This post provides an exciting opportunity to join our new Medical Physics Department. Currently expert service is provided via a consortium arrangement between Imperial College Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (ICHT), St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (SGH) and King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (KCH). The consortium is committed to supporting and handing over to our new service as we grow.

The post-holder performs a lead role for the scientific support of the Nuclear Medicine Department (Imaging and therapeutic) at Chelsea and Westminster Foundation Trust.

The post holder will take major role in the quality assurance measurement of imaging equipment, image optimisation, and radionuclide therapy service and associated dosimetry, and will act as Medical Physics Expert in Nuclear Medicine under the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations.

The post holder will assist in the development and update of clinical software and camera protocols and provides support to other members of staff involved in all aspects of software and network development. The post holder will develop, implement and manage systems for radioactive waste management.

Main duties of the job

• Act as the medical physics expert in Nuclear Medicine.
• Prioritise own work in accordance with departmental and Trust priorities and external demands. Meet expected results by using own initiative and following general principles and applicable regulations, standards and guidelines.
• Provide physics input to support Nuclear Medicine Department. Advise Nuclear Medicine staff on a range of scientific, technical and clinical issues relevant to patient care.
• Assist with maintenance and development of Nuclear Medicine instrumentation, procedures and computing facilities. Help to introduce new techniques and procedures. Advise and assist clinicians in setting up diagnostic tests and new protocols, which requires the analysis, interpretation and comparison of a range of options.
• Investigate and resolve complex equipment problems. Carry out fault-finding on gamma cameras and other complex equipment. Liaise with suppliers regarding equipment breakdown, and arrange for the maintenance and servicing of identified items of equipment. Participate in capital equipment evaluation and undertake commissioning.
• Modify image processing software to meet specific clinical needs. Support computer networking across the Department. Assist in the implementation and maintenance of a comprehensive QC programme for clinical software. Manage archiving of imaging data.
• Assist in the supervision of Registered Clinical Scientists (Band 7)

About us

About the Trust

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust provide services from two main hospitals, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital, and a number of clinics across London and the South-East.

We have nearly 7,000 members of staff that are PROUD to Care for nearly one million people. Both hospitals provide full clinical services, including full maternity, emergency and children's,in addition to a range of community-based services across London, such as award-winning sexual health and HIV clinics.

We're one of the best performing Trusts in the country. We're also one of the top trusts to work for - our staff says they're engaged, motivated, and would recommend us as a place to work and receive treatment. Our Trust has been rated by the Care Quality Commission as 'Good' in all five of the main domains of safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led, giving an us overall rating of 'Good'. We've also been awarded an'Outstanding' rating for 'use of resources' by an NHS Improvement inspection.

Our facilities are some of the best in the country. We have been investing significant Capital year on year in our estate. We have recently completed a �30m expansion of our adult and neonatal critical care facilities at Chelsea and Westminsterand are planning an ambitious �60m development of an Ambulatory Diagnostics Centre at West Middlesex.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The service operates as a team and the post holder will be expected to support, train, supervise, liaise and work with the consultant Physicians and Radiologists, Nuclear medicine Technicians and Radiographers and other members of that team as the need arises.

The post holder will apply a broad range of skills and experience in Nuclear Medicine Physics to ensure the efficient operation of physics services to Nuclear Medicine, and will liaise closely with medical and technical staff to deliver an effective service.

The nature of the work will require them to work with senior members of staff such as the Radiation Protection Adviser, Radiation Waste Adviser and Medical Physics Experts.

• Deliver a consistent high standard of working in terms of equipment, QA and protocols provides reports and data as required to ensure these standards are consistently achieved.
• Development and validation of new procedures and protocols in respect of the Gamma Cameras and acquisition/processing workstations.
• Continuous monitoring of all quality assurance aspects of the service, including calibration of radionuclide dose calibrators.
• Provide support to resolve day to day image quality issues.
• Involvement in specification, tender evaluation and acceptance/commissioning of equipment.
• Carry out all the associated physicist duties in Radionuclide Therapy. Dispense and administer radionuclide therapy to patients in the Department. Receive a prescription from the relevant clinician, prepare and assay the dose (which may require calculating and drawing up precise volumes of radioactive liquid). Check the dose and necessary paperwork, identify the patient according to applicable procedures. Provide verbal and written advice to the patient and recommend actions to take under different circumstances. Participate in the administration of therapies. Dispose of radioactive waste and carry out monitoring of inpatients
• Take a lead role in implementation of individual Dosimetry for planning of patient therapeutic dose administrations as required by legislation utilising whole body, organ and tumour internal radionuclide dosimetry.
• Updates to procedures following any changes to IR(ME)R legislation.
• Ensure all activities are carried out within a quality framework and conform to Statutory Regulations, Approved Codes of Practice and local safety rules.
• Patient dosimetry and the establishment and review of diagnostic reference levels.
• Evaluation & establishment of dose constraints for research exposures providing dose estimates.

Person Specification

Essential and desirable

Essential

• Good (1st or 2nd class) Honours degree in a physics or containing a major physics component.
• Relevant MSc (Medical Physics) or higher degree or equivalent level of knowledge.
• Recognition as Medical Physics Expert or in a position to submit a portfolio of evidence for Medical Physics Expert status within the next 12 months.
• HCPC registration as Clinical Scientist or equivalent
• Advanced theoretical and specialist practical knowledge of relevant legislation, national standards, professional and other guidelines including: IRR, IR(ME)R, EPR, and other relevant legislation and standards, professional and regulatory body reports and guidelines.
• Have the knowledge and training to be registered as a Medical Physics Expert under IR(ME)R.
• Highly developed specialist theoretical and practical knowledge of the techniques employed across the full range of working procedures and practices in Nuclear Medicine Physics.
• Advanced theoretical and practical knowledge of specialist Nuclear medicine equipment, dosimetry and computing systems.
• Able to undertake thorough assessment of specialist equipment status and carry out optimisation, patient dosimetry, and quality assurance.
• Broad knowledge and experience of research methodologies.
• Ability to carry out statistical analysis.
• Understanding of hazards posed by, and precautions needed when working with Ionising radiation.

Desirable

• Able to cope with unpredictable working patterns often challenging situations, and able to provide urgent advice relating to patient examinations or incidents).
• Good communication and interpersonal skills may need to communicate sensitive or complex information to all types of patient.
• Highly developed physical accuracy and dexterity, for manipulation of radioactive materials in a safe manner.
• Able to train groups of other professional staff, on complex specialist subjects.
• Able to cope with unpredictable working patterns often challenging situations, and able to provide urgent advice relating to patient examinations or incidents).

Employer details

Employer name

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Chelsea & Westminster Hospital

369 Fulham Road

London

SW10 9NH

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