Job summary
The
Radiological Physics group is part of the Radiological Physics section of
Medical Physics & Engineering. It
provides scientific and radiation protection advice and measurement services
in all fields where ionising radiation is used, including radiotherapy, use
of unsealed radioactive substances and diagnostic x-rays. This support
includes an extensive quality assurance programme and the monitoring of
personal, patient and environmental radiation doses. These duties and
responsibilities are undertaken by the section to ensure regulatory
compliance of the Trust and external customers.
This
post is part of the Radiological Physics group, which comprises a team of
clinical technologists and clinical scientists. The technologist will be
expected to work closely and effectively with other technical, scientific and
clinical staff to ensure delivery of a high quality service. The post will be
based at the LGI although frequent travel and work at other hospital sites
will be required.
While
we are looking for a registered technologist, we would also welcome
applications from candidates who have the required qualifications but lack
experience. In this case appointment would be at a lower grade until
registration is achieved.
Expected Shortlisting Date : 22 July 2024
Planned Interview
Date : 12 August 2024
Main duties of the job
The
main duties of this role are performing routine and unplanned quality assurance
checks on x-ray equipment across our own Trust and for our external
customers. This includes travel to sites across the North and West Yorkshire
region. Once enough experience has been gained the post holder is expected to
assist with training new staff and other trainees.
The
post holder will also assist with technical support for the patient dose
management software, and will be involved with the process of decommissioning
and disposing of medical equipment
Other
regular duties include investigations relating to staff radiation doses,
logging and triaging incoming work, function testing of test equipment and
support for the radiographer QA programme.
We
operate under a Quality Management System and all staff contribute towards
the creation and maintenance of QMS documents such as work instructions and
templates for recording data.
About us
This
role is based in the Diagnostic Radiology and Radiation Protection team
within Medical Physics and Engineering which is a part of the Leeds Teaching
Hospitals NHS Trust. We are a small team but we are expanding to reflect the
increased workload which has come in part because of the governments
programme to build Clinical Diagnostic Centres across the country.
The
work done by the team is varied, covering all types of x-ray equipment and
with staff of all grades working independently within their own areas of
specialism. Career progression is encouraged and we work with all our staff
to find the best route for them to thrive. Technologists are actively
supported to join the Register of Clinical Technologists through the
Equivalency route.
Leeds
Teaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk'
members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job adverts
are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove
adverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in the
shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this
process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any
questions.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Organising and performing routine
quality assurance measurements on a wide range of expensive specialist
diagnostic x-ray equipment (individual equipment values range between £2000
to £500,000) and producing reports detailing appropriate corrective actions
Responsible for the safe storage
and handling of specialist testing equipment (individual test equipment
values range between £1000 to £20,000)
Responsible for maintaining and
updating the survey database.
Responsible for organising and
performing routine contamination surveys in departments using unsealed
radioactive sources and notifying staff of any contamination hazards and the
appropriate course of action
Organising and performing routine
patient dose and environmental dose assessments and producing summary reports
for scientific staff and clinical staff
Responsible for the management of a
particular area of work.
Prioritising calls and routine
survey tasks using knowledge of patient / staff safety, legal implications,
clinical need, accessibility, test equipment availability etc.
Supervising trainee staff and
providing technical support to non-specialists
Assisting in the evaluation of new
equipment as part of equipment purchasing strategies
Performing commissioning and
acceptance testing on diagnostic x-ray equipment under appropriate guidance
from the Radiation Protection Adviser
Assisting in the investigation of
equipment involved in suspected patient overexposures
Providing technical support to the
sections activities in the National Breast Screening program as required
Proposing changes to operational
policies that may impact on own area and others professions
Writing technical procedures for
their own area of speciality
Identifying and specifying spare
parts and accessories to be ordered for their own work.
Performance of routine quality
assurance measurements on specialist diagnostic x-ray equipment.
Taking lead responsibility for the
planning and performance of routine quality assurance measurements on
diagnostic x-ray equipment (e.g dental x-ray sets, analogue and digital
radiographic units, fluoroscopy units) and producing reports detailing the
systems compliance using the sections quality management system
Responding to requests for quality
assurance measurements on diagnostic x-ray equipment where faults are
suspected and producing reports detailing the systems compliance using the
sections quality management system
Performance of quality assurance
and patient dosimetry measurements in UV therapy.
Undertaking patient and
environmental dose surveys
Using own judgement to determine
suitability of equipment (in terms of patient safety)
Deputising for the Technical Team
Manager when required
Writing work instructions and
technical procedures for their own area of work
Assisting the sections Quality
Manager in the administration of the section quality management system
Working to standards set by
legislation, departmental procedures, quality manual documents and national
standards and recommendations
Travelling to other hospitals,
health centres and private health care providers as necessary for the
execution of work
Prioritising calls and routine
survey tasks using knowledge of patient / staff safety, legal implications,
clinical need, accessibility, test equipment availability etc.
The safe storage and handling of
specialist testing equipment (individual test equipment values range between
£1000 to £20,000).
Assisting in the safe disposal of
medical equipment, including associated legislative requirements according to
Trust processes and procedures
System administration, maintenance
and specialist use of patient dose management and local image archival
systems
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in physics or similar physical science, or equivalent academic training
- Registration with Register of Clinical Technologists under Radiation Physics scope (or eligibility to register)
Experience
Essential
- Experience of routine performance testing and quality assurance of x-ray equipment
- Experience working within a Quality Management System (e.g. following and/or creating work instructions and standard operating procedures)
- Familiarity operating different types and models of x-ray equipment
Desirable
- Experience using/managing specialist IT systems such as patient dose management and image analysis packages
Skills & behaviours
Essential
- Good IT skills, particularly Microsoft Excel
- Competent at handling and manipulating specialist testing equipment and interpreting results
Other Criteria
Essential
- Ability to travel across the region (with equipment) using own means of transport
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.
Employer details
Employer name
Leeds Teaching Hospitals
Address
Leeds General Infirmary
Great George Street
Leeds
LS1 3EX