Specialist Clinical Scientist Nuclear Medicine

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job description

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1. Patient/Client care

1. Act as Medical Physics Expert in Nuclear Medicine (as required by the Ionising Radiation [Medical Exposure] Regulations 2017), providing complex expert scientific and highly specialised advice to other health professionals on the justification, optimisation, analysis and interpretation of investigations, the safe use of equipment, and the development of new techniques and staff training. Also:
   1. Communicate complex information regarding the investigations to patients, and if appropriate their carers. In particular discuss the risks arising from ionising radiation and put these into a context that can be understood by patients or carers to provide reassurance.
   2. Perform risk assessments to ensure that radiation doses received by staff, patients, and members of the public are "as low as reasonably practicable" and within statutory limits as defined in the Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017.
2. Be responsible for the effective and safe provision of two or more services offered by Nuclear Medicine e.g. diagnostics nuclear medicine, MRT service, PET/CT scientific support.
3. Be responsible for providing scientific support to the Nuclear Medicine Service according to the duty physicist rota and at other times as required, including:
   1. Interpret highly complex data to write clinical reports on patient investigations for referring consultant medical doctors.
   2. In collaboration with consultant medical staff, interpret complex clinical investigations to produce clinical reports.
   3. Provide scientific support to technical staff, for example in determining whether sufficient data has been obtained during a patient investigation for an accurate diagnosis to be made or whether further data are required.
   4. Support the Radiopharmacy Unit including batch release of radiopharmaceuticals.
   5. Support quality assurance programmes for equipment and specialist software in Nuclear Medicine/PET associated with the acquisition and analysis of patient investigations and therapies.

2. Policy & Service Development

1. Be responsible for interpreting the regulatory framework in which the nuclear medicine service operates and ensure compliance.
2. Be responsible for the development, implementation and review of individual procedures within the Quality Management System for the service.
3. As a Medical Physics Expert determine the most appropriate methods for individual patient treatments or for acquiring, analysing and presenting the results from patient investigations, by interpreting published best practice, national guidance and statutory regulations.
4. Contribute to the maintenance of statistical information as required for audit, clinical governance and management purposes. Analyse, interpret and action learning outcomes from this information across the service.
5. Identify and implement policies (both local and national) and service developments to maximise the benefit of the service and understand the impact of these changes to other stakeholders.
6. Assist in the engagement of external stakeholders, such as regulatory bodies, commissioners and partners within the Integrated Care System (ICS) to ensure effective utilisation of resources.

3. Resource Management

1. Take on operational responsibilities for the delivery of sub-services within the Nuclear Medicine Service.
2. Take on line management responsibility for staff within the service and delegate tasks appropriately.
3. Advise on the suitability of equipment for specific tasks within the Nuclear Medicine Service and the need for loan or replacement equipment.
4. In collaboration with scientific, clinical and technical colleagues specify and select major equipment (> £500k) for use in the service. Assist with the development and performance of acceptance tests on this equipment to ensure that it meets its specification and is safe to use with patients.
5. Assist with the financial management of the Nuclear Medicine Service such that it stays within agreed budgets.

4. Teaching, Training and Research

1. Contribute to the training and development of staff in the Nuclear Medicine Service.
2. Ensure that suitable staff development is undertaken to provide a resilient and sustainable workforce.
3. Provide training to other groups of healthcare professionals within the Trust and other organisations (including FRCR and IRMER lectures).
4. Initiate and participate in research and innovation in Nuclear Medicine and in other Trust and academic departments as agreed with the Head of the Service.
5. Analyse and interpret the results from research and development studies for presentation at scientific meetings and publication in peer-reviewed journals.

5. Professional

1. Demonstrate appropriate leadership to the staff in the Nuclear Medicine Service and project a positive collaborative image of the service to the Trust and other stakeholders.
2. Maintain continuing professional development to standards defined by the relevant professional and regulatory bodies and maintain registration as a Clinical Scientist.
3. Ensure all activities are carried out within the ISO quality framework and conform to Statutory Regulations, Approved Codes of Practice and Local Rules.
4. Keep abreast of the latest technical and scientific developments and their applications in medical and associated fields as part of training and personal development and to further the work of the section.
5. Prioritise and manage own workload and meet agreed objectives.

Person specification

Training & Qualifications

Essential criteria

• HSST or equivalent in Nuclear Medicine
• HCPC Clinical Scientist registration
• Registered MPE

Desirable criteria

• Registered RPA
• Registered RWA
• Leadership qualification

Experience

Essential criteria

• Expert knowledge in the field of Nuclear Medicine
• Experience as a clinical scientist operating at a senior level in Nuclear Medicine managing complex multi-faceted problems
• Working with a range of stakeholders, both internal and external to Trust to deliver a clinical service

Desirable criteria

• Leadership experience
• Experience of leading staff
• Experience of leading diagnostic, therapeutic nuclear medicine services and radiopharmacy

Communication & Relationship Skills

Essential criteria

• Presentation of complex scientific issues to large audiences, management and/or external organisations (e.g. conferences, Trust leadership teams)
• Ability to train staff clearly and appropriately
• Be able to manage challenging relationships to deliver positive outcomes

Desirable criteria

• Course in managing staff relationships
• Course in communications skills

Analytical & Judgement Skills

Essential criteria

• Trust MPE in Nuclear Medicine
• Interpretation of legislation/policy/complex test results where there is no precedent
• Option appraisal/critical review of literature
• Use of special computer packages e.g. Nuclear Medicine & PET/CT computer systems
• Perform complex mathematical solutions to advise service stakeholders (e.g. radiation dose assessments)

Planning & Organisational Skills

Essential criteria

• Supporting the delivery of expected KPIs for clinical services
• Lead the introduction of new service involving liaison with appropriate stakeholders
• Plan programmes of work/R&D that impact within own service and other services, involving a wide range of other professionals.

Physical Skills

Essential criteria

• Able to calibrate and test equipment with small margins of error
• Manipulate unsealed source radioactivity in suitable PPE to safely deliver precise measures of radioactive solutions
• The post holder will have to move shielded radioactive material generators or test objects weighing up to 19kg.
• Be able to assist in the moving of patients from trolleys to scanners

Other Requirements

Essential criteria

• Be able to work within broad occupational policies and establish how these should be interpreted for the Trust
• UK driving license to enable dept car to be used for external site visits
• Demonstrate flexible working to meet needs of clinical service

Come and join our wonderful team at NUH. We are big believers in diversity and welcome new ideas to help develop our team in order to deliver world class healthcare to the vast patient populations we serve. With endless personal development opportunities available, at the NUH we will endeavour to turn your job into a career!

We particularly welcome applications from people who identify as Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic, or Disabled, as we are striving to be better represented at NUH.

Closing Dates: Please submit your application form as soon as possible to avoid disappointment; we reserve the right to close vacancies prior to the published closing date if we receive a sufficient number of completed application forms.

Communication: All communication related to your application will be via the email address you have provided. Please ensure you check your email account including your junk email regularly.

Easy read application: if you have a disability and find it difficult to complete our online application form, you can apply via our easy read application which you can find on the intranet https://www.nuh.nhs.uk/easy-read-job-application

NUH are now able to offer application completion support and interview preparation support. Please follow the link to book onto our sessions: Support for NUH Job Applications

If you are aged 16 or 17 and applying for a role that is more than 20 hours a week, please be aware that you will be asked to commence an Apprenticeship within the Trust alongside your role, as long as there is a suitable apprenticeship standard available. This is in line with the current guidance in England that whilst young people under the age of 18 can leave school (on the last Friday in June) they must then do one of the following:

• Stay in full-time education, for example at a college
• Start an Apprenticeship
• Spend 20 hours of more a week working or volunteering, while in part-time education or training

For more details visit; School leaving age - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Salary: The quoted salary will be on a pro rata basis for part time workers.

Disability Confidence: All applicants who have declared a disability and who meet the essential criteria for the post will be shortlisted.

At Risk of redundancy: NHS employees within the East Midlands who are 'at risk' of redundancy will be given a preferential interview where they meet the essential criteria of the person specification.

International Recruitment: If you are applying for a role with us from outside of the UK then please read the guidance on applying for a health or social care job in the UK from abroad.

ID and Right to work checks: NUH authenticate ID and right to work documentation including passports and driving licenses through a system called Trust ID. NUH will scan your ID and right to work documentation in to the Trust ID system at your face to face ID appointment. The system will run a check against the key security features within your documentation. The system will provide us with an outcome of your check which will be stored securely on your personal file along with all other pre-employment check documentation.

Consent:

• Transfer of information: If I have previous NHS service - I consent to the transfer of my Electronic Staff Record (ESR) data between this and other NHS Trusts. I also consent to the Occupational Health Department confidentially accessing my occupational health records from my current or previous employer in order to check the status of my vaccinations, immunisations s and screening tests as relevant to the post. I understand this is an automated process and the information will only be used for these purposes prior to me taking up the position at NUH.
• Disclosure and Barring Service: Your post maybe subject to a DBS check which incur a cost dependent on the level of check required (£49.50 for enhanced and £21.50 for standard). I agree to reimburse Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust the cost of a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check if it is required (by deduction from first month's pay). Should I decide to withdraw from my job offer, I agree to reimburse Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust the cost of the DBS check undertaken by cheque or other agreed method.
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Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

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.