Senior Radiotherapy Physicist (North Middlesex Hospital)

Job overview

We have an exciting opportunity to join our friendly, forward-thinking Radiotherapy Physics department in a key role at the North Middlesex Hospital site in North London. You will be a Senior Radiotherapy Physicist at Band 8A, responsible for the safe delivery and development of Radiotherapy.

You will be involved in all aspects of the service, with a specific focus on machine dosimetry & QC, deputising for the principal physicist leading that section.

You will act as a Medical Physics Expert under IR(ME)R, providing expert advice to the Radiotherapy department and to members of the Radiotherapy Physics team.

The department provides a comprehensive physics service to support the delivery of radiotherapy treatment at North Middlesex Hospital. This includes all treatment planning, machine quality assurance and the provision of molecular radiotherapy. The department consists of 10 clinical scientists, including this post, 6 dosimetrists and 6 engineering and technical staff.

The Radiotherapy department has a mix of Varian TrueBeam and Halcyon Linacs and an XStrahl superficial unit. Varian Eclipse is used for all treatment planning activities, and we have ongoing projects to implement and expand knowledge based planning, AI auto-contouring, scripting and automation, and lots more besides.

Main duties of the job

The senior physicist’s role is to ensure the safe delivery of the Radiotherapy Physics Service at North Middlesex University Hospital, assisting the Head of the service as well as other designated Medical Physics Experts (MPE) in their various areas of responsibility.

The role is autonomous and the post-holder is expected to carry out their duties without supervision.

The senior physicist will have MPE responsibility in the safe delivery and development of the following areas:

• Quality Assurance (specific focus)
• Treatment Planning
• Molecular Radiotherapy

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Scientific

Treatment Planning

Assist the Treatment Planning Lead Physicist and provide MPE advice where needed to ensure safe delivery of service.

Produce routine and complex treatment plans for external beam radiotherapy. Use computerised planning systems to design and customise treatment plans. Analyse requirements and make complex judgements regarding treatment parameters and patient dose effects to produce the required dose distribution over the treatment volume. Take responsibility for the accurate production of individualised treatment plans and associated dosimetry calculations.

Quality Assurance

Assist the Quality Control and Dosimetry Lead Physicist, providing MPE advice where needed to ensure safe delivery of service.

Take responsibility for the development of the annual quality assurance programme including liaison with maintenance contract suppliers; radiotherapy physics engineers and radiotherapy.

Molecular Radiotherapy

Take responsibility for administration of radioisotopes for therapeutic use. Explain procedures to patients and liaise with other groups such as ward staff as required. Assist with resolving problems with the procedure, including those arising with the patient present.

Ensure all equipment used in the monitoring of patients, environment and source activity maintain a valid calibration.

General

Provide support to physics computing in radiotherapy.  Write software to the requirements of the department and adapt existing software packages as required.  Monitor and resolve problems on computing systems in radiotherapy and radiotherapy physics.

Participate in acceptance testing and commissioning of new equipment as appropriate.

Oversee work carried out on this equipment and give physics advice and direction as required.  Investigate and resolve complex problems on complex, patient-critical radiotherapy and associated equipment.

Managerial

Prioritise and manage own work to meet agreed outcomes.

Keep careful records of all work performed and complete other appropriate records.

Teaching, training and research

Provide practical training to physicists, medics and radiographers in Treatment Planning, QC & Dosimetry, and in Molecular Therapy.

Assist with training other staff, as required (e.g. radiation protection advice to nursing staff on wards with molecular radiotherapy in-patients).

Instigate and participate in Research and Development projects and clinical audit. Develop and improve equipment and techniques for radiation therapy.

Professional

Participate in an approved Continuing Professional Development scheme and maintain HCPC registration.

Keep abreast of the latest technical and scientific developments and their applications in medical and associated fields.  Attend suitable seminars and courses as part of training and personal development and to further the work of the department.

Miscellaneous

Ensure compliance with accredited Quality Systems in the areas of work for which the post holder carries responsibility.  Participate in the development and routine operation of quality systems.

Carry out all duties in accordance with the requirements of the Health & Safety at Work Act, relevant Statutory Regulations, Approved Codes of Conduct and Local Rules.