Head of Radiotherapy Physics, Band 8c

Job overview

The Head of Radiotherapy Physics is responsible for the leadership & management of the Radiotherapy Physics team in the Gloucestershire Medical Physics Department. Radiotherapy Physics provides services to Gloucestershire Oncology Centre so that patients’ Radiotherapy can be delivered safely, accurately and efficiently using modern techniques and equipment. The Centre also operates a satellite unit at Hereford County Hospital.

The proposed interview date is 30th March

Main duties of the job

Take responsibility for the delivery of the radiotherapy physics work within the Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust including delivery of service at a satellite radiotherapy unit based at Hereford. Assign workstreams to the senior physicists in Radiotherapy.

Advise the Head of Medical Physics on service development requirements for the Radiotherapy Physics section, identifying the financial and other resources needed to implement them.

Identify and advise the Radiotherapy department of developments which it would benefit the radiotherapy service to introduce and advise upon the implementation of new techniques. To liaise with the Clinical Director and the Clinical Lead for Radiotherapy to undertake this work.

To set standards in treatment planning and dosimetry within Medical Physics and Oncology and identify, write and implement policies to ensure that Radiotherapy physics and the Oncology Centre comply with national guidance in these areas.

To be responsible for a robust quality assurance program to ensure safety of patients and compliance with radiation protection legislation and best practice. This includes specification of QA programmes for complex equipment, data integrity & accuracy.

The Post holder will also lead some projects suited to their personal clinical expertise.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

As agreed with the Clinical Director of Oncology, lead the purchase team for major items of radiotherapy equipment as required.  This includes specification, review of tender documentation, evaluation and selection of equipment, collating evaluations of other team members in accordance with Trust policies and may include the planning of radiation protection for new radiotherapy facilities. The post-holder can expect to be responsible for a major purchase typically every two years.

With the support of the Trust Radiation Protection Adviser and in consultation with the relevant Radiation Protection Supervisors and the Trust Radiation Safety Committee (of which the post holder is a member), to advise on the preparation of Local Rules and Systems of Work required for the use of ionising radiation in radiotherapy. Assist the RPA in design work for new radiotherapy installations.

To identify when the introduction of new techniques or equipment will require a revision to the Local Rules.

To ensure correct actions are taken when any error in dosimetry is either detected or suspected. To advise the Trust when incidents are reportable to the Department of Health and/or the Health and Safety Executive. Undertake dosimetry calculations and internal investigations as required and ensure any such incidents are appropriately reported.

Act as a Medical Physics Expert for Radiotherapy as required by the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017 (as amended 2024). Advise the Head of Medical Physics, the Clinical Director of Oncology of any future changes in legislation, which may have revenue consequences for the Trust. The post-holder will support and advise the other Medical Physics Experts within the department in their specialist work, particularly in areas where these experts disagree on the appropriate way forward

Write procedures and policies relating to radiotherapy physics to be used within the Radiotherapy Physics section and other staff working closely with physics. Undertake your work following the Trust and Department policies and procedures and taking account of Health and Safety requirements.

Acts as authoriser for the medical physics budget.

Undertake work as directed by the Head of Medical Physics

Contact Details

Tony Dix (Head of Medical Physics)

[email protected]

07870403793

Please feel free to contact Tony Dix to discuss the role or to arrange a visit to the department.