Principal Clinical Scientist

Job overview

Providing specialist technical scientific advice to Velindre University NHS Trust and client organisations on compliance with relevant radiation protection legislation.

Acting as Radiation Protection Adviser (RPA), with a focus on unsealed and sealed radioactive materials (including high activity sealed sources).

Acting as Radioactive Waste Adviser (RWA) for unsealed and sealed (including high activity sealed sources) radioactive materials.

Acting as Medical Physics Expert (MPE) in unsealed sources (nuclear medicine) and/or diagnostic radiology.

Acting as Qualified Person for the testing of radiation protection instruments.

Acting as Quality Lead for the Radiation Protection Service.

Main duties of the job

Acting as a Radiation Protection Adviser (RPA) for the service and to be appointed in this role by Velindre University NHS Trust and its client organisations, with a focus on unsealed and sealed radioactive materials (including high activity sealed sources).

Acting as a Radioactive Waste Adviser (RWA) for the service and to be appointed in this role by Velindre University NHS Trust and its client organisations, for unsealed and sealed radioactive materials (including high activity sealed sources).

Acting as a Medical Physics Expert (MPE) in unsealed sources (nuclear medicine) and/or diagnostic radiology in health care, medical research and development and teaching for Velindre NHS Trust and its client organisations.

Acting as the Qualified Person for the testing before first use and subsequent routine performance testing of radiological protection instruments.

Acting as Quality Lead for the Radiation Protection Service and to provide leadership towards an eventual status as a formally accredited service.

Managing projects undertaken in support of developments in radiation protection both within Velindre NHS Trust and its client organisations.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Provide specialist and highly complex advice to Senior Managers, Divisional and Operations Managers, Chairs of Radiation Protection Committees, Directors of Estates and all other staff seeking advice on matters relating to radiation protection throughout the RPS Cardiff client base in a manner that is both appropriate and accessible. To receive queries from these individuals and to formulate responses and solutions in a manner that is both appropriate and accessible.
• To provide specialist advice on specification and selection of a wide range of highly complex equipment to ensure patient and staff safety.
• Provide specialist and highly complex advice to Senior Managers in all customer organisations in investigating those occasions when statutory levels of concern have been exceeded and in identifying appropriate remedial action, in a manner that is both appropriate and accessible.
• Participate in the training of junior clinical scientists and technical officers with respect to radiation protection physics. To present and explain complex and highly complex information and concepts in a manner that is both appropriate and accessible.
• Participate in the delivery of training courses on radiation protection to staff groups in various departments throughout the RPS Cardiff customer base, ensuring that material presented is both appropriate and accessible.
• Identify and liaise with manufacturers' representatives and colleagues at other centres as necessary on issues related to radiation protection.
• Organise and participate in the delivery of in-house seminars on radiation protection issues of topical interest.
• Present and disseminate clinical results through oral or poster presentations at local, national and international meetings and conferences and where appropriate prepare papers for publication in scientific journals.
• Undertake audits of compliance with radiation protection legislation with customers ensuring that communication styles and methods used are aimed at obtaining the necessary information in a concise and efficient manner. To bear in mind that communication styles need to take into account that those being audited may be extremely apprehensive or nervous.

Required to demonstrate extensive knowledge and expertise across a number of subject areas, acquired from holding significant experience in the field of radiation protection to include:

• The responsibilities placed on the Employer by all Statutory Instruments relating to radiation protection in respect of unsealed and sealed radioactive materials, inclusive of high activity sealed sources.
• Principles of radiation protection with a view to minimising exposure of patients, staff and public.

To have sufficient qualification, knowledge and experience to be competent to act as the Employer’s appointed:

• Radiation Protection Adviser with a focus on unsealed and sealed radioactive materials, inclusive of high activity sealed sources as defined under the ionising radiations regulations 2017.
• Radioactive Waste Adviser with a focus on unsealed and sealed radioactive materials, inclusive of high activity sealed sources, as specified in the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016.
• Medical Physics Expert for unsealed sources (nuclear medicine) and/or diagnostic radiology as defined in the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017.

To have sufficient knowledge and experience to be competent to act as the Employer’s appointed:

• Qualified Person for the testing before first use and subsequent routine performance testing of radiological protection instruments.

The post holder will be required to exercise judgement on complex facts or situations, requiring analysis, interpretation, comparison of options. For example:

• To provide critical analysis of the results of routine services and to formulate appropriate advice in written reports.
• To provide critical analysis of situations arising involving failure of management systems relating to radiation safety, often in situations where opinions differ. To develop solutions to help minimise the probability of reoccurrence of the underlying problem, often resolving competing requirements arising from regulations or professional guidance to which other staff groups are subject.
• To provide specialist advice to Project Managers on the radiation protection requirements for the planning of new or modified radiation rooms, carrying out highly complex risk assessments and making use of a detailed knowledge of regulations and guidance.
• To carry out highly specialised dose and risk assessments and provide advice on statutory requirements following radiation incidents throughout all clients’ organisations involving staff, patients or others and communicate the findings to senior clinical and managerial staff.
• To provide specialist advice to patients on radiation risks associated with ionising radiation procedures as required.
• To undertake regular audits of radiation safety in various customer organisations using closed or open sources of radioactive materials, diagnostic x-rays, and radiotherapy beams as allocated by the Head of Service. To prepare recommendations for presentation to service managers.
• To arbitrate in cases of differing opinions of parties involved in the management of radiological protection.

As part of the RPS Cardiff team, plan a number of complex activities, requiring formulation, adjustment of plans in respect to customers’ changing requirements:

• To support the delivery of the rolling programme of audits of the Employer’s compliance with radiation protection legislation.
• To act as a project manager within the radiation protection service, delivering objectives set by the Head of Radiation Protection Service in a timely and efficient manner, deploying the resources of the Radiation Protection Service.
• To plan and deliver the programme of training of clinical scientists in respect of rotational placements delivered by the radiation protection service.
• To oversee the testing of radiation protection instruments in the metrology laboratory, coordinating the programme of work and development of working practices to ensure the highest quality of service provision.
• To lead the programme of work required to achieve formal accreditation of the service, including development of business cases appraising financial and resource requirements necessary to delivery against this ambition where necessary.
• To provide highly specialist advice in ensuring the Employer’s compliance with prevailing legislation relating to radiation protection in ensuring the safety of patient, staff and public.
• To carry out non-routine environmental surveys and shielding assessments for new or modified radiation areas and for existing areas as judged necessary for all Customers in order to ensure the safety of patients, staff and members of the public. This post will have a particular focus on unsealed and sealed radioactive materials, inclusive of high activity sealed sources.
• To provide support to the introduction of new ionising radiation techniques both within Velindre NHS Trust and its client organisations in terms of permission and licencing requirements (IRR17 and EPR16 particularly), patient radiation dose estimates, clinical image quality optimisation strategies and measures to ensure optimum radiological protection of the operator. This post will have a particular focus on unsealed and sealed radioactive materials, inclusive of high activity sealed sources.
• To scan continuously the professional horizon and keep service users and other members of the Radiation Protection Service abreast of developments in the field of radiation protection legislation, codes of practice and best practice guides.
• To develop policies and procedures on behalf of Velindre NHS Trust and its client organisations, reflecting the latest position in respect of radiation protection legislative requirements and professional guidance. Examples are Trust or Health Board over-arching policies relating to radiation protection, implementation of specific regulations and working procedures that reflect professional best practice.
• To provide feedback on customers’ policies and documentation relating to radiation safety and technical radiation protection issues as a consequence of local periodic reviews.
• To propose and implement changes to standard operating procedures and their use in the Radiation Protection Service.
• To develop and implement the use of spreadsheets, databases, patient dosimetry software and other software.
• At all times to be responsible for the safe use of highly complex, expensive and potentially hazardous radiological equipment and dose meters. Radiological equipment (unit cost up to £600k) and Dosimetry equipment (£30k).
• To be involved in customers’ equipment procurement projects concerning new ionising radiation developments as required.
• To act as line manager for other clinical scientists, providing specialist radiation protection services to Velindre NHS Trust and its client organisations. To undertake PADRs in a timely manner and to provide feedback on performance. To provide day-to-day professional advice and direction to the technical staff and clinical scientists. To provide guidance and direction to staff and to deal with staff personal and professional disappointments.
• To plan and supervise the work of trainee clinical scientists undergoing STP rotational placements as assigned to the Radiation Protection Service.
• To supervise the work of MSc and BSc students in radiation protection and diagnostic radiology.