Radiotherapy Physics (part of the Department of Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering) provides a comprehensive Physics service to Addenbrooke's Oncology Centre, ensuring the safe and accurate use of high-dose ionising radiation to treat patients with cancer whilst maintaining a safe environment for other patients, visitors and staff.

Our Physicists, Technicians and Radiographers work closely with Oncology staff to provide a wide range of scientific and technical advice and support for all radiotherapy treatments. Routine clinical work includes radiotherapy treatment planning and related dosimetry, the provision of brachytherapy, and the manufacture of immobilisation and shielding equipment for patients.

Extensive support is provided to radiotherapy equipment. This incorporates the design of facilities, the management of computer systems, the design and management of software, and the commissioning, servicing and quality control of 8 x Linear Accelerators, 1 x Orthovoltage unit, 1 x HDR unit, a prostate brachytherapy service, and two CT-simulators. All work and related dosimetry are monitored and assured to nationally and internationally agreed specifications and legal requirements.

We are also responsible for providing radiotherapy physics advice and support to two University Departments (Veterinary Medicine and Pathology).

Main duties of the job

The provision of physics support for brachytherapy, where required. Including, but not limited to:

• HDR micro-Selectron
• Prostate brachytherapy
• calculation and checking of brachytherapy treatment plans

To participate in other routine work, where required, including, but not limited to:

• The production and assurance of the accuracy and dosimetry of complex computer-based external beam radiotherapy treatment plans for individual patients.
• The production of precise and accurate instructions to Oncology Staff for the calculation of radiotherapy treatments not requiring a computer-based treatment plan.
• Provision of physics and technical advice to Oncology clinicians and radiographers for complex, multifactorial problems directly impacting patients' treatments.
• Working closely with other staff groups to develop and safely implement new treatment techniques and equipment.
• Commissioning of new radiotherapy equipment
• Performing quality control measurements

About us

Our Trust

Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke's Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 11000 staff and over 1100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people - patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing 'outstanding' care to our patients and rated 'Good' overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH's values - Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent - are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population.

CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people's age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.

This vacancy will close at midnight on 27th November 2023

Interviews are due to be held on 8th December 2023

Benefits to you

We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse, day nurseries and access to a great transport system with easy access to airports and rail travel.

Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases alternative working hours will be considered.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• -Good (1st or 2nd class) Honours degree in a relevant subject
• -MSc in radiation Physics [or equivalent]
• -IPEM Certificate of completion of Post-qualification Higher Training or equivalent (e.g. STP)
• -HCPC registration as a Clinical Scientist

Desirable

• -PhD.

Experience

Essential

• -Post-registration experience in applying this knowledge to complex situations in radiotherapy.
• -Specialist experience in the use of specialist testing equipment employed to measure the safety and performance of very complex, patient-critical radiotherapy equipment.

Desirable

• -Evidence of research and development (e.g. publications)

Knowledge

Essential

• -Specialist theoretical and practical knowledge of the physics of ionising radiation with specific application to radiotherapy.
• -Specialist extensive knowledge of the techniques employed to measure radiation doses, undertake quality control radiation equipment, and produce and check radiotherapy treatment plans.
• -High level of understanding of the beneficial and detrimental effects of radiation on patients.
• -Advance knowledge of the theory and practical aspects of ionising radiation applied to cancer treatments.
• -High level of understanding in interpreting cross sectional images of patients used in treatment planning.
• -Broad level of understanding of the roles of the radiotherapy radiographers and clinicians.
• -Knowledge and experience at a level required to act as a Medical Physics Expert under the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposures) Regulations 2017 within the field of Radiotherapy.
• -Knowledge of employment procedures and practices.
• -Working knowledge of relevant legislation, national standards, professional and other guidelines, [eg IRR2017, IR(ME)R2017, ISO 9001, IPEM codes of practice, IPEM report 81 etc]
• -Understand hazards posed by, and precautions needed to deal with: Ionising radiation, Electrical hazards, COSSH, Manual Handling

Desirable

• -Understanding of inner workings of DICOM and other imaging formats

Skills

Essential

• -Extensive skills in aspects of computerised radiotherapy (or brachytherapy where relevant) treatment equipment including treatment units, treatment planning software, and radiotherapy management systems.
• -Routine, and regularly advanced, knowledge of Excel, Word, Access etc to set up and manipulate documents and spreadsheets and to adapt, extract and present information. Able to set up and manage the acquisition and structure of information.
• -Manual dexterity: ability to make precise measurements using sophisticated testing equipment to sub-millimetre accuracy.
• -Able to lift medium weight testing instrument cases. Able to move objects over 15 kilos for short periods.
• -Able to frequently concentrate for prolonged periods
• -Able to deal with occasional distressing circumstances
• -Able to communicate complex information [eg postgraduate level physics material to other professional groups]
• -Able to present scientific papers at national and international conferences
• -Able to train groups of other professional staff. Able to deliver teaching and training on complex subjects
• -Able to prioritise and manage own work
• -Able to exercise own initiative when dealing with issues within own specialist area of competence.
• -Able to supervise the work of others, and act as mentor.
• -Good negotiation skills
• -Able to deal with complex and unpredictable situations
• -Able to make judgements, which will have a direct impact upon patients' radiotherapy treatments and the operation of treatment machines, based upon occasionally highly complex and conflicting sets of facts

Desirable

• -Computer programming skills

Additional Requirements

Essential

• The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of safe, kind, excellent.
• -Ability to occasionally cope with and understand the potentially emotional and distressed state of Oncology patients and carers

Employer details

Employer name

Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Addenbrooke's Hospital-Division B

Hills Road

Cambridge

CB2 0QQ

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

180-B-234322-RE