Senior Radiotherapy Physicist

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 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:

• Treatment Planning
• Quality Assurance
• Molecular Radiotherapy

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Scientific

Treatment Planning

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

1.2.      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.

1.3.      Advise clinical staff on the effects of various treatment plan options on patient dose distributions.  Discuss and agree approaches with clinical staff to create optimum treatment plans and advise on aspects of the treatment and patient set-up, as required.

1.4.      Check and approve routine and complex treatment plans, dose calculations and templates produced by other members of staff.

1.5.      Re-plan patient treatments where required, following a treatment error or changes in patient shape.  Use judgement to analyse and determine the most appropriate compensation method.  Calculate the compensation required and subsequent patient dose.  Carry out manual dose calculations.

Quality Assurance

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

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

1.8.      Take responsibility for physics dosimetry and quality control in radiotherapy, according to established protocols. Undertake dosimetry measurements to a high degree of accuracy with suitable equipment.  Perform quality control and other measurements and procedures on highly-complex patient-critical equipment.

1.9.      Take responsibility for the revision of protocols and dosimetry techniques.  Develop and revise working practices in accordance with national guidelines and codes of practice.  Ensure the accurate calibration of all dosimetry equipment and Radiotherapy treatment machines is maintained.

Molecular Radiotherapy

1.10.   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.

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

1.12.   Ensure all procedures undertaken comply with relevant radiation protection regulations, including waste and sealed sources management.

General

1.13.   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.

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

1.15.   Provide scientific and technical advice to radiotherapy consultants and other clinical staff regarding patients’ treatment.

1.16.   Develop clinical and clinical scientific procedures and protocols under the Department’s Quality System.  Consult with Radiotherapy where changes impact on their systems.  Take part in working parties to agree changes to protocols affecting both Pre-treatment and Treatment sections.

1.17.   Act as liaison contact for identified radiotherapy equipment.  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.

1.18.   Act as a Medical Physics Expert in Radiotherapy Physics in accordance with the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations, exercising professional judgement within their scope of practice.

1.19.   Act as an operator under the definitions of the IR(ME)R regulations in accordance with Trust Policies and Practices.

1.20.   Implement legislation in radiation protection.  The post holder is required to be up to date with current legal requirements, will analyse current practice against these requirements and make recommendations regarding alterations to practice and procedures.

2.            Managerial

2.1.       Prioritise and manage own work to meet agreed outcomes.

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

2.3.       Supervise the professional work of other junior staff groups working in areas or on projects being managed by the post holder.

2.4.       Perform regular 1-to-1 review meetings with junior staff.

3.            Teaching, training and research

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

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

3.3.       Supervise trainee clinical scientists on placement.

3.4.       Assess and approve staff competencies within specified areas of work.

3.5.       Present original work at meetings and conferences, and in publication.  Present seminars and feedback on meetings.

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

4.            Professional

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

4.2.       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.

4.3.       Ensure all activities are carried out within a quality framework and conform to Statutory Regulations, approved Codes of Practice and Local Safety Rules.

5.            Miscellaneous

5.1.       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.

5.2.       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.

5.3.       Work hours necessary for the proper and efficient performance of the work.  In practice, the appointee will occasionally be required to perform duties outside the normal working hours of the department.

5.4.       When working in other departments, the postholder will liaise with local heads of department, medical consultants, superintendents, nursing sisters or their representatives as appropriate, adhering to local policies and practices.  The post holder will behave courteously and professionally at all times and seek to ensure that the highest level of service is provided by Radiotherapy Physics.

5.5.       Perform other appropriate duties which may be required from time to time by the Head of Service, Radiotherapy Physics.