Job overview
Are you a looking to start your career within Radiotherapy Treatment Planning? We are looking for enthusiastic and motivated individuals to join the Treatment Planning group.
As one of the largest radiotherapy departments in England, Kent Oncology Centre currently has nine Varian linear accelerators across the two sites with a dedicated CT scanner on each site. We have Eclipse for treatment planning and ARIA networked across the two sites. RapidArc VMAT, IGRT, vDIBH and SABR Lung are in routine use. KOC also provide brachytherapy services and participates in clinical trials.
This is an exciting time to join our team as we are embarking on a programme of SABR expansion and further expanding the use of Eclipse as our principle Treatment Planning System. This involves developing new techniques such Breast SIB. We will also have a new Philips big bore CT scanner being installed soon
Main duties of the job
As a Planning Radiographer/Dosimetrist you will participate in all aspects of the Treatment Planning section: You will carry out Mould Room tasks including fabrication of immobilisation and shielding devices and work within CT, contour organs-at-risk and produce treatment plans including VMAT planning. If you have no or minimal experience in Mould room, CT and Planning training will be provided.
We are able to offer you continuous professional development within a supportive, collaborative working environment which will enable you to progress your skills and gain greater responsibility. We are willing to consider options such as job share or flexible working.
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
1. B.Sc. Honours Degree in: Healthcare Science (Radiotherapy Physics), Physics, Applied Physics, Radiotherapy or a relevant subject.
Desirable criteria
2. Registered with RCT as a Clinical Technologist
3. HCPC as a Therapeutic Radiographer
4. Graduate Diploma in Healthcare Science (Radiotherapy Physics)
Experience/ Knowledge
Essential criteria
5. An understanding of treatment planning and patient immobilisation techniques.
6. An understanding of the risks to patients arising from treatment planning dose or positional errors.
7. Understanding of patient and staff risks arising from equipment failure and radioactive sources.
8. Understanding of hazards posed by, and precautions needed with Ionising Radiation
9. Working knowledge of relevant legislation, national standards, professional and other guidelines, in particular IRR99, IR(ME)R, ISO9001, EPR, COSHH.
10. Demonstrate knowledge of Healthcare Science and its importance in patient care
Desirable criteria
11. Basic knowledge of treatment unit technology, treatment planning systems, dosimetric planning techniques for external beam megavoltage photons and quality assurance in radiotherapy.
12. Basic knowledge of imaging and computer systems used in radiotherapy treatment planning.
13. Able to make complex calculations with respect to patient treatments
14. Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team.
15. Experience of dealing with patients and carers and awareness of patient confidentiality
Skills
Essential criteria
16. Basic computer skills including the use of Word, Excel and Windows applications.
17. Practical spatial and manipulation skills to use the equipment associated with the role
18. Good spatial awareness and ability to visualize in 3D
19. Good time management skills
20. Good interpersonal skills.
21. Good communication skills verbal and written.
22. Able to convey complex information to a variety of specialist and non-specialist listeners. Able observe when communication has failed and to adopt different communication strategies under those circumstances
23. Good analytical and decision making skills and problem solving abilities
Desirable criteria
24. Trained and competent in Cannulation.