Clinical Scientist in Manchester

Duties And Responsibilities

• Management: Plans own varied workload to meet deadlines, prioritising and responding to new demands as they come in.
• Contribute to ensuring the quality of the diagnostic and radiation protection service as required and as directed by line manager or group leader.
• Participate in the QMS for the group.
• Ensure implementation of policies, propose changes to practices for work area.
• Assist with the group's internal audits.
• Supervise and train less experienced healthcare science staff (assistants, associates, practitioners and scientists) as required and appropriate.
• Coordinate workload with internal staff (e.g. managers, customer leads and survey booker) and external staff (e.g. customer contacts) as required to ensure the smooth delivery of the service.
• Participate in generic shared group roles such as Health & Safety checks or course organisation as required.

Specialist areas

• Take a lead in the coordination (e.g. planning and organising) and development (with guidance and oversight) of services in one of the group's areas of activity as required and as appropriate: for example, the online QA system, calibrations etc.
• It is expected that expertise will be developed in at least one modality in regard to Quality Assurance testing, clinical understanding of the use of the equipment and customer needs along with the radiation protection framework associated with the modality (IRR, IRMER, professional guidance etc).
• Learning should be shared with the team.

Scientific support to diagnostic radiology

• Provide scientific advice (within the QMS and scope of practice) to departments of radiology, including advice on local quality control measurements and assistance in reviewing departments' quality control results.
• Undertake, as necessary, critical examinations, commissioning tests and quality control measurements on the full range of x-ray equipment, to ensure that it is safe to use on patients and is capable of providing the required clinical information.
• This will involve accurate positioning and methodical use of test objects.
• Be responsible for data entry and processing for equipment testing results or radiation protection assessments etc.
• Provide timely written reports in line with group Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and give advice to radiographers, radiologists and others.
• Liaise with manufacturers' representatives where necessary.
• Assess and provide advice (within the QMS and scope of practice) on doses and risks to patients in routine and research procedures.
• Provide dose estimates and reports for accidental and unintended exposures.

Radiation protection

• Assist (within the QMS and scope of practice) in the provision of Medical Physics Expert support to NHS and independent sector healthcare establishments, with specific emphasis on the optimisation of patient dose and image quality and assist departments in resolving problems in these areas.
• Provide radiation protection advice (within the QMS and scope of practice) and support to specified Trusts and private hospitals, to help ensure that they meet their statutory obligations.
• Draft reports to radiation/imaging management meetings and attend.
• Undertake radiation facility assessments and prepare reports to be signed off by the Radiation Protection Adviser.
• Draft radiation protection documents such as risk assessments and local rules.
• Undertake calibrations of equipment as required.

Research, teaching and training

• Provide physics teaching for the department's teaching commitments as appropriate to grade and experience e.g. the radiation protection courses.
• Undertake research and development work aimed at improving the service in line with group needs.
• Present results of research and development work at appropriate meetings.
• Participate in outreach events that the group undertake such as the CMPE open evening or IPEM big bang events etc.

Professional Staff development

• To undertake the role will be provided and it is expected that the successful candidate develops a body of evidence to achieve registration as a clinical scientist.
• Meet the competencies required: DOC-ACS018-Rev06-Specific-Competences-Medical-Physics-Clinical-Engineering.pdf
• This post is a scientific post with a clear need for high level scientific ability and self-drive to follow a training plan and complete competencies within a suitable timeframe.
• This will be trainee driven.
• Keep abreast of developments in the field and undertake continued professional development (self-directed and as directed by your line manager).
• Follow the appropriate key work instructions, risk assessments and systems of work and ensure direct supervision of those you are responsible for until they are competent.
• Take responsibility for own learning and development by recognising and taking advantage of all opportunities to learn, including appraisal, supervision, academic course and problem-based learning.
• Follow, monitor and develop your training plan in conjunction with training supervisor and produce portfolio of evidence for submission to ACS.
• Collaborate with all other members of the group and radiology staff as required.
• Be able to communicate complex information.
• Frequent requirement for concentration for long periods (with interruptions).
• Dealing with multiple workstreams simultaneously.
• Work under pressure with demanding workload.
• This includes the ability to prioritise based on risk and clinical need.
• Comply with the Data Protection Act, respecting confidentiality.
• Follow group expectations on professional conduct and working culture.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Essential criteria: 1st or 2nd class Honours degree (or integrated masters) in pure or applied Physics (or equivalent, to meet registration needs). A 2.2 will only be accepted if the applicant already has a higher (MSc/PhD) degree in the field.
• Desirable criteria: MSc in Medical Physics (or must be completed or equivalence gained during training), Registration as a technologist/HCS Practitioner in our field, Membership of IPEM (may be expected later to undertake the supported training scheme), PhD in Medical Physics.

Experience

• Desirable criteria: Relevant experience in imaging physics or radiation protection such as providing technical or scientific services in diagnostic radiology, Research experience, Involvement in relevant aspects of service delivery management / coordination, Teaching / training experience, Supervision of trainees, Experience of optical radiation protection.

Skills

• Essential criteria: Excellent basic computer skills (e.g. Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access), Clear and articulate communicator to communicate complex information, Good interpersonal skills, Ability to problem solve, Ability to work independently in line with GSP, Ability to work well as part of a multidisciplinary team, Ability to position intricate tests tools with precision, Analysis & interpretation of investigations/results, drawing conclusions, Resilient.
• Desirable criteria: Advanced computer applications such as image analysis and processing, programming.

Knowledge

• Essential Criteria: Have an understanding and knowledge of the role of science, and Medical Physics in particular, in the delivery of a modern healthcare service, Good knowledge of radiological physics and radiation protection, Knowledge of radiation instrumentation, Knowledge of appropriate UK radiation legislation, Understanding of Quality Assurance in a science or work-based context.
• Desirable criteria: Working knowledge of recommended standards of X-ray equipment, Appropriate knowledge of radiation physics and a wide range of diagnostic X-ray equipment (including CT, angiography and mammography), Working knowledge of quality management systems.

Values

• Essential Criteria: Ability to demonstrate the organisation's values and behaviours including respect towards others at all times, Patient focused, Accountability.

Other

• Essential criteria: Valid FULL UK driving licence for a manual car - essential (don’t apply if not in place), Willing to work flexibly in line with service needs, Physically able to lift heavy measuring equipment (up to 15 kg), Enthusiasm, Drive and commitment to complete a training scheme.

Application Information

If you have not heard from us within four weeks of the closing date, I regret that on this occasion your application will have been unsuccessful.

Sponsorship Information

We are an approved sponsoring organisation. Applications will be considered from applicants requiring sponsorship alongside all other applications. Please be aware, not all roles are eligible for sponsorship.

Pre-Employment Checks

To Confirm Your Suitability For The Role, We Will Carry Out Pre-employment Checks In Line With NHS Employment Check Standards. These Include: Identity verification, Right to work check, Disclosure and barring service (DBS)/Criminal record check (dependent on role, payment of this will be the applicants responsibility), Professional registration and/or qualification check, Occupational health assessment, Employment history and reference validation.

All applicants external to The Christie NHS Foundation Trust will be required to provide their HMRC employment history to cover the most recent three years employment. This information will used to validate employment history and references. If you require sponsorship, we will assess your eligibility based on current government guidance. If the role is not eligible and you cannot demonstrate your right to work, your conditional offer may be withdrawn.

If You’re Offered the Role

You will be agreeing to The Christie NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system. Please note, all communication regarding your application will be made via email, please ensure you check your junk/spam folders as emails are sometimes filtered there.

No Smoking Policy

You should be aware the Trust operates a No Smoking Policy and therefore employees are not permitted to smoke at work.

Additional Information

We want to ensure that everyone who works at the Christie or uses our services is welcomed, valued and treated with dignity and respect. The Christie values diversity and is committed to ensuring equal opportunities for all and fair representation across the organisation at all levels. In support of these commitments, we particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and other ethnic minority people and people with disabilities for this post. Appointment will be only on merit. We are committed to creating a balanced and diverse workforce. As such we welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. Together we will foster inclusion and tackle inequity and health inequalities in cancer care.

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy. The Christie NHS Foundation Trust is committed to the highest standards of ethical conduct and integrity in all our activities. We have a zero‑tolerance approach to modern slavery in any of its forms, including slavery, servitude, forced or compulsory labour, and human trafficking. We are fully committed to acting ethically and with transparency in all our business dealings and relationships, and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure modern slavery is not taking place anywhere in our organisation or supply chains.

Applicant Requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration. The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.