Head of Magnetic Resonance and non-ionising Radiation Physics

Head of Magnetic Resonance and non-ionising Radiation Physics

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

An exciting opportunity has opened in our Trust, to lead our Magnetic Resonance and Non-ionising Radiation Physics services. Our services support the Trust and its partners, and external healthcare providers. This entails a range of clinical services and research activity with close links to the School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences at King's College London. The post holder would also provide significant input to education and training of medical physicists, engineers and other professional staff at postgraduate level.

The post holder will work at a senior consultant level to coordinate the provision and development of highly complex and specialised clinical scientific and technical services in a range of areas, across the Trust and to other healthcare organisations.

The post holder will manage MRI, ultrasound, ultraviolet (UV) and visible light measurement, quality assurance and calibration services. This includes both internal services and external contracts delivering various aspects of MRI and NIR physics support, including: MR safety and QA, and protocol development; testing and calibration of UV and light meters in a UKAS-accredited facility, and; QA and test measurements on ultrasound devices, phototherapy equipment and other light sources.

Main duties of the job

Some of the main duties of this job are:

• Providing scientific support and advice to consultant, clinical, scientific and technical staff on highly complex scientific and technical issues in medical physics, imaging and clinical measurement.
• Providing advice to the Trust Radiation Protection Committee on the safety of MR and US equipment, non-ionising radiation sources and related issues; with the support of Deputy Heads specialised in the specific areas of service.
• Facilitating the introduction ofnew technologies into diagnostic and therapeutic applications. This includes the use of advanced MRI, US and optical techniques in diagnosis and treatment in a range of clinical conditions.
• Managing MR physics and NIR physics staff, supporting their professional development as well as meeting the needs of the group and of the services we support.
• Managing and coordinating the scientific and technical work of staff engaged in projects, to ensure projectobjectives and targets are met.

An integral part of the role is to undertake scientific research and development to support the objectives of the Trust, in collaboration with partners in the King's College London and other organisations. This will include securing funding for research from NHS, research council, charitable and industrial sources.

About us

This service provides a range of specialist clinical technical services and provides highly specialised expertise to the Trust and external organisations.

Through our services, we ensure that magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound equipment and non-ionising radiation sources procured by the Trust are cost-effective, safe and meet current and future clinical requirements. Our services carry out acceptance and quality assurance testing to national and international standards and works with clinical colleagues to ensure new developments are implemented to improve patient care and imaging protocols are optimised to meet the needs of specific patients and groups.

Working with colleagues in King's College London, the group is involved in a wide variety of MR physics work on a broad range of MR systems from 0.064T up to 7T, including intra-operative MRI, interventional MRI and PET-MR, additionally working at regional, national and international levels.

Similarly the work in ultrasound and Optical Radiation Protection benefits from working with specialised diagnostic and therapeutic equipment. Also of note, the team hosts one of two UKAS Accredited laboratory for the calibration of UV meters.

Job responsibilities

The job description for this role is included as an attachment, to provide further detail beyond the outline above.

Person Specification

Qualifications/Education

• Good Honours degree in a relevant subject and a relevant MSc
• PhD or equivalent experience in a relevant subject
• State registered as a Clinical Scientist
• Membership or Fellowship of a relevant professional body

Previous Experience

• Extensive specialist experience in the medical application of MR and/or NIR Physics. This will include the use of specialist testing equipment employed to measure the safety and performance MR and NIR systems
• Extensive experience in interpreting different situations and judging measures required to ensure compliance with best practice and the safe use of MR and NIR in a range of clinical applications
• Experience in undertaking high quality research activity (at PhD level), proven by publications in peer review journals and membership of national and international organisations/committees
• Track record in attracting research funding from research councils and charitable bodies

Skills/Knowledge/Ability

• Expert knowledge of knowledge of a wide range of equipment, techniques and clinical procedures used in MR and/or NIR in healthcare, including instrumentation and current legislation
• Able to act as a Trust expert in the medical applications and safety of MR and NIR techniques and installations
• High level of understanding of risk management issues; and patient and staff risks arising from magnetic resonance imaging equipment and other NIR sources
• Good understanding of research governance issues as they apply to research projects, commercial clinical trials and multi-centre research
• In-depth understanding of relevant legislation, national and international standards, professional and other guidelines
• Able to manage a Section of clinical scientific and technical staff
• Good knowledge of strategic and general management at Diploma level or equivalent.
• Able to manage a number of complex projects including development of scientific and clinic services to the Trust and external Trusts.

Additional Information

• Able to present scientific papers at national and international conferences
• Able to communicate effectively on complex issues with a wide range of different professional groups
• Able to train groups of other professional staff, including medical students; Able to deliver teaching and training on complex subjects
• Good negotiation skills; able to deal with complex and unpredictable situations

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.

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Medical Physics & Clinical Engineering, Lambeth Wing, St Thomas' Hospital

Joint Head, Medical Physics & Clinical Engineering

£96,340 to £109,849 a yearper annum inc HCA

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

196-LIS9099

Job locations

Medical Physics & Clinical Engineering, Lambeth Wing, St Thomas' Hospital

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