Principal Clinical Scientist

Job summary

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Please see below for a detailed job description for the role.

Main duties of the job

We have a unique opportunity for a permanent Band 8A Principal Clinical Scientist and Medical Physics Expert to join our Nuclear Medicine Physics team at University Hospital Southampton (UHS) NHS Foundation Trust. We are looking for a dynamic and ambitious HCPC Registered Clinical Scientist working at MPE-level, and looking to progress their career working in a major teaching hospital with excellent opportunities for research and development.

The successful candidate will join a friendly team of 7 other Nuclear Medicine scientists that develop and deliver Nuclear Medicine and PET services at Southampton and the surrounding areas. We support a broad diagnostic service and a rapidly growing radionuclide therapy service which currently includes Radioiodine, Radium, PRRT, SIRT and PSMA therapies. We also engage in independent research, support clinical trials across oncology and neurology, and evaluate novel radiopharmaceuticals produced in our on-site state of the art Radiopharmacy.

Attached you will find the person specification document which provides more detail about the essential and desirable skills and experience needed for this role. We highly recommend you review this document and use it when completing your application as these criteria are used by hiring managers as guidance during shortlisting.

About us

As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to.

All non-clinical roles may involve a mixture of on site and remote working, Specific details and flexible working options can be discussed as part of the interview process. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.

Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 20% lower than London and 14 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.

The successful candidate will work as a member of a friendly team of clinical scientists responsible for the medical physics provision of work with unsealed radioactive substances, primarily at UHS, and on occasion supporting outside centres.

Southampton has an Imaging Infrastructure Support Service partnership with Siemens Healthcare, which has seen over 130 imaging systems replaced and our radiology services expanded. For molecular imaging, there are two SPECT/CT systems recently installed in our refurbished Nuclear Medicine Department. PET/CT services are provided on site by Alliance Medical with MPE and RPA support from UHS Medical Physics.

The clinical services we support provide a wide range of diagnostic imaging and non-imaging procedures. We also support a range of radionuclide therapies, including PRRT, PSMA, Radium, SIRT and radioiodine treatments. We are a European Neuroendocrine Tumours Centre of Excellence and were awarded the 2021 BNMS Innovation Award for our outpatient therapy service during the Covid-19 pandemic. We support approximately 20 new clinical a year across diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine and PET.

In addition to our imaging facilities, Southampton's modern radiopharmacy facility serves multiple regional Nuclear Medicine departments and also holds a Manufacturer's Authorisation for Investigational Medicinal Products from the MHRA. This allows us to pursue a wide range of clinical trial work, including the development and translation of novel radiotracers, currently focussed on neurological, respiratory, and molecular radiotherapy. This is an excellent opportunity to join a collaborative group of clinical scientists with strong links to the University of Southampton.

ABOUT OUR TRUST AND SOUTHAMPTONAs one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. UHS is rated 'Good' by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care.

Specific details and flexible working options can be discussed as part of the interview process. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.

Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and only an hour on the train from central London. The New Forest National Park is on our doorstep and the beaches of the Jurassic coast are also close by. The city offers living costs 20% lower than those in London, 14 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted and 13 nearby green spaces to enjoy.

Job description

Job responsibilities

WHAT YOULL DOYou will support and develop our Diagnostic Nuclear Medicine and PET services and our expanding Radionuclide Therapy service as a Medical Physics Expert and contribute to the groups growing involvement in clinical research. This role is an excellent opportunity for the right candidate to help deliver and develop Nuclear Medicine services at Southampton and the surrounding areas.

We offer the successful candidate flexible working hours, with the potential for a mixture of on-site and remote working. We provide ongoing development opportunities with involvement in research, academic and clinical teaching and supervision, encouraging continuous professional development.

WHAT WERE LOOKING FORYou must be a State Registered Clinical Scientist and a certified Medical Physics Expert for Nuclear Medicine physics services. It is anticipated that you will have in depth knowledge of current practice in diagnostic and therapeutic Nuclear Medicine and experience of providing complex scientific advice. Experience of practical radionuclide therapy dosimetry is also essential. On occasion, you will be expected to travel between customers by car, ferry and/or plane.

Candidates working towards MPE certification post HCPC registration will be considered for appointment and are encouraged to get in touch by email or telephone to discuss their situation. For all informal enquiries please contact Dr Anna Chilcott, Deputy Lead for Nuclear Medicine physics at or Dr Sofia Michopoulou, Head of Nuclear Medicine Physics at .

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOUAs one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we can offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. We believe you deserve the best possible surroundings in which to do your job and we want to support you in doing your job to the best of your ability.

As a Trust, we support flexible working and will consider requests taking into account the needs of the service. Youll have an opportunity to discuss this at interview. Our LiveWell and inspire programme offers opportunities, support and advice, including smoking cessation services, exercise and activity classes, and support for mental health.

UHS employees are able to access a huge range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata) on appointment, can access on-site nursery facilities (subject to availability), and we offer a generous pension scheme.

Person Specification

Trust Value

Essential

Patients First Always Improving Working Together

Qualifications / training required

Essential

Honours degree in physics or appropriate subject Masters degree in Medical Physics, Medical Imaging or appropriate subject HCPC Registered Clinical Scientist RPA2000 Certified Medical Physics Expert (MPE) in Nuclear Medicine

Desirable

PhD in a related field Corporate IPEM membership Chartered Scientist (CSi) Post-graduate research expertise in a related field

Previous or relevant experience necessary

Essential

Work with ionising radiation Knowledge and experience of applying IRMER2017 and IRR2017 in nuclear medicine Used to working in multidisciplinary teams Experience in diagnostic Nuclear Medicine and PET applications, including the development of imaging protocols Experience in Radionuclide Therapy and Dosimetry Practical experience in Radiation Protection related to NM and PET Experience in QA for SPECT, PET, radionuclide calibrators, intraoperative probes, and gamma counters Evidence of working at MPE level in diagnostic nuclear medicine, PET and radionuclide therapy

Desirable

Experience across a range of scientific disciplines/ technologies Evidence of research collaboration Experience in research project management Specialist knowledge and experience in image analysis and processing Experience of evaluation and procurement of nuclear medicine equipment Experience of teaching and training at BSc or MSc level Experience of participation in multidisciplinary team meeting and special interest groups

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