Radioisotope & Imaging Physicist in Sutton

Applications are invited for a Band 7 Radioisotope and Imaging Physicist in the Radioisotope Physics group of the Royal Marsden NHSFT at Sutton in Surrey. The successful candidate will join a team of clinical physicists providing support to the Nuclear Medicine areas of imaging, molecular radiotherapy and radiation safety. The trust carries out a variety of molecular radiotherapy administrations in the context of both routine clinical service and clinical trials. The current service includes Lu-177 PSMA, Lu-177 dotatate, I-131 mIBG, radioiodine treatments for thyroid cancer as well as Ac-225 radiopharmaceuticals. The post-holder will be involved in all aspects of molecular radiotherapy procedures including patient administrations and measurements, dosimetry calculations and radiation protection procedures.

Applicants should hold a postgraduate degree in a relevant subject and will preferably be registered with the UK Health Professionals Council though less experienced candidates will be considered for appointment. The Sutton branch of the Trust is situated on the edge of the Surrey countryside within a few miles of the M25 and with fast rail links into London. The Chelsea site has excellent transport links and is within easy walking distance of South Kensington tube station. A shuttle bus runs at regular intervals between the two Trust sites.

Main duties of the job

• The post holder contributes to day-to-day physics support services for nuclear medicine and radiotherapy acting as an operator as required under the ionising radiations (medical exposure) regulations 2017 [IR(ME)R 2017].
• This includes first line support and quality control for SPECT/CT and PET/CT imaging systems and associated computers and all physics aspects of radionuclide therapy procedures.
• The post holder also assists in training new staff and physicists enrolled on the STP Clinical Scientist Medical Physics training scheme and is expected to contribute to development and clinical implementation of complex new imaging and therapy procedures.

Person specification

Education & Qualifications

• Good (1st or 2nd class) Honours degree in a relevant subject or equivalent.
• Relevant MSc degree or recognised equivalent knowledge.
• Post‑graduate qualification in nuclear medicine physics culminating in UK state registration as a clinical scientist; or be on a pathway where registration is expected in less than 6 months.
• PhD in relevant subject or equivalent scientific knowledge and published material on a topic identified as relevant to the field.

Experience

• Specialist knowledge in all Nuclear Medicine imaging procedures building on theoretical knowledge and practical experience.
• Specialist training on and practical experience with a wide range of specialist Nuclear Medicine computer applications.
• Specialist knowledge in practical radionuclide therapy procedures in Nuclear Medicine, building on theoretical knowledge and practical experience.
• Specialist knowledge in radiation dosimetry for various radionuclide therapy procedures in Nuclear Medicine, building on theoretical knowledge and practical experience.

Clinical & Managerial

• Specialised knowledge of clinical issues and their implications for Nuclear Medicine diagnosis and therapy.
• High level of understanding of patient and staff risks arising from equipment failure.
• Able to prioritise and manage own work and that of others for whom the post-holder is responsible.
• Able to exercise initiative when dealing with issues within own specialist area of competence.
• High level of understanding of patient and staff risks arising from treatment with high levels of unsealed sources of radioactivity.

Legislation & Publications

• Understanding of relevant legislation, national standards, professional and other guidelines.
• Publications in peer reviewed journals or presentations at national conferences.
• Significant contribution to clinically orientated research programmes.

Physical, Mental & Emotional Ability

• Highly developed physical accuracy and dexterity, for making precision measurements and/or interactions with nuclear medicine equipment.
• Able to concentrate frequently when subject to unpredictable working patterns (eg when interrupted to provide urgent advice).
• Able to concentrate for prolonged periods (eg carrying out dosimetry calculations).
• Able to deal with occasional distressing circumstances (e.g. working and communicating with terminal adult and paediatric patients undergoing palliative radionuclide therapy).
• Able to deal calmly and rationally with problems involving staff.
• Able to move heavy weights on occasion.

Communication Skills

• Ability to communicate complex scientific concepts and provide training to other professional groups.
• Ability to communicate complex scientific concepts and sensitive information to patients and relatives.
• Able to present scientific papers at national and international conferences.
• Able to deal with complex and unpredictable situations.
• Able to give advice and training to groups of other professional staff.
• Able to deliver teaching and training on highly complex subjects.

Analytical, Organisational & IT Skills

• Able to exercise judgement in the event of unclear evidence or conflicting information.
• Able to plan, organise and supervise complex activities concerning nuclear medicine imaging and radionuclide therapy.
• Able to use initiative and work with minimal supervision.
• Ability to organise and maintain systems of documentation and data storage.
• Able to use Excel, Word, Access etc to set up documents and spreadsheets and extract information.
• Programming and system modification skills in Nuclear Medicine computer systems.

The Royal Marsden values diversity and is committed to the recruitment and retention of under‑represented 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.

Flu Vaccination – What We Expect of our Staff

At The Royal Marsden we have an immune compromised patient population who we must protect as much as we can against the flu virus. Each year, seasonal flu affects thousands of people in the UK. Occurring mainly in winter, it is an infectious respiratory disease capable of producing symptoms ranging from those similar to a common cold, through to very severe or even fatal disease. The wellbeing of our staff and patients is of the upmost importance to us, and it is the expectation of The Royal Marsden that all patient‑facing staff have an annual flu vaccination, provided free of charge by the Trust.

Employer certification / accreditation badges You must have appropriate UK professional registration. This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.