Senior Dosimetrist

We are looking for an enthusiastic senior dosimetrist or radiographer to join the Radiotherapy Physics group at the Sutton branch of the Royal Marsden Hospital, for a fixed-term 13 months to cover maternity leave. This post will focus mainly on producing treatment plans for all types of external-beam planning in the centre. For appointment at band 7, significant treatment-planning experience is required, showing the strong foundations to move into all areas of advanced planning. An appointment might be made at a lower band for a candidate with less experience.

Main duties of the job

• The post holder will be expected to provide an efficient, high quality patient dosimetry service for Radiotherapy.
• To deputise in the management of the team of dosimetrists where necessary to provide Treatment Planning Service to the Radiotherapy Department.
• The post holder will be an Operator as defined by the Ionising Radiation Medical Exposure Regulations (IRMER 2017).
• The post holder will be expected to use specialised planning software to perform routine conformal and complex IMRT, VMAT and SABR radiotherapy treatment planning for a range of treatment sites and indications for linear accelerators.
• Provide advice and discuss with the Clinical Oncologists, Radiographers and Physicists highly complex dosimetric treatment plans.
• Assist with image fusion of CT, MR and PET images, and outlining of OAR where necessary and participate in the teaching, training and development work of the Section.
• The post holder will be expected to participate in treatment plan checking and development including work up for radiotherapy trials, as part of the multi-disciplinary team which makes up the Treatment Planning Service.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Assist with outlining of the anatomy for organs at risk.
• Carefully check treatment plans and dosimetry calculations carried out by other planning staff.
• Advise clinical oncologists on the effects of various treatment plan options on patient dose distributions.
• Discuss and agree approaches with clinical staff to create optimum treatment plans.
• Advise on replans and cases with previous treatment.
• Attend clinical audit meetings as required, advising and explaining technical treatment planning issues for individual patients to clinicians.
• Understand the operation of the treatment machines and appreciate their potential and limitations with regard to treatment techniques.
• Provide treatment radiographers with advice on planning aspects of the treatment and attend the set-up of patients on CT, mould room and treatment machines, as required.
• Re-plan patient treatments where required due to changes to the treatment regime or patient anatomy.
• Calculate the required dose and optimise choices for treatment completion in the light of established protocols and under supervision.
• Carry out quality assurance and dosimetry support duties, as required.
• Assist in producing written protocols for localisation, treatment planning and radiotherapy treatments as part of the Department’s Quality System.
• Participate fully in implementing and maintaining this system, including reporting to line manager errors discovered.
• Participate in working parties to agree changes to protocols affecting Radiotherapy Physics and Radiotherapy, and assist with implementing and making local documentation for clinical trials.
• Maintain accurate records of all work performed.

Qualifications

• Degree in Therapeutic Radiographer or equivalent (e.g. DCR, HNC plus experience)
• HCPC registration as a Radiographer
• MSc in Radiotherapy or equivalent

Knowledge and Experience

• Broad knowledge of the field of Radiotherapy
• Good working knowledge of radiographic procedures in Radiotherapy and multidisciplinary team operations
• Specialist knowledge of treatment planning and Radiation Dosimetry as applied to Radiotherapy treatment
• A good awareness of the workings of computerised treatment planning, including their underlying algorithms and inherent strengths and weaknesses
• Experience working in Dosimetry for at least 4 years after registration
• Some experience in complex planning including non-routine techniques and protocols in Dosimetry
• Specialist training in treatment planning techniques

Clinical

• High level of understanding of patient and staff risks arising from Radiotherapy treatment
• A good awareness of treatment setup procedures and imaging protocols

Managerial

• Able to prioritise and manage own work
• Able to exercise own initiative when dealing with issues within own specialist area of competence
• Knowledge of employment procedures and practices

IT

• Able to use Excel, Word and PowerPoint to set up documents and spreadsheets, extract information and give presentations
• Able to enter information into specialist databases
• Trained on and able to use Radiotherapy planning workstations and other related computer systems effectively

The Royal Marsden values diversity and is committed to the recruitment and retention of underrepresented minority groups. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates and candidates with disabilities. As a Disability Confident Employer, we are working to create a workplace that enables all staff to reach their full potential. We are committed to this because we know that greater diversity and inclusion will lead to an even greater positive impact for the people we serve.