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Torbay Hospital has 2 Radiotherapy Treatment units (Linacs), 2 Treatment planning systems, a CT scanner for treatment planning and 1 Treatment Management System.

These specialised pieces of equipment are of extremely high value

Act as Medical Physics Expert (MPE) as defined in the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposures) Regulations 2000 for the Radiotherapy service, in the specific areas defined by local competencies.

Act as an Operator under the definitions of the Ionising Radiations (Medical Exposures) Regulations 2000, in accordance with Trust Policies and Procedures

Radiotherapy Treatment Planning
Perform final checking of treatment plans (appropriate to personal competencies) including complex inverse plans, ensuring accuracy of calculations, quality of dose distribution and minimal dose to critical organs. Resolve problems detected during the checking of complex radiotherapy treatment plans before and during treatment.

Undertake treatment planning (appropriate to personal competencies) for external beam radiotherapy, including complex plans and plans for clinical trials ensuring quality of dose distribution. Analyse requirements and make complex judgements regarding treatment parameters and patient dose effects to produce the required dose distribution over the treatment volume, using computerised planning systems as appropriate.

Advise medical consultants, planning radiographers and dosimetrists on the effects of various treatment plan options on patient dose distributions. Discuss and agree approaches with clinical staff to create optimum treatment plans and advise on aspects of the treatment and patient setup.

Carry out dosimetry calculations for treatment plans, in accordance with clinical prescription and agreed procedures and perform measurements relating to complex plans to confirm computed dose calculations including analysis of results.

Calculate dose for unplanned treatments using a range of independent dose calculations.

Review treatment imaging and advise on the effects of patient set-up or anatomical changes in relation to plan dosimetry

Assist in the commissioning of treatment planning systems and software, including the establishment of accuracy, and overall limitations of the system.

Assist with developments relating to new complex planning and treatment techniques, collaborating with others as required.

Assist in the acquisition of treatment beam data and checking the accuracy of data collected, in preparation for transfer to treatment planning computers

Participate with the implementation of scientific and technical aspects related to radiotherapy treatments, forming part of national trials.

Support and participate in audit, research and development that will improve equipment and techniques used in radiotherapy treatment.

Provide support for ensuring all patient QA for inverse planned patients is performed in accordance with local timelines.

Quality Assurance of Equipment
Perform Quality Assurance measurements on radiotherapy treatment equipment (appropriate to personal competencies), in accordance with ISO9001:2015 standards and departmental protocols.

Ensure that accurate documentation of machine quality assurance is maintained. Recognise out of tolerance results and act on these findings as appropriate.

Provide MPE support for dosimetric systems in clinical use (appropriate to personal competencies)

Assist in the maintenance and development of relevant documentation the ISO9001:2015 system within Radiotherapy Physics.

Assist with acceptance testing and commissioning of radiotherapy equipment prior to clinical use.

Assist with dosimetric calibration of radiotherapy treatment equipment to ensure calibrations are carried out in accordance with national protocols and Codes of Practice.

Participate in the National Dosimetry Audit scheme and undertake any duties that may be required.

Assist in the development and implementation of the analysis of dosimetric results and QA performance of the in-vivo dosimetry and portal imaging systems as used in the Radiotherapy Department.

Maintain an awareness of new dosimetry equipment available and attend demonstrations or webinars as required

Perform other duties, which may be required from time to time as determined by service demand

Managerial
Prioritise and manage own work to meet agreed outcomes.

Keep accurate records of all work performed and complete other appropriate records

Review, revise and prepare documentation for the ISO9001:2015 system using the Q-Pulse system

Teaching, Training and Research
Assist with training other staff, as required.
Supervise trainee clinical scientists on placement, as appropriate.
Present original scientific work at meetings and conferences, and in publication.
Present seminars and feedback on meetings.
Participate in research and development projects and clinical audit

Professional
Be responsible for the safe use of highly complex, expensive and potentially hazardous radiotherapy equipment, such as linear accelerators, sealed radioactive sources and equipment, and dose meters.

Maintain a record of competence to practice as required by the Health Care professions Council e.g. IPEM or other approved Continuing Professional Development (CPD) scheme.

Maintain an up-to-date personal knowledge of national and international radiotherapy physics practise in order to identify improvements to the service.

Attend suitable seminars, meetings and courses as part of personal development and to further the work of the service line.

Carry out all duties in accordance with the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act, relevant Statutory Regulations, Approved Codes of Conduct and Local Rules.

To be prepared to vary working hours as may be necessary to meet the demands of the service. This may require the performance of duties outside of the normal working hours of the department. 

Undertakes any additional duties which may become necessary to maintain or improve the effectiveness/efficiency of the service.

When working in other departments, the post holder will liaise with local heads of department, medical consultants, superintendents or their representatives as appropriate, adhering to local policies and procedures. The post holder will behave courteously and professionally at all times and seek to ensure that the highest level of service is provided by Medical Physics.

Maintain registration as a Clinical Scientist with the HCPC and Corporate Membership of the appropriate professional bodies (IPEM)

Key Result Areas
To provide support to Lead Principal Physicist MPE for Planning and New Techniques and Technology

Communication And Working Relationships
Communicate effectively in verbal, written and graphical formats, complex scientific, technical and specialist information to a wide variety of individuals and groups:
Radiotherapy Consultants & Radiology Consultants
Radiographers in Radiotherapy & Radiology
Radiation Protection Supervisors
Medical Physicists, (internal and external)
Engineers & Dosimetrists
Health and Safety Advisor
Manufacturers and service engineers
Research Team (internal and external)

Most Challenging Part Of Job
Maintaining and updating knowledge of developments in multiple fields of scientific and technological progress, radiation regulations, legislation and professional standards to a level where advice can be given to a wide range of groups involved.

Concurrent involvement in multiple tasks and projects that require analytical input for decisions, some with short deadlines. The analysis and judgements may be scientific, mathematical, practical and multifaceted.