Job overview
Are you an experienced, enthusiastic, and motivated Treatment Planner/Dosimetrist looking for a new challenge? Are you interested in project development? If so, we want to hear from you!
This exciting new role will work cross-site to support project development across the service.
The Kent Oncology Centre is a leading radiotherapy service equipped with nine Varian linear accelerators across our Canterbury and Maidstone sites, each featuring dedicated CT-Simulators. We utilise Eclipse for treatment planning, employing RapidArc VMAT, IGRT, vDIBH, and SABR Lung techniques in routine practice. This is an exciting time to join our team as we embark on a program of SABR expansion and enhance the use of Eclipse as our principal Treatment Planning System. Additionally, we are about to embark on the installation and commissioning of a Philips BigBore RT CT at our Canterbury site.
What We Offer:
1. Flexible Working: We are open to flexible working arrangements to support the service's operational hours.
2. Leadership Development: We encourage and support your professional growth through postgraduate training and role extension opportunities, including access to Trust-established leadership development programs.
3. Innovative Environment: Be part of exciting changes within Radiotherapy at the Kent Oncology Centre, including the procurement of AI technologies for organ contouring to improve efficiency across the patient pathway and the implementation of motion management techniques.
Main duties of the job
As a Clinical Specialist in Treatment Planning, you will support project development but also support leading the day-to-day organisation of workflow through the Mould Room, CT, and Planning sections, ensuring the timely production of complex treatment plans. Your responsibilities will include:
4. Project management
5. Implementation of new techniques working within an MDT team
6. Producing VMAT plans, outlining organs-at-risk, and assisting in the Mould Room.
7. Collaborating as an active member of the Cancer Performance team to ensure cancer targets are met.
8. Contributing to the continuous improvement of our service as we move towards a paperless department with care path-based working.
Qualifications:
9. Proven experience as a Treatment Planner or Dosimetrist.
10. Strong technical expertise in radiotherapy planning and workflow management.
11. A commitment to personal and professional development.
Join us in shaping the future of radiotherapy at one of the largest centres in the region, where we were early implementors of prostate SABR treatments. If you are ready to take on a new challenge and grow with us, we would love to hear from you!
Working for our organisation
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust ranks among the top 10 NHS Trusts nationwide and was named the second-best Trust to work for in the South East in the 2023 NHS Staff Survey.
We are a large acute hospital trust in south-east England, providing general hospital services and specialist care to around 600,000 residents in West Kent and East Sussex. With a dedicated and diverse team of over 8,000 staff we are proud to offer specialised cancer services to over two million people through the Kent Oncology Centre.
Fordcombe Hospital, near Tunbridge Wells, became part of the Trust in October 2024. Specialising in planned care, it offers two operating theatres, 28 inpatient and day-care beds, diagnostic services (X-ray, MRI, CT, and endoscopy), and consultation/treatment rooms.
Looking for flexible working?
We are a flexible working-friendly organisation. Whether it’s adjusting your hours or exploring other flexible arrangements, we want to work with you to find the best solution for you, our patients, and the Trust. Talk to us about how we can accommodate your working needs.
Joining us includes a comprehensive benefits package:
• At least 27 days of annual leave plus public/bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time staff).
• Membership in the NHS Pension Scheme, with a 20.6% employer contribution and life assurance benefits
• Blue Light card eligibility
• And more, additional benefits can be found in the benefits documents below
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
We’ve provided all the details you need about this role in the job description and person specification. Please take a moment to review the criteria in the person specification and share specific examples in your application that demonstrate how you meet these requirements. Please also check your application for errors/omissions prior to submission.
Please note that appointment to this post will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check at Enhanced Level. (Enhanced level now includes regulated checks against vulnerable adults and children)
All successful applicants will be required to complete our corporate trust induction once a start date had been agreed.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
12. BSc (Therapeutic Radiography)DCR (T)
13. BSc Honours Degree in Healthcare Science (Radiotherapy Physics)
14. BSc Honours degree in Physics, applied Physics or relevant subject, and Graduate Diploma in Healthcare Science (Radiotherapy Physics) or equivalent experience.
15. HCPC Registration as Radiographer or registration with RCT as a Clinical Technologist
16. M-level education for specialist area.
Desirable criteria
17. Management Qualification
Experience/Knowledge
Essential criteria
18. Extensive post-qualification experience with significant experience in the pre-treatment setting
19. Extensive experience in treatment planning Extensive experience of 3-D and IMRT/VMAT Treatment Planning techniques
20. Wide practical experience of working with a variety of machines producing ionising radiation for therapy and treatment planning.
21. Demonstration of participation in CPD Experience of multi-disciplinary team working
22. Highly developed specialist knowledge across a range of work procedures in treatment planning.
23. Highly developed specialist knowledge of varied Radiotherapeutic techniques.
24. Highly developed specialist knowledge of IMRT (standard and/or volumetric techniques).
25. In depth knowledge of relevant legislation (IRR and IR(ME)R).
26. In depth understanding of hazards posed by, and precautions needed with ionising radiation, non-ionising radiation and biological contamination
27. In depth understanding of the risks arising from equipment failure and treatment planning areas.
Desirable criteria
28. Experience of Philips Pinnacle and Varian Treatment Planning systems.
29. Experience with ARIA Radiation Oncology Management system
30. Experience of SABR Treatment Planning techniques
31. Experience of dealing with patients with severe physical or emotional impairment.
32. Knowledge of Varian treatment equipment and techniques
Skills
Essential criteria
33. Good communication skills
34. Good interpersonal and negotiation skills
35. Good organisational skills.
36. Analytical and Decision-making skills
37. Able to record and transcribe data and information accurately
38. Able to document complex instructions clearly and accurately
39. Able to use Excel, Word, Power Point and other computer application programmes
40. Able to communicate technical information to staff of other disciplines including doctors, admin and clerical staff, physicists and technicians.
41. Able to teach and train others at all levels including other professional groups and students in all areas of pre-treatment
Desirable criteria
42. Able to chair technical meetings
43. Able to give presentations
44. Trained and competent in Cannulation.