hours per week. Responsible to: Head of Clinical Technology The department of Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering (MPCE) is responsible for providing scientific support and advice wherever ionising (eg x-rays and radioactive materials), non-ionising radiations (eg optical radiation) and medical devices, are used . The department contains 4 groups; Imaging Physics, Radioisotope Physics, Clinical Engineering & Clinical Measurement and the Scientific Computing & Operations group.

The Scientific Computing & Operations Group provides scientific computing services, manages assurance, governance and quality systems and provides a framework to support innovation, exploit new business opportunities and provide operational services, across the department of Medical Physics & Clinical Engineering (MPCE).

The group provides frontline IT support, leads and maintains the departments software development programme and is responsible for providing policies and procedures pertaining to safe scientific computing practices within MPCE.

The group leads the quality management system implementation programme and provides support and training to MPCE. The group provides quality management policies and procedures to comply with the relevant statutory and certification requirements, managing risks, incidents and clinical effectiveness through the department's Clinical Governance committee.

The group is accredited to provide training for STPs in the Clinical Bioinformatics (Physical Sciences) specialism and training supervision for rotations in Bioinformatics (Genomics & Health Informatics). The group has responsibility for managing the Trust's radiation assurance programme, which includes Trust-wide departmental radiation compliance audits, research assurance and radiation incident management.

JOB SUMMARY: The post holder will be responsible for assisting with technical business support duties within Medical Physics & Clinical Engineering and Radiotherapy Physics. The role will involve implementing operational procedures and will require a high degree of organisational skills and a working knowledge of business management systems within a scientific environment, providing support for quality, radiation assurance, governance and incident management within MPCE. The post holder will support the radiation assurance programme for MPCE.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. To take day-to-day responsibility for supporting the radiation research assurance To support radiation and computing-related scientific & technical services within Medical Physics & Clinical To assist with services supporting the operational management of the Medical Physics & Clinical Engineering To support the departmental audit To assist with the operation and management of the quality management system in line with departmental policies and To assist with the delivery of the personal dosimetry To assist with the delivery of the radioisotope ordering To support the department's CPD programme

2. Prioritise and manage own work to meet agreed Forge close positive working relationships across the department to achieve and sustain quality To carry out duties in line with the department's business management procedures.

3. Research and To provide support to research and development activities within the Participate in the department's audit programme.

4. Teaching and To train other staff in their own area of expertise.

5. Develop and maintain effective and professional communication and working relationships with all levels of personnel within MPCE and the wider Trust. Maintain an agreed programme of Attend suitable seminars and courses as part of training and personal development and to further work of the Support and contribute presentations to the departments CPD seminar Ensure that all aspects of the work are provided in accordance with a quality framework, and conform to relevant legislation, national protocols and Trust policies.

6. To ensure compliance with the policies and procedures in the areas of work for which the postholder carries responsibility. Participate in the development and routine operation of such Occasionally lift moderately heavy, cumbersome equipment for several short periods during a When working in other departments, the post holder will liaise with local heads of department, superintendents, nursing and management staff, adhering to local policies and practices. The postholder will behave courteously and professionally at all times and seek to ensure that the highest level of service is provided by their Work the hours necessary for the proper and efficient work performance within the flexible working system set up in the To have a positive attitude towards learning new skills To perform other appropriate duties which may be required from time to time by the Deputy Head of Frequently to use VDU equipment for periods up to the whole working day.

LIAISES WITH:Qualified Advisers Required by Statute, Radiographers, Clinical Scientists, Directorate Governance and Quality leads, Operational Management, Theatre staff.

Person Specification

Area

Definition(s)

Qualifications

Education & training

Educated to diploma level or equivalent qualification or has equivalent training, knowledge and experience, or an advanced EDCL qualification.

Knowledge & Experience

Specialist

Knowledge and experience of providing assurance and operational related support, preferably to scientific and technical services.

Able to assess and judge projects and formulate solutions.

Knowledge of electronic quality management systems.

Knowledge and practical experience of project management methodologies.

Knowledge and practical experience of audit

Knowledge of business support procedures and systems.

Able to document technical conversations and meetings with accuracy in a timely manner.

Can test and validate the operation of scientific equipment

Managerial

Able to participate and contribute to projects and take a lead role when required.

Able to prioritise and manage own work.

Able to exercise own initiative when dealing with issues within own specialist area of competence.

Able to train other staff on departmental procedures and policies within own area of work.

Able to comment on, and offer improvements to, procedures within own area of work

Skills

IT

Able to use Excel, Word, Access etc. to set up documents and spreadsheets and extract information.

Able to use specialist software packages (Trust wide and department specific).

Physical

Able to handle and operate scientific equipment

Able to use computers and carry equipment necessary for duties (carry laptop, papers to and from meetings/committees).

Able to lift heavy items such as files and folders

Mental

Self-motivation and ability to meet deadlines.

Able to cope with a busy working environment and respond appropriately to ad-hoc non-routine requests.

Have a positive attitude towards learning new skills.

Emotional

Rare exposure to distressing circumstances

Communication

Excellent communication skills

Able to work with a number of teams on a variety of sites.

Able to write basic reports relating to own area of work

Person Specification

Essential criteria

Essential

Educated to diploma level or equivalent qualification or has equivalent training, knowledge and experience, or an advanced EDCL qualification Knowledge and experience of providing assurance or operational related support, preferably to scientific and technical services Understanding of NHS and Healthcare in UK setting Able to use Excel, Word, Access etc. to set up documents and spreadsheets and extract information

Desirable

Full UK Driving Licencee

Essential Criteria

Essential

Relevant Experience Relevant skills and qualification

Desirable

NHS Experience

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