Nuclear Medicine Lead Clinical Scientist - Regional Support Lead

East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 80,000

Job description

Here at East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust,

Our mission is:
Providing high-quality, compassionate care for our communities

Our vision to 2030 is:
To be trusted to provide consistently outstanding care and exemplary service

Job overview

We are recruiting for a Nuclear Medicine Lead Clinical Scientist who shares our vision to be trusted to provide consistently outstanding care and exemplary service to our patients.

The nuclear medicine department is part of the wider radiation services team at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre. We are looking for a lead clinical scientist to provide MPE, RPA and RWA support for the Trust and to support nuclear medicine services in a number of external Trusts under service level agreements.

The nuclear medicine department provides diagnostic, in-vitro investigations and radionuclide therapies to cancer and non-cancer patients and provides specialist scientific advice and technical support to nuclear medicine services within the Trust and to nuclear medicine services at other hospitals.

You will be a HCPC registered Clinical Scientist, qualified to act as an RPA, RWA and MPE in nuclear medicine. As an experienced and committed clinical scientist you will lead the delivery of scientific and technical support to nuclear medicine services.

You will have plenty of opportunities to manage staff as the department is currently accredited for STP training and also has a number of staff Route 2, practitioner training programs and apprenticeships.

Main duties of the job

• Lead on the provision of radiation protection and scientific support to several hospitals. Working closely with the head of nuclear medicine you will be part of the leadership team delivering services to a number of Trusts.
• Work alongside local service leads to ensure organisations deliver statutory obligations with respect to the safe use of ionising radiation.
• Support and line manage clinical scientists, contribute to staff development and assist in the supervision of trainees undertaking the STP programme or equivalent.
• Lead on the implementation, development and optimization of nuclear medicine imaging, including CT in SPECT/CT.
• Lead on QA programs for nuclear medicine equipment.
• Participate in the delivery of clinical Nuclear Medicine services provided by the department.

Person specification

Qualifications
Essential criteria

• Good (1st or 2nd Class) Honours degree in a relevant subject (physics or engineering).
• Postgraduate qualification in a relevant branch of physics or medical physics to the level of at least a Master's degree (MSc).
• State registration with the Health & Care Professions Council, as a Clinical Scientist
• RPA accreditation by RPA 2000 (certificate of core competence)
• RWA accreditation by RPA 2000 (certificate of core competence)
• Current recognition as an MPE and on the IR(ME)R 2000 MPE list as maintained by RPA 2000

Desirable criteria

• Relevant PhD or comparable history of published research
• Qualification as a DGSA

Experience
Essential criteria

• Specialised training and practical experience in Nuclear Medicine and Radiation Protection
• Specialised training and practical experience in the use and quality assurance testing of a range of highly technical equipment, including SPECT/CT, PET/CT
• Specification, procurement and commissioning of imaging systems
• Working as an MPE in a nuclear medicine service providing imaging and radionuclide therapies
• Previous appointment as RPA and/or RWA and working at this level
• Significant experience of delivering teaching and training

Desirable criteria

• Operational management in a healthcare service / team
• Previous appointment and experience as a DGSA
• Experience in computing relevant to Nuclear Medicine
• Previous appointment as an MPE for CT
• Experience of CT quality assurance testing

Knowledge
Essential criteria

• Advanced theoretical and practical knowledge and deep understanding of the nature, use, risks and radiation protection of ionising radiations including X-rays, gamma rays, electrons & neutrons
• Specialist knowledge and full understanding of all the areas of legislation, approved codes and good guidance, applicable to the use of sealed and unsealed sources of ionising radiation in the field of medical, dental, veterinary and industry where appropriate
• Theoretical and practical knowledge to act as a Medical Physics Expert regarding the safety of the patient under IRMER within nuclear medicine
• Specialist experience (significant nuclear medicine experience since registration) in medical physics and radiation protection
• Knowledge and understanding of patient and staff risks arising from use of ionising radiation with unsealed radionuclides, including equipment failure, procedural defects and human error

Skills
Essential criteria

• Good communicator of complex and sensitive information to patients and members of the public. Able to communicate highly complex scientific data to multi-disciplinary staff
• To be able to communicate effectively with Government agencies and regulatory bodies (e.g. CQC, HSE, EA, ONR etc.) on behalf of Trusts or other organisation
• Ability to use own judgement involving complex facts that require analysis, interpretation and comparison of a range of options as, for example, in analysing the results of scientific measurements or processes, which may conflict, and deciding upon an appropriate course of action
• Highly developed physical accuracy, manual dexterity skills and good eye-sight to achieve precision and speed in radiopharmaceutical dispensing procedures and the use of sophisticated scientific and technical equipment
• Ability to apply knowledge and experience of practical nuclear medicine and radiation protection in order to implement new procedures and suggest developments to existing ones
• Understanding of hazards posed by, and precautions needed with: Ionising radiation including X-rays, gamma rays, alpha and beta particles Electrical & mechanical hazards
• Ability to teach, train and supervise students and other members of staff within their areas of competence

Others
Essential criteria

• Understands the impact on equality, diversity and inclusion issues in all aspects of service delivery and planning.
• Role model our Trust values every day

Our values

Include
We value the diversity and experience of our community colleagues and partners, creating relationships and climates that provide an opportunity to share, collaborate and grow together.

Respect
We create a safe environment where we are curious of the lived experience of others, seek out best practice and are open to listening and hearing new ideas.

Improve
We are committed to consistently delivering excellent services and continuously looking to improve through a creative workforce that feels empowered to act in service of our shared purpose.