Senior Clinical Scientist: Radiation Protection & Diagnostic Radiology in Cardiff

A new opportunity has arisen within the Radiation Protection Service Cardiff (RPSC) for two Senior Clinical Scientists in Radiation Protection and Diagnostic Radiology. Whilst this post requires HCPC registration as a Clinical Scientist, we would accept applications from those who are close to the end of their training, and also those who would need to undertake training via Route 2 to achieve registration. A successful candidate who did not yet hold HCPC registration as a Clinical Scientist would be employed under Annex 21 until they achieve registration. The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.

Main duties of the job:

• The post holder, working across diagnostic radiology and radiation protection specialities, provides scientific support to ensure that diagnostic radiology examinations involving x-rays are properly optimised and to assist Velindre University NHS Trust and client organisations in complying with prevailing radiation protection legislation.
• Services are delivered to a client base located largely in SE Wales but includes Breast Test Wales (BTW) at all of its locations across Wales.
• This involves practical involvement in measurement, calculation, advice, quality assurance and development across all diagnostic radiology modalities but with a particular emphasis upon compliance with radiation protection legislation.
• The post holder will travel independently to sites across Wales, some of which are in remote locations.
• The post holder provides support to the activities of the Trust's Radiation Protection Advisers (RPAs) and provides scientific support to diagnostic radiology, under the direction of a Medical Physics Expert (MPE).
• Areas of activity include delivery of scientific support to Breast Test Wales and other customers of the Radiation Protection Service, calculating shielding requirements for new projects in diagnostic radiology, performing commissioning and routine checks upon diagnostic radiological equipment, preparing radiation reviews of research ethics applications and assisting in the process of optimising the radiological examination.

Qualifications:

• MSc Medical Physics or equivalent
• Either, one of the following:
• Successful completion of the National School of Healthcare Scientists STP scheme
• Association of Clinical Scientists certificate of attainment
• UK HCPC Clinical Scientist Registration to practise Medical Physics, but for non‑UK candidates the certainty of obtaining it
• Or, ability to achieve registration as a Clinical Scientist through Route 2 training via Annex 21 of Agenda for Change
• PhD in Medical Physics
• Publication record in diagnostic radiology physics

Knowledge:

• Health & Safety principles and practice
• A good overview of the place of physics in diagnostic imaging
• Basic anatomy & physiology
• Advanced Radiation Physics
• Advanced Mathematics
• Principles and practice of data analysis, aggregation of uncertainties, and statistics
• Principles of physics research methods
• Programming & Systems
• Appreciation of the radiobiological basis of radiation protection
• Cancer induction by radiation- principles and facts
• Understanding of the physics and technology of diagnostic radiological equipment
• Limitations & pitfalls of radiation dosimetry, calculation and computation
• Quality Assurance schemes and principles in diagnostic radiology
• Eligibility to hold MIPEM or equivalent status

Experience:

• Use of all types of diagnostic radiological equipment and proficient in their testing
• Experience of working in a breast screening program environment
• Awareness of protocols and pathways used in Diagnostic Radiology and Breast Screening R&D off one's own initiative
• Experience of preparing radiation reviews of research ethics applications

Skills and Attributes:

• Ease of maths calculations
• Able to develop the subject using peer acceptable procedures
• Good written documentation of projects and procedures
• Good communicator of difficult scientific issues to scientists and non‑scientists with good verbal, written and audio‑visual production & presentation skills
• Proven ability with computer software, and its modification, e.g. able to create complex scientific programs and spreadsheets
• Proven ability to develop the physics of diagnostic radiology
• Good at option appraisals of complex alternatives
• Good planning and organisation
• Use of dose meters and their software
• Advanced computer analysis, data manipulation and its display
• Ability to speak Welsh

Other:

• Flexible working when required, which may be outside core hours
• The ability to travel all over Wales visiting remote sites with the possibility of undertaking overnight stays where appropriate
• Experience of working in a radiation environment
• Welsh Speaker (Level 1) or willingness to work towards
• Disclosure and Barring Service Check
• This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.