Higher Principal Clinical Scientist

Job summary

Applications are invited for a Higher Principal Clinical Scientist to join the proton therapy physics group at The Christie in Manchester and take the lead for proton treatment planning or dosimetry. The applicant is required to have HCPC registration and significant experience to act as a Medical Physics Expert.

The successful applicant will be part of a multidisciplinary team involved with the development and delivery of the national proton therapy service at The Christie. The physics team is required to support the service expansion through the development of new treatment sites whilst maintaining a treatment planning and dosimetry service for increasing patient numbers. Scientists in the team are encouraged to present new ideas to improve the service and will be supported to develop them by the whole team.

Though previous proton experience is more than welcome we appreciate that applicants may not have much experience in this area. Training and development will be provided for those looking for a new challenge and to build on existing radiotherapy experience.

Main duties of the job

Physicists in the proton therapy physics team are involved in all aspects of the service including treatment planning and checking, machine QC and peer review of proton therapy cases with the wider multi-disciplinary team. Treatment planning is performed for both proton and photon treatments to be used in contingency scenarios. There is significant opportunity to undertake self-directed project work aligned with the group's overall objectives. We have a close working relationship with the University of Manchester's research groups and other centres providing opportunity for academic collaboration. Everyone in the team is encouraged to undertake further development and time is protected within the work schedule to enable this.

The proton therapy physics team includes physicists, radiographers and technologists who all play an active role in supporting and developing the service. We work very closely with other clinical teams such as treatment and pre-treatment radiographers and clinical oncologists to deliver the routine service and to collaborate on project work leading to presentation and publication. We have an active education programme delivering teaching and training locally, nationally and globally. The team's duties include early and late working, but flexible working and homeworking arrangements are supported to promote a healthy work-life balance.

About us

The Christie is one of Europe's leading cancer centres, treating over 60,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 15% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country.

We provide radiotherapy through one of the largest radiotherapy departments in the world; chemotherapy on site and through 14 other hospitals; highly specialist surgery for complex and rare cancer; and a wide range of support and diagnostic services. We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years.

We run one of the largest early clinical trial units in Europe with over 300 trials every year. Cancer research in Manchester, most of which is undertaken on the Christie site, has been officially ranked the best in the UK.

Job description

Job responsibilities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1) General

a. Ensure all work complies with current UK legislation for work with ionising radiation (IRR 2017, IRMER 2017) and the Trusts ISO 9001:2015-compliant Quality Management System for provision of radiotherapy.

b. Act as required in the role medical Physics Expert (MPE) under IR(ME)R, making judgements on individual patient treatments based on complex planning and delivery data where there may be conflicting information.

c. Carry the physics bleep on a rotational basis to act as contact point (frequently on their own) for technical queries and to give scientific advice in individual technical and clinical cases.

d. The post holder will be expected to prioritise and manage their own work on a day-to-day basis.

e. The post holder must participate in an agreed scheme of Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

f. The place of work is normally The Christie, Withington, but the post holder may be required to carry out work at other hospitals with a radiotherapy service.

g. The post is full-time. Hours are worked flexibly, in agreement with the line manager, to provide round the clock services where necessary to cover the normal range of clinical duties.

2) Management

a. Deputise in the absence of the Radiotherapy Physics Proton Team Leader in agreed responsibilities and dealing with unavoidable short-term issues.

b. Assist the Radiotherapy Physics Proton Team Leader, along with the other Consultant and Principal Clinical Scientists, in managing the activities of the department, specifically in the development and scientific direction of the proton physics service.

c. Act as the primary point of scientific and technical contact dealing with issues relating to the expansion and running of either the Proton dosimetry service or Proton treatment planning service at the Christie Hospital.

d. Participate in workforce development including selection, recruitment and retention of staff: undertake personal development reviews of staff as required by the Radiotherapy Physics Proton Team Leader.

e. Negotiate with clinical and technical staff and equipment manufacturers to provide all the necessary support, resulting in the maximum clinical usage of treatment delivery and on-treatment imaging equipment.

f. Ensure that appropriate risk management procedures and documents are in place in line with Trust policies.

g. Communicate potentially sensitive and/or contentious expert advice to other professional groups regarding the treatment of individual patients and on matters of clinical service provision and development.

h. Prioritise and manage routine and project work of the post holder and those who the post holder manages in accordance with section policies and competing service demands.

i. Undertake project management and analysis. Propose changes to working practices and procedures.

j. Supervise scientific staff associated with the scientific and technical support for either proton dosimetry or proton treatment planning.

k. Communicate serious or strategic issues to the Consultant physicist and, where appropriate, take part in the operational decision making.

l. Implement and maintain operational and quality assurance procedures and act as a representative for the relevant section of the Quality Management system.

3) Equipment Management

a. Manage equipment and resources within the department and provide scientific leadership in the areas of the proton service including treatment planning treatment delivery, imaging, dosimetry, quality assurance, acceptance and commissioning.

b. Operate, maintain and develop quality assurance procedures for Proton treatment planning, delivery and imaging systems within the ISO 9001:2015 quality system to ensure equipment and procedures are fit for clinical use.

4) Delivery of the Clinical Service

a. Provide scientific support to develop clinical protocols for pre-treatment and on-treatment imaging.

b. Maintain the provision of the proton therapy service to ensure accurate and safe delivery of treatment and compliance with clinical requirements.

c. Ensure effective multidisciplinary team working to support the proton therapy service by working closely with clinical oncologists, therapy radiographers and other supporting staff groups.

d. Implement new and improved treatment delivery techniques so that patients gain maximum benefit from the available equipment at the centre.

e. Develop systems, including software development, to increase the efficiency of the proton therapy service to reduce delays in treatment and make best use of staff resources.

f. Develop and maintain quality control procedures according to current national and international guidelines to ensure accurate calibration and optimum performance of treatment planning and delivery including imaging equipment, and to advise the section leader on potential improvements in practice. Additionally, define the configuration and safe operating procedures of systems in consultation with treatment radiographers.

g. Develop and maintain calibration and quality control procedures of equipment used locally ensuring that high standards are applied to attain accurate clinical dosimetry.

h. Develop planning protocols for clinicians, clinical scientists, radiographers and dosimetrists preparing proton treatment plans.

i. Provide expert physics advice and specialist technical support for the review and development of clinical techniques.

j. Develop and maintain procedures for highly complex dosimetric calculations and dosimetric verification of proton therapy treatment plans.

k. Perform highly accurate routine and non-routine dosimetry and geometric quality control of the proton treatment delivery equipment to ensure that it remains within clinically acceptable tolerances.

l. Produce and check highly complex proton radiotherapy treatment plans, based on the evaluation of anatomical and clinical information using a highly complex treatment planning system.

m. Act as the main local point of contact for external audits for the centre and to ensure participation of the department in appropriate audits.

n. Operate on a rota with other physicists to resolve problems arising with clinical treatment, including problems where the post holder may inspect and advise on patient set-up on treatment units.

o. Liaise with Radiotherapy Physics Proton Team Leader and radiation protection service in the investigation and reporting of any case of suspected or actual mistreatment of any patient.

5) Research and Development

a. Initiate, lead and carry out R&D projects as agreed by the Radiotherapy Physics Proton Team Leader, and to supervise other staff working on such projects.

b. Operationally manage research projects to achieve identified deliverables.

c. Supervise research projects carried out by trainee and research physicists, treatment planning radiographers, dosimetrists and post graduate students up to PhD level.

d. Publish research in internationally recognised peer reviewed research journals and to communicate research through national and international conferences.

e. Participate in identifying external funding opportunities and the writing of grant applications.

f. Assist with the establishment and maintenance of R&D collaborations with other radiotherapy physics groups, universities, and commercial organisations.

g. Provide scientific support to Clinical Oncologists participating in local, national and international trials.

h. Maintain an up-to-date personal knowledge of national and international radiotherapy physics practice to identify improvements to the service.

6) Teaching and Training

a. Supervise Clinical Scientists, dosimetrists, engineers and radiographers.

b. Lecture and train Clinical Scientists, Radiographers, Specialist Registrars and others and assist in the organisation of the departments teaching programmes.

c. Develop project ideas, propose projects and supervise students performing project work.

7) Radiation protection

a. To be aware of current radiation protection legislation and to bring to the attention of the RPA any safety issues arising from treatment delivery.

b. Be a radiation protection supervisor, performing and supervising radiation protection measurements and ensuring safe working practice on radiotherapy equipment.

c. Contribute to the collective formulation of radiation protection advice working with an RPA to provide expert advice regarding radiation safety within proton therapy.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

HCPC Registered Clinical Scientist Honours degree in an appropriate physical science Postgraduate Degree (, Master's level and above)

Desirable

PhD or equivalent evidence of research training Corporate membership of IPEM or other equivalent professional bodies

Experience

Essential

Appropriate experience in Radiotherapy for satisfying Medical Physics Expert status Experience of scientific leadership within a healthcare environment Record of dissemination/publication of scientific work

Desirable

Involved with the operation of Quality management systems Proton treatment planning experience Proton dosimetry experience Supervision of students and trainees Planning/implementation of new developments Successful completion of externally funded research projects Certified as a Medical Physics Expert

Skills

Essential

Strong scientific leadership Good interpersonal skills Clear and articulate communication of complex scientific concepts Excellent IT skills

Desirable

Effective collaboration with other organisations Performance of staff reviews and appraisals

Knowledge

Essential

Expert knowledge in one or more aspects of radiotherapy physics Working knowledge of quality management systems Extensive knowledge of relevant legislation, national standards, professional guidelines (, IRR 2017, IRMER 2017, ISO 9001:2015) Understanding of risk assessments

Desirable

Basic understanding of HR policies and procedures Understanding of research and clinical governance

Values

Essential

Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours

Other

Essential

Willing to participate in a shift rota including working unsocial hours

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