Applications are invited for this exciting professional and managerial opportunity at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust to support the operational management and raise the scientific profile of the Clinical and Radiation Physics Group. The Group is managed within the Healthcare Science and Technology Service Line and overseen by the Clinical Support Services Care Group. Amongst other professional roles and skillsets, the successful candidate will hold a certificate of competence (RPA2000) as a Radiation Protection Adviser and Medical Physics Expert. The role will be critical in providing managerial and leadership support to the Head of Clinical and Radiation Physics and will contribute to the strategic direction of the group during an exciting period of service development. This is a formal deputy position to the Head of Department and an excellent opportunity for those wishing to develop in leadership and management.

The Clinical and Radiation Physics Group comprises of 16 colleagues, including administrative staff, Healthcare Science Practitioners and Clinical Scientists, with the group providing scientific and technical services for diagnostic radiology, nuclear medicine and radiation protection within the NHS, private and academic sectors.

Informal enquiries are welcomed, please contact Rob Loader, Head of Clinical & Radiation Physics (01752) 439669 robert.loader@nhs.net

Main duties of the job

The Clinical & Radiation Physics group in Plymouth has an excellent reputation with both internal and external customers. We work closely with our clinical colleagues to deliver high quality, safe and patient centred radiological imaging and therapy services to our patients and

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust provides acute and specialist services to Plymouth and the wider Southwest Peninsula, has teaching status as part of the Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine, Dentistry, and Radiography, and hosts one of the UK's radiology academies. The Trust hosts the Peninsula Trauma Centre, providing all the major specialist services relevant to the care of major trauma, i.e. general surgery, emergency medicine, vascular, orthopaedic, plastic, spinal, maxillofacial, cardiothoracic and neurological surgery and interventional radiology. Our Trust is expanding rapidly, recognising the key benefits of medical Imaging and therapeutic uses of Ionising radiation in optimising patient experience and outcome. The service provides scientific support to West Devon & East Cornwall Breast Screening Programme and excellent operational relationships with R& D, Medical Imaging, and other Service Lines as an onsite service provider.

About us

Exciting, planned developments include new Cardiac Catheter Labs, Linac Bunkers, Gamma Cameras and a new 15,000m2 build ('Future Hospitals') co-locating the Emergency Department and urgent care pathways alongside the addition of dedicated interventional radiology theatre capacity.

The hospital is situated in one of the most beautiful parts of the country close to stunning countryside, Dartmoor, glorious beaches, and endless opportunities for outdoor activities and within commuting distance for both Devon and Cornwall. The Trust supports flexible working opportunities including home working. Relocation packages will be considered to secure candidates meeting the essential criteria for this post.

We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

Job description

Job responsibilities

PRIMARY DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Appointed as Medical Physics Expert under IRMER 17 for Diagnostic & Interventional Radiology

Appointed as Radiation Protection Adviser under the Ionising Radiations Regulations

Appointed as Radioactive Waste Adviser under the Environmental Permitting Regulations (desirable)

Deputise to the Head of Clinical & Radiation Physics

1. CLINICAL SCIENTIFIC

1.1 To act as an appointed Radiation Protection Adviser (RPA) for the Trust and its customers. In providing RPA services, to discuss, analyse and advise independently and without supervision, and to receive, analyse and present highly complex information, to the Trust at all levels up to, and including, the Chief Executive. RPA duties include:

1.1.1 to provide expert advice to the Chief Executive, senior management and staff at all levels on all aspects of radiation safety in the use of radiation generators and radionuclides.

1.1.2 to provide expert advice on compliance with all relevant radiation safety legislation.

1.1.3 to provide expert advice on the design of new facilities and techniques where ionising radiations are used.

1.1.4 to provide advice on protection of staff and the public from radiation hazards, and on actions to be taken in the event of a radiation incident

1.1.6 to conduct audits of compliance with radiation safety legislation and Trust policies on a regular basis, to report the results of audits in writing, and to make recommendations for actions and improvements to the Trust at a senior level.

1.1.7 to formulate, develop and maintain the radiation safety policies and strategies of the Trust to meet standards required by radiation safety legislation, and to advise heads of departments on the implementation of these policies and strategies through local procedures and codes of practice.

1.1.8 to provide dose assessments or estimates for staff, and the public as required and to report findings and make recommendations to heads of service.

1.1.9 to conduct surveys of radiation areas in order to assess and monitor levels of radiation exposure to staff, patients and visitors, to report findings in writing and to formulate measures for dose reduction and optimisation.

1.1.10 for the Trust, to ensure, prior to purchase, that radiation equipment purchased is necessary and can be operated in a safe manner by qualified staff.

1.1.11 to advise on the specification, commissioning, acceptance and quality assurance of all equipment generating radiation, monitoring radiation or restricting radiation exposure in relation to the safety of staff and public.

1.1.13 to be responsible for, and to provide instruction and training in radiation protection.

1.2 To act as a Medical Physics Expert (MPE) to the Trust and its customers for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology. In doing so, to understand the clinical aspects of medical exposures and to present highly complex information to clinicians and other staff involved in medical exposures, and, where relevant, to patients and others undergoing a medical exposure. The MPE role is carried out independently and without supervision. MPE duties include:

1.2.1 to provide expert advice on the optimisation of diagnostic medical exposures and on patient dosimetry and quality assurance.

1.2.2 to provide dosimetry data for standard operating protocols at the request of the relevant department manager.

1.2.3 to provide radiation dose data to clinicians for individual medical exposures, including research exposures, to enable the clinical justification of an exposure to occur.

1.2.4 to give expert advice to clinicians on the appropriate information to be given to patients and research volunteers regarding their medical exposure and how they might minimise the radiation dose to themselves and others.

1.2.5 to give expert advice on the establishment of diagnostic reference levels for medical exposures and on their use in auditing current clinical practice regarding medical exposures.

1.1.5 to provide expert advice on dose minimisation to comforters and carers who may be exposed to radiation in their care of an exposed individual.

1.2.6 to give expert advice to the Trust on the implementation of legislation relating to medical exposures and in general on the radiation protection of the patient.

1.2.7 to advise on the specification, commissioning, acceptance, and quality assurance of all equipment generating radiation, monitoring radiation or restricting radiation exposure in relation to the safety of staff and public.

1.2.8 to advise on the investigation and analysis of incidents involving suspected accidental or unintended exposure to patients.

1.3 To act as a Medical Physics Expert in the Physics of Diagnostic Radiology under the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations i.e. to act as a lead source of knowledge and expertise in this field.

1.4 Responsible for the planning and delivery of the programme of radiation safety and equipment and performance testing of highly complex, patient critical, x-ray equipment, to ensure statutory compliance, and adherence to professional standards.

1.5 Test highly complex, patient-critical x-ray equipment requiring high precision measurements. Analyse results and provide reports and advice on findings to the Trust and users on the safety and efficacy of the use of the equipment.

1.6 Advise on and assist with safe methods for storage and disposal of solid and liquid waste including maintenance of disposal records, liaison with the Environment Agency, licence applications and associated assessment of the local environmental impact of disposals.

Person Specification

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• oHighly advanced theoretical and practical expert proven knowledge of the field of Radiation Safety, including the knowledge required to act as a Radiation Protection Adviser for a large teaching hospital and other academic and commercial organisations.
• oHighly advanced proven specialist knowledge of the Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 and their application to a medical and biomedical research environment.
• oAdvanced proven specialist knowledge of radiation issues in Radiology sufficient to act as a Medical Physics Expert under the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017.
• oAbility to apply proven knowledge and demonstrable experience in making judgements regarding the safe and optimal use of radiation by themselves and others, involving objective assessment of benefits and detriments associated with various options available.

Desirable

• oSpecialist proven knowledge in other legislative areas such as Road Transport of Radioactive Materials, Trans-frontier Shipment of Radioactive Materials Radiation Emergency Preparedness etc.
• oDemonstrable experience managing a scientific service or specialist service
• oProven knowledge required to act as Radioactive Waste Adviser for a large teaching hospital and other academic and commercial organisations.
• oSpecialist proven knowledge of the Environmental Permitting Regulations.

Clinical

Essential

• oHighly specialised proven knowledge of clinical issues and their implications for radiation dosimetry purposes
• oAbility to provide highly specialised advice on the use of radiation for patient diagnosis and treatment, for routine care and when planning and implementing a research programme
• oHigh level of understanding of patient and staff risks arising from equipment failure and staff error
• oHigh Level of understanding of risk management processes

Managerial

Essential

• oDemonstrable experience of HR processes
• oAble to prioritise and manage own work
• oAble to implement policies and procedures in own work and to advise on policy and procedure review, development and implementation in services provided by others.
• oTraining and experience in quality improvement methods.
• oAble to assess impact of policy/procedure changes on safety and service provision.
• oAble to plan and organise a broad range of complex procedures/activities and to monitor ongoing progress.
• oAble to work in a team
• oDemonstrable experience in risk and incident management, communication and mitigation.

Qualifications

Essential

• oGood (1st or 2nd class) Honours degree in a relevant subject [e.g. Physics]
• oMSc in a relevant subject [e.g. Radiation Physics]
• oHCPC registration as a Clinical Scientist
• oCertificate of competence to act in the following certificated roles: oRadiation Protection Adviser (RPA) oMedical Physics Expert (MPE)

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

216-YM-C5482648-A