To provide expert scientific advice and support for the MRI services at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. A high level of expertise in safety aspects of MRI is essential. Specific additional areas of expertise will include one or more of the following: neuroradiology, oncology, musculoskeletal, cardiac, radiotherapy MR, site planning, quality assurance, magnetic resonance research and innovation. Duties to include equipment installation, acceptance, quality assurance and quality control, protocol development and implementation within their area of expertise.. To deputise for the head of MR physics and deputise for the Trust MR Safety Expert. To take responsibility for the work of other physicists and related staff from the group, or those seconded to it and to direct their work as required. To develop effective working relationships with senior clinical staff in the Trust and other staff within the department. To lead, develop, and plan selected technical and scientific services relating to the MRI equipment at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. To actively participate in the initiation, development, planning and direction of appropriate Research and Development activity within the group. To participate in the teaching and training of NHS staff in basic and advanced MRI physics, techniques, applications and safety. PRINCIPAL DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY Scientific Advice - general As a principal MRI scientist for the Trust, to provide highly specialist expert medical physics advice and support to the provision of MRI within the Trust. To provide highly specialist expert medical physics advice to MRI services to other healthcare organisations (NHS and private) and academic institutions as contracted by those organisations. To take responsibility for, and participate in, the delivery of a broad range of both routine and non-routine, highly specialised scientific and technical services in Magnetic Resonance Imaging at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. To participate in the provision of similar services at other Trust sites or as contracted by other healthcare organisations. To deliver a broad range of specialized, complex non-routine MR scientific services To analyse highly complex situations where conflicting demands on limited resources have to be reconciled, for example advise clinicians, managers and capital planners on decisions concerning the purchase or replacement of magnetic resonance imaging equipment and the design and provision of adequate accommodation for the safe use of that equipment. Devise safe, legal and effective solutions to complex science based clinical problems, based on risk assessment and knowledge of current methodologies in MRI, determining the best practicable solution given the constraints on available resources. To produce regular reports at the request of others and data analysis. To provide high level, highly specialist scientific input to strategic service developments relating to the clinical MRI service. To plan and participate in the development of appropriate quality systems for MRI ensuring that the services provided by the MR group are of the highest quality. Procurement Provides specialist advice to, and acts as representative in meetings with external agencies for, the Trust, relating to major new capital projects that include the provision of MRI services. To plan the procurement of major capital items and the routine testing of MR equipment. To be responsible for the provision of specialist scientific and technical support within the Trust for the specification, evaluation, selection, installation and acceptance testing of new MRI systems and associated equipment as directed by the post holders line manager. Equipment To manage the technical aspects of selected items of highly complex, expensive equipment across the trust or as contracted by the University of Leeds. These systems will be as directed from a Trustequipment base of 9 NHS-based MRI systems, (4 at the General Infirmary, 4 at at St Jamess and 1 at Chapel Allerton Hosptial), 4 University of Leeds systems and associated workstations and test equipment, with a total replacement value of over £11,000,000. To set up, calibrate and operate highly complex equipment including MRI systems and associated test equipment. To plan and implement measures, e.g. QA, to monitor MRI equipment performance within the Trust. To ensure optimum performance of selected systems from the installed base of MR systems within the Trust and to perform first line support in close liaison with the manufacturers. To devise and construct test objects that mimic clinical scenarios and are to be used in the MRI system involving pipetting precise dilutions of different solutions. Safety Assist with the provision of MRI safety frameworks to the Trust. Assist with the provision of MRI safety frameworks to other healthcare organisations (NHS and private) and academic institutions. Assist with the provision of safety frameworks as directed, to three University-based MRI systems located within the General Infirmary, two 3T systems and a 1.5T system with a combined replacement value of approximately £4 million. Assist with the provision of safety framework to a joint University of Leeds / Trust 3T MRI scanner at Chapel Allerton Hospital. Make evidence-based assessments of risk seeking advice where appropriate, where the outcome may be in conflict with national or other published guidelines, for example, in advising senior clinicians on the use of MRI procedures or practices that would normally be contra-indicated, where it may be in the best interests of an individual patient. To advise and propose changes for the Trust and other organisations as contracted on the implementation of national and international MR guidelines and legislation to ensure the safety of patients, staff and members of the public including for site planning and installation, equipment operation, local rules and operating procedures and maintenance of adequate records. To deputise, as required for the MR Safety Expert to the Trust on all aspects of MRI safety and sits on the multidisciplinary trust MR safety group. To provide specialist advice to the Trust and other organisations on MR local rules and standard operating procedures to ensure the safety of staff, visitors and patients including reviewing and proposing changes to essential documents. Technique Development To further develop existing techniques in Magnetic Resonance Imaging and to identify and implement new and advanced techniques for routine clinical and/or research use where these will often involve highly complex MRI protocol, pulse sequence and software development. To plan the development and implementation of new MR procedures. To write bespoke computer software to provide solutions including advanced image processing to particular imaging problems to meet the specifications of other colleagues. Patient specific activity To develop and advise on the correct and safe use of highly specialised, non-routine MR procedures for individual patients examinations or specific patient groups, often including very ill patients. To perform non-routine, highly specialised analysis and interpretation of MRI images from individual patients, particularly those requiring advanced post-processing and/or image analysis. In conjunction with other Healthcare professionals, ensure that the interpretation of the results of the analysis that are essential for clinical decision making are accurate and reliable. To monitor, analyse and interpret MRI images and/or resulting data, to identify and determine the reason for erroneous results and identify and determine the cause of subtle or non-reproducible MR system faults. To advise on the safe and effective use of MRI in patients who present with implanted medical devices or foreign bodies. Managerial To plan programmes for the work of other physicists including trainee physicists. To supervise and be responsible for the work of other physicists including trainee physicists as required. To provide line management for staff within the MR physics section as directed by the post holders line manager. Research and Development To plan and participate in research and development programmes within the MRI group and in collaboration with other Trust and University departments which are of high quality and consistent with the joint Trust and University of Leeds research strategy. To provide a focus for scientific and clinical applications and R&D support from the manufacturers within the Trust and to implement new techniques supplied. To maintain high standards of scientific rigour in scientific and clinical research performed within the Trust and University relating to Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Teaching and Training To promote a high level of competency of Medical, Scientific and Technical NHS staff working in the field of Magnetic Resonance Imaging through the regular provision of high quality teaching and training. To provide supervision and training of NHS clinical scientists and technicians participating in the NHS Scientist Training Programme (STP) and other professional training schemes. To provide basic and advanced teaching and training, usually at postgraduate level, of other NHS staff (including Radiographers and Radiologists) in MR physics, safety, techniques and applications. To teach on both internal and external postgraduate courses in medical physics, MRI and medical imaging where this falls within the remit of the NHS department. To supervise and train undergraduate and postgraduate students working on MR projects where appropriate.