Band 7 Clinical Scientist

Our trust has over 17,000 staff serving 2 million patients every year. It comprises Barnet Hospital, Chase Farm Hospital, the Royal Free Hospital, North Middlesex University Hospital and more than 30 services in the community. This larger scale organisation provides an unprecedented opportunity for us to continue our pioneering work, particularly in finding ways to deliver even better care to our patients.

Our mission is to deliver world class care and expertise in our clinical services, underpinned by world class teaching and research and we will continue to measure our progress against our five governing objectives: excellent outcomes, excellent patient and staff experience, excellent value for taxpayers' money, being safe and meeting our external duties, and building a strong organisation.

Everyone is welcome at Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. We're proud of our diversity and we continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BME, gender equality, staff carers and people with disabilities and lived experiences to promote good relations and understanding between our staff.

Job overview

We have an exciting opportunity for two HCPC registered clinical scientists, or soon to be clinical scientists, to join the Radiological Physics and Radiation Safety Group at the Royal Free London. We are a forward thinking and innovative team who are actively looking at new ways of working to maximise the impact of our work for the benefit of our patients. We work in all areas of diagnostic and interventional radiology including a significant amount of mammography. If this sounds interesting to you and you are either a HCPC registered, or close to gaining registration via STP, route 2 or equivalent, then we would love to hear from you!

Main duties of the job

The Radiological Physics and Radiation Safety group (RPRSG) provides medical physics services to all hospital departments that use X-rays for diagnostic and interventional purposes, with the aim of ensuring the safe and optimal use of ionising radiation for patients, staff and the public. The Group works at all hospitals within the trust and delivers services to several external (NHS) customers, including breast screening services. The post holder will be expected to contribute to all aspects of the Group's work.

Working for our organisation

RPRSG is a friendly team of clinical scientists, assistant physicists and trainees. We are based at the Royal Free Hospital but frequently work at other trust and external customer sites. We support flexible working and working from home where possible. We are heavily involved in training and are currently supporting individuals through route 2, STP and HSST.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see job description attached. The work will cover all aspects of diagnostic radiology physics and radiation safety.

Person specification

Royal Free World Class Values

Essential criteria

• Demonstrable ability to meet the Trust Values

Education & professional Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Honours First Degree in Physics or equivalent, or containing a major physics component
• Relevant MSc or higher degree or equivalent level of knowledge in medical or radiation physics
• Successful completion of the NHS Scientist Training Programme in either Radiation Safety or Imaging with Ionising Radiation, or equivalent e.g. certificate of attainment from the Association of Clinical Scientists
• HCPC registered as a Clinical Scientist; or must be registered within two years of appointment

Experience

Essential criteria

• Specialist theoretical and practical knowledge and experience of diagnostic radiology physics, diagnostic radiology equipment technology and performance testing, image optimisation and patient dose assessment
• Specialist theoretical and practical knowledge and experience of radiation safety, risk assessment, design of radiology facilities and staff dosimetry
• Knowledge of relevant radiation safety legislation and standards, particularly IRR17 and IRMER17
• Knowledge of clinical procedures and practices in diagnostic radiology

Skills and aptitudes

Essential criteria

• Able to prioritise and manage own workload with effective time management skills
• Able to be flexible, adjust commitments when required and work to tight deadlines
• Able to exercise own initiative when dealing with issues within own areas of competence
• Able to maintain frequent periods of prolonged concentration, with often unpredictable work patterns
• Able to deal with complex and unpredictable situations
• Analytical problem solving ability, able to resolve complex issues and situations that are often unpredictable and do not fit a standard pattern
• Good verbal and written communication abilities, including the ability to communicate highly complex information to other healthcare professionals and to equipment suppliers; to interpret and act on complex information received; and to communicate sensitively with patients or relatives regarding the effects of radiation incidents, simplifying the information to an appropriate level
• Advanced proficiency in the use of Excel, Word and Powerpoint.

Personal Qualities & attributes

Essential criteria

• Demonstrates the values and principles of the NHS Constitution with a focus on patient centred care
• High degree of physical accuracy and dexterity for making precision measurements on very high value Radiology equipment (e.g. CT scanners in excess of £0.5 million)
• Able to lift and move medium/heavy weights e.g. high value X-ray test equipment
• Able to deal with occasional distressing circumstances e.g. reassuring a distressed and/or very sick patient about their radiation dose
• Ability to be flexible and adaptive and to show initiative
• Ability to work effectively within a team
• Ability to undertake and promote innovative work
• Ability to concentrate when subject to unpredictable working patterns
• Self motivated and able to work to deadlines

Others

Desirable criteria

• Clean driving license
• Own car for visits to other hospitals carrying equipment

• Covid-19 Vaccination
  
  Getting vaccinated, and getting a booster, remains the best defence against COVID-19.
  We encourage and support staff to get COVID-19 vaccine and a booster dose as and when they are eligible.
• AT* - Apprenticeship Training. Where AT* is entered next to the job title indicates that this vacancy is for an apprenticeship role.
• By applying for this role, you accept if successful, that your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers within the NHS. This is in accordance with the streamlining programme which aims at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers. Therefore we require you to complete your stat and Man e-learning modules prior to joining our organisation.
• If you are an EU/EEA citizen who does not have EU Settlement or Pre-Settled status, you will require a visa to work in the UK.
• Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. Before submitting your application and to avoid disappointment please check that you are eligible under the UKVI points based system.
• If you are offered a role with one of the NLPSS partner trusts, as part of pre-employment checks your identity and right to work documentation will be verified remotely (in most circumstances), using a certified identity verification service provider TrustID. You will be asked to capture an image of the relevant documents as well as a "selfie" using your smartphone/tablet (if available) for facial matching. TrustID will also perform a digital address check using Trunarrative and Equifax, which is a soft check and does not leave a footprint on your credit rating. For more information, visit www.trustid.co.uk
• The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.
• The Trust will request a DBS (CRB) if post involves regulated activities. The Trust is compliant with the Disclosure and Barring Service Codes of practice and the Rehabilitation of offenders act.
• By applying for this post you are agreeing to Royal Free London 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 be aware of scams - unless specified above, we will only communicate with you via @recruit.trac.jobs or nhs.net e-mails and we will never ask you for any payments.

Applications are welcome from people wishing to job share or work flexible patterns. We are committed to equal opportunities.

Please note:

• Due to the high number of applications that are received for some posts we may close this vacancy before the advertised closing date. Therefore please apply for this post as soon as you can, if you are interested and you meet the requirements of the Person Specification
• Only those candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification will be shortlisted for this job.
• Interview arrangements will be communicated via email so please check your email regularly following the closing date.

Please be advised that due to exceptionally high demand, all Royal Free accommodation is at full capacity and waiting lists are being held. Average waiting times are 12 months. Please do not rely on Trust accommodation when you commence your role and ensure you investigate alternative accommodation for your arrival.