Principal Clinical Scientist (Medical Physics)

Principal Clinical Scientist (Medical Physics)

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board

The post holder will be a member of staff within the Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering (MPCE) department in the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (C&V UHB); MPCE comprises five sections: Cedar (medical technology evaluation centre), Clinical Engineering, Ionising Radiation, Non-ionising Radiation and Radiopharmacy. This post is within Ionizing radiation which hosts two DEXA scanners, provides Nuclear Medicine non-imaging and therapy investigations and provides Nuclear Medicine Medical Physics Expert (MPE) advice to the UHB Nuclear Medicine Department, which houses 2 SPECT/CT systems. MPE services are also provided to regional NM departments and the neighbouring PET centre.

Main duties of the job

To provide and lead as MPE, highly specialized scientific advice and clinical technical services within and on behalf of the Ionizing Radiation team. This role is pivotal in managing the technical aspects of diagnostic and therapeutic services, requiring deep knowledge of medical physics to ensure the highest standards of patient care and safety. The specialist will lead in protocol development, quality assurance, and legislative compliance, bridging advanced scientific understanding with practical clinical applications.

Additionally, within collaborations with the NHS Wales Transforming Access to Medicines (TRAMS) programme and regional services, the post-holder will provide and / or support, essential radiation protection and waste management advice (Radiation Protection Advisor / Radiation Waste Advisor) (RPA/RWA) as well as clinical scientist input to the new Radiopharmacy. The specialist will also support regional nuclear medicine services in collaboration with Velindre NHS Trust, enhancing the coordination and integration of these services across the region. The role also includes collaborating with CEDAR (Centre for Healthcare Evaluation, Device Assessment and Research) to evaluate novel artificial intelligence technologies for diagnostic nuclear medicine and initiating research within the area of Nuclear Medicine to advance the field and improve patient outcomes.

About us

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is one of the largest Integrated Health Boards in the UK, employing over 15,000 staff, providing over 100 specialist services. Working across 6 hospital sites, we have a diverse range of career opportunities to offer. Serving around 500,000 people living in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, we are focussed on the health and care needs of our local population whilst working with our partners to develop regional services.

Our mission is "Caring for People, Keeping People Well",and our vision is that every person's chance of leading a healthy life should be equal. As an organisation we are unashamedly ambitious for our population's health, rising to the challenges of today and tomorrow through our 10-year strategy, Shaping our Future Wellbeing. We are contributing to a healthier Wales with great emphasis placed on innovation and improvement, learning from around the world and leading the way in clinical research. Partnership working is strong at Cardiff and Vale, and we work closely with our staff and our community.

Cardiff, the thriving Welsh capital, is a fantastic city to live and work in with an abundance of sports, arts and cultural attractions. Situated to the west of Cardiff, the Vale of Glamorgan offers a combination of beautiful Welsh countryside and a dramatic natural coastline. Whether city life or rural living, Cardiff and the Vale offers the best of both worlds.

Job responsibilities

For full details of job description and main responsibilities please see attached job description with person specification.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Good honours first degree in physical science or equivalent
• Relevant master's degree or equivalent
• Registration as a Clinical Scientist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• Corporate membership of a professional organisation
• Medical Physics Expert in Nuclear Medicine on the RPA2000 list.
• Certificate of competence to act as a Radiation Waste Advisor and / or Radiation Protection Advisor.
• Certificate of Competence to act as a Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor

Experience

• Working as a Medical Physics Expert (MPE) in nuclear medicine and/or ionising radiation safety
• Acquiring and analysing complex image and other data.
• Operation, quality assurance and calibration of complex ionising radiation equipment.
• Radiation metrology to national standards.
• Safe use and providing advice on the safe use of ionising radiation.
• Safety audit and risk management.
• Initiating and participating in research and development projects.
• Teaching and training and development of teaching and training material.
• Scientific presentation and publication.
• Project management and service development.
• Managing high activity sealed sources (HASS).

Skills

• Effective oral and written communication, including conveying highly complex information to individuals and groups of people.
• Establishing effective professional relationships across a range of disciplines.
• Ability to exercise judgement on complex facts and situations requiring analysis, interpretation and option appraisal.
• Negotiation and resolution of professional disagreement.
• Use and customisation of information technology including database applications.
• Highly developed physical accuracy and dexterity.
• Using complex clinical and measurement equipment, including both hardware and software systems
• Delivering lectures and research presentations.
• Supervising the work of others and providing feedback.
• Strategic planning.
• Welsh Language Skills are desirable levels 1 to 5 in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing in Welsh.

Special Knowledge

• Scientific computer programming.
• Use of higher mathematics and statistics.

Personal Qualities

• Calm, rational and a logical thinker.
• Decisive, determined and diplomatic.
• Conscientious, reliable and tidy.
• Motivated, enthusiastic team worker.
• Independent flair with a vision for future diagnostic radiology developments.
• Willing to work flexible hours to allow the service to be covered
• Willing to take responsibility.

Travel

• Ability to work flexible hours if required.
• Ability to travel in a timely manner to all sites

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.

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board