Job summary Applications are invited for a 12-month B8A Chief Clinical Technologist - Treatment Planning & Mould Room post in St Jamess Hospital, Leeds, based in Treatment Planning & Mould Room. The main responsibilities are to lead all aspects of training within Treatment Planning and set up/support the new apprenticeship program. Also support the Chief dosimetrist in Treatment Planning & Mould Room in managing the day-to-day work of the Treatment Planning and Mould Room sections; and, to develop the services of Treatment Planning and Mould Room, maintaining patient safety and high quality, in alignment with the Trust goals and objectives. In Leeds we produce over 5000 radiotherapy plans per year the majority of which use VMAT and FFF technologies. We also make devices for over 1200 patients. This is a developing and expanding service and, in addition to Head & Neck patients, also includes paediatrics, brachytherapy, total skin electron therapy, electron skin treatments and limb immobilisation. Research and innovation are at the heart of the service, with opportunities to be part of projects as well as a large portfolio of local and national clinical trials. We are a national leader in extra-cranial SABR. Leeds Cancer Centre, situated in the Bexley Wing of St Jamess is a major centre treating over 7500 new radiotherapy patients per annum. The centre is equipped with the latest technology. Main duties of the job Coordinate the training of all planning and mould room staff including treatment planning apprentices student/apprentice radiographers and To support the chief dosimetrist in coordinating the day-to-day work of the Treatment Planning and Mould Room sections, ensuring the timely production and delivery of bespoke patient shielding and immobilisation devices, and bespoke computerised radiotherapy treatment plans for patients undergoing radiotherapy including both routine and highly complex treatments within the timescales dictated by the Cancer Standards. Represent the Treatment Planning and Mould Room sections in site specific MDT meetings. Represent the Treatment Planning and Mould Room sections at radiotherapy technique, procedure and development meetings. About us Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is one of the largest and busiest acute hospital trusts in the UK. We are committed to delivering the highest quality and safest treatment and care to every patient, every time. Our staff helped to define the values and behaviours that we should work to so that we can achieve this vision. This has become known as The Leeds Way, and forms the foundation of our culture, our ethos and how we work every day. The radiotherapy service in St Jamess treats over 7500 new radiotherapy patients per annum. The centre is equipped with the latest technology, including 12 Versa HDs, RayStation treatment planning, a Flexitron HDR remote afterloading platform for advanced image guided brachytherapy, I-125 prostate brachytherapy service and Gamma Knife ICON. The managed equipment service was recently renewed, ensuring equipment replacement and comprehensive support for the next 15 years. 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. Date posted 10 March 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 8a Salary £53,755 to £60,504 a year Contract Fixed term Duration 12 months Working pattern Full-time, Flexible working Reference number C9298-ONC-0487 Job locations St. James's University Hospital Beckett Street Leeds LS9 7TF Job description Job responsibilities PRINCIPAL DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY Managerial: Responsible to Head of Treatment Planning & Mould Room for the management of the Treatment Planning & Mould Room clinical technologist groups. To coordinate day-to-day work of the Treatment Planning & Mould Room sections, ensuring the timely production bespoke immobilisation devices, and bespoke computerised radiotherapy treatment plans for patients undergoing radiotherapy including both routine and highly complex treatments within the timescales dictated by the Cancer Standards. To coordinate the pre-planning, marking up, treatment planning, prescribing and checking of all treatment plans produced within the Treatment Planning section.To undertake annual appraisals of members of the Treatment Planning & Mould Room clinical technologist groups for the purpose of personal development. Represent the Treatment Planning & Mould Room sections in site specific MDT meetings. Represent the Treatment Planning & Mould Room sections at radiotherapy technique, procedure and development meetings. The post holder is responsible for the ordering of the Treatment Planning consumables, with an annual budget of over £1000, and the Mould Room consumables, with an annual budget of over £40000. To ensure that the roles of Operator, Referrer and Practitioner as required by the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposures) Regulations 2017 (Statutory Instrument 2017 No.1322) are complied with by Treatment Planning&d Mould Room Clinical Technologists. To ensure that adequate training is given and that training records are maintained for Treatment Planning & Mould Room Clinical Technologist staff. To work within the Clinical Oncology Service Quality System which is accredited to BS EN ISO 9001-2015. The post holder will often make decisions which carry a high level of clinical impact on a range of issues affecting the Radiotherapy process as a whole, and the development of this service. As a consequence of this, quality assurance and clinical risk management are key aspects of the role. Clinical & Scientific: Act as a Practitioner, Referrer and Operator under IRMER for specified areas of work. Responsibility for the operation of linear accelerators, CT simulators, treatment planning systems and other high capital investment items of equipment. Responsibility for the training of various staff groups in the operation of linear accelerators, CT simulators, treatment planning systems and other high capital investment items of equipment. Treatment Planning & Mould Room: As the Treatment Planning section plans over 5000 patients per year a significant proportion of time will be spent interpreting complex patient treatment planning requests from clinicians and giving expert advice to Clinical Oncologists, Clinical Scientists and Clinical Technologists on appropriate planning techniques. Often the original expectation for doses to either tumour volumes or organs at risk are not reasonably achievable and the post holder will be expected to generate a choice of clinically acceptable 3D computer treatment planning options. These alternatives are then reviewed with the Clinical Oncologist, discussing the effects of various treatment plan options on patient dose distributions and possible compromises to tumour volumes or organs at risk, ensuring that the dose to the tumour is maximised whilst minimising the dose to surrounding tissues. Ensuring that the quality of patient treatment plans produced in the section is to the highest possible standard. Ensuring that the quality of patient immobilisation devices produced in the section is to the highest possible standard, and that patients are dealt with in a timely, compassionate and efficient manner. CT planning (using 3-D inverse- and forward-planned computerised techniques) for patients undergoing radiotherapy, analysing requirements and making complex judgements regarding treatment parameters and patient dose effects to produce the required dose distribution over the treatment volume ensuring where possible the conformance to international standards ICRU 50, 62 and 83. Identify and contour all critical organs at risk on CT scans whether or not explicitly mentioned by the clinical staff. The post holder must participate in the checking/quality assurance of the most complex inverse-planned and 3D conformal computerised treatment plans, as well as manual dose calculations and shielding and bolus templates. Participate in the evaluation process for new items of high capital radiotherapy planning equipment and the subsequent implementation and training. Perform collaborative assessment of radiotherapy treatment verification images ensuring that all treatments are within laid down limits, and taking appropriate action if any errors are identified. Work as part of the CT simulator multidisciplinary team on a weekly basis, supplying specialist planning input including anatomical scanning limits, patient positioning, treatment techniques, reference tattooing and appropriate fitting of patient immobilisation devices to millimetric tolerances. The post holder must offer expert advice to Radiotherapy staff and Clinical Oncologists when patients shapes are seen to change during their course of radiotherapy treatment, and must be aware of the dosimetric consequences of such changes. They must use judgement to analyse and determine the most appropriate compensation method, and calculate the compensation required and subsequent patient dose. This may be in the form of manual dose calculation. Coordinate patient visits to clinics and simulators, and start dates for radiotherapy such that they meet the required timescales of the Cancer Standards whilst allowing adequate time to do the work in a safe and considered manner. Be fully conversant with the clinical operation of the treatment machines and appreciate their potential and limitations with regard to patient treatment techniques. Provide treatment radiographers with advice on planning aspects of the treatment and attend the set-up of patients on machines, as required. Produce written protocols for some aspects of the Treatment Planning and Mould Room processes as part of the services Quality System. Participate fully in implementing and maintaining this system. Organise staff meetings to agree changes to protocols affecting Radiotherapy Physics and Radiotherapy. Organise and adapt staff rotas to cover the workload of both Treatment Planning & Mould Room, taking into account sickness/study leave/annual leave/training. Communicate complex technical information to other disciplines across the field of radiotherapy. Perform system administrator duties on treatment planning systems and patient image database. Develop and maintain effective working relationships with Trust staff including those involved with radiotherapy treatment and other relevant professional groups, eg radiology staff. Participate in site-specific MDT sessions, offering specialised treatment planning advice on technique development to clinicians and radiographers. Participate in Mould Room activity. Prepare immobilisation devices for patient treatment and also produce beam shielding blocks and electron applicator cut-outs using low-melting point alloy. Dosimetry Services: Take part in the Quality Assurance programme of the planning section ensuring that the calculated doses are within tolerance. Take part in the Quality Assurance programme of the linear accelerators and CT simulators on a daily, weekly and monthly basis, making analytical judgements on tolerances where required. Take part in the routine weekly calibration of linear accelerators and superficial treatment units, ensuring that the dose output is within agreed limits. Teaching and Training: Participation with other medical physics staff in continual evaluation and development of techniques used. Train staff in the routine weekly calibration of linear accelerators and superficial treatment units, ensuring that the dose delivered is within agreed limits. Develop and deliver training packages for Radiographers, Radiographer students, trainee Medical Physicists and FRCR candidates on treatment planning and radiotherapy in general. Responsibility for the ongoing supervision and training of Treatment Planning clinical technologist staff, trainee Medical Physicists, Clinicians and Radiographers as well as student radiographers whilst in the Treatment Planning & Mould Room sections. Responsible for coordinating the rota of trainers and trainees in Treatment Planning and Mould Room to ensure that there is sufficient capacity for training and clinical work. Research and Development: NHS service research and development is necessary for continuous improvement of radiotherapy and for the implementation and development of the potential of new equipment and facilities. To be involved and contribute to any development work as required by the Head of External Deam Radiotherapy Physics, Head of Treatment Planning Development and Head of Radiotherapy Technology. To be instrumental in the introduction of newly developed treatment planning techniques into routine use. To manage and coordinate this activity, ensuring adequate staff training. Professional: Keep abreast of the latest technical and scientific developments and their applications in medical and radiotherapy fields. To attend suitable seminars, courses and meetings either national or international as part of personal development and to further the work of the department and give a report back on these to the rest of the staff. Ensure all activities are carried out within a quality framework and meet regulatory requirements. Job description Job responsibilities PRINCIPAL DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY Managerial: Responsible to Head of Treatment Planning & Mould Room for the management of the Treatment Planning & Mould Room clinical technologist groups. To coordinate day-to-day work of the Treatment Planning & Mould Room sections, ensuring the timely production bespoke immobilisation devices, and bespoke computerised radiotherapy treatment plans for patients undergoing radiotherapy including both routine and highly complex treatments within the timescales dictated by the Cancer Standards. To coordinate the pre-planning, marking up, treatment planning, prescribing and checking of all treatment plans produced within the Treatment Planning section.To undertake annual appraisals of members of the Treatment Planning & Mould Room clinical technologist groups for the purpose of personal development. Represent the Treatment Planning & Mould Room sections in site specific MDT meetings. Represent the Treatment Planning & Mould Room sections at radiotherapy technique, procedure and development meetings. The post holder is responsible for the ordering of the Treatment Planning consumables, with an annual budget of over £1000, and the Mould Room consumables, with an annual budget of over £40000. To ensure that the roles of Operator, Referrer and Practitioner as required by the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposures) Regulations 2017 (Statutory Instrument 2017 No.1322) are complied with by Treatment Planning&d Mould Room Clinical Technologists. To ensure that adequate training is given and that training records are maintained for Treatment Planning & Mould Room Clinical Technologist staff. To work within the Clinical Oncology Service Quality System which is accredited to BS EN ISO 9001-2015. The post holder will often make decisions which carry a high level of clinical impact on a range of issues affecting the Radiotherapy process as a whole, and the development of this service. As a consequence of this, quality assurance and clinical risk management are key aspects of the role. Clinical & Scientific: Act as a Practitioner, Referrer and Operator under IRMER for specified areas of work. Responsibility for the operation of linear accelerators, CT simulators, treatment planning systems and other high capital investment items of equipment. Responsibility for the training of various staff groups in the operation of linear accelerators, CT simulators, treatment planning systems and other high capital investment items of equipment. Treatment Planning & Mould Room: As the Treatment Planning section plans over 5000 patients per year a significant proportion of time will be spent interpreting complex patient treatment planning requests from clinicians and giving expert advice to Clinical Oncologists, Clinical Scientists and Clinical Technologists on appropriate planning techniques. Often the original expectation for doses to either tumour volumes or organs at risk are not reasonably achievable and the post holder will be expected to generate a choice of clinically acceptable 3D computer treatment planning options. These alternatives are then reviewed with the Clinical Oncologist, discussing the effects of various treatment plan options on patient dose distributions and possible compromises to tumour volumes or organs at risk, ensuring that the dose to the tumour is maximised whilst minimising the dose to surrounding tissues. Ensuring that the quality of patient treatment plans produced in the section is to the highest possible standard. Ensuring that the quality of patient immobilisation devices produced in the section is to the highest possible standard, and that patients are dealt with in a timely, compassionate and efficient manner. CT planning (using 3-D inverse- and forward-planned computerised techniques) for patients undergoing radiotherapy, analysing requirements and making complex judgements regarding treatment parameters and patient dose effects to produce the required dose distribution over the treatment volume ensuring where possible the conformance to international standards ICRU 50, 62 and 83. Identify and contour all critical organs at risk on CT scans whether or not explicitly mentioned by the clinical staff. The post holder must participate in the checking/quality assurance of the most complex inverse-planned and 3D conformal computerised treatment plans, as well as manual dose calculations and shielding and bolus templates. Participate in the evaluation process for new items of high capital radiotherapy planning equipment and the subsequent implementation and training. Perform collaborative assessment of radiotherapy treatment verification images ensuring that all treatments are within laid down limits, and taking appropriate action if any errors are identified. Work as part of the CT simulator multidisciplinary team on a weekly basis, supplying specialist planning input including anatomical scanning limits, patient positioning, treatment techniques, reference tattooing and appropriate fitting of patient immobilisation devices to millimetric tolerances. The post holder must offer expert advice to Radiotherapy staff and Clinical Oncologists when patients shapes are seen to change during their course of radiotherapy treatment, and must be aware of the dosimetric consequences of such changes. They must use judgement to analyse and determine the most appropriate compensation method, and calculate the compensation required and subsequent patient dose. This may be in the form of manual dose calculation. Coordinate patient visits to clinics and simulators, and start dates for radiotherapy such that they meet the required timescales of the Cancer Standards whilst allowing adequate time to do the work in a safe and considered manner. Be fully conversant with the clinical operation of the treatment machines and appreciate their potential and limitations with regard to patient treatment techniques. Provide treatment radiographers with advice on planning aspects of the treatment and attend the set-up of patients on machines, as required. Produce written protocols for some aspects of the Treatment Planning and Mould Room processes as part of the services Quality System. Participate fully in implementing and maintaining this system. Organise staff meetings to agree changes to protocols affecting Radiotherapy Physics and Radiotherapy. Organise and adapt staff rotas to cover the workload of both Treatment Planning & Mould Room, taking into account sickness/study leave/annual leave/training. Communicate complex technical information to other disciplines across the field of radiotherapy. Perform system administrator duties on treatment planning systems and patient image database. Develop and maintain effective working relationships with Trust staff including those involved with radiotherapy treatment and other relevant professional groups, eg radiology staff. Participate in site-specific MDT sessions, offering specialised treatment planning advice on technique development to clinicians and radiographers. Participate in Mould Room activity. Prepare immobilisation devices for patient treatment and also produce beam shielding blocks and electron applicator cut-outs using low-melting point alloy. Dosimetry Services: Take part in the Quality Assurance programme of the planning section ensuring that the calculated doses are within tolerance. Take part in the Quality Assurance programme of the linear accelerators and CT simulators on a daily, weekly and monthly basis, making analytical judgements on tolerances where required. Take part in the routine weekly calibration of linear accelerators and superficial treatment units, ensuring that the dose output is within agreed limits. Teaching and Training: Participation with other medical physics staff in continual evaluation and development of techniques used. Train staff in the routine weekly calibration of linear accelerators and superficial treatment units, ensuring that the dose delivered is within agreed limits. Develop and deliver training packages for Radiographers, Radiographer students, trainee Medical Physicists and FRCR candidates on treatment planning and radiotherapy in general. Responsibility for the ongoing supervision and training of Treatment Planning clinical technologist staff, trainee Medical Physicists, Clinicians and Radiographers as well as student radiographers whilst in the Treatment Planning & Mould Room sections. Responsible for coordinating the rota of trainers and trainees in Treatment Planning and Mould Room to ensure that there is sufficient capacity for training and clinical work. Research and Development: NHS service research and development is necessary for continuous improvement of radiotherapy and for the implementation and development of the potential of new equipment and facilities. To be involved and contribute to any development work as required by the Head of External Deam Radiotherapy Physics, Head of Treatment Planning Development and Head of Radiotherapy Technology. To be instrumental in the introduction of newly developed treatment planning techniques into routine use. To manage and coordinate this activity, ensuring adequate staff training. Professional: Keep abreast of the latest technical and scientific developments and their applications in medical and radiotherapy fields. To attend suitable seminars, courses and meetings either national or international as part of personal development and to further the work of the department and give a report back on these to the rest of the staff. Ensure all activities are carried out within a quality framework and meet regulatory requirements. Person Specification Experience Essential Expert knowledge of external beam radiotherapy treatment planning, Mould Room and virtual simulation and their interrelationships. Expert knowledge of the principles of external beam radiotherapy. Advanced understanding of physiology and anatomy as applied to treatment planning. Specialist knowledge of CT and MRI anatomy as applied to treatment planning. Expert knowledge of the modern principals of 3D treatment planning. Desirable The operation of complex radiotherapy technology including linear accelerators, orthovoltage and superficial therapy units and simulators. Experience of working in a virtual simulator. Knowledge of materials used in Mould Room. Auditor training. Skills & Behaviours Essential Team working skills, flexibility, initiative, honesty, integrity, influencing and persuading skills and ability to learn. Works within timeframes and works well under pressure. Patient, diplomatic and able to develop good working relationships with different groups of colleagues. Problem solving and initiative when dealing with issues within own specialist area of competence. Proven ability to prioritise the work of the treatment planning section and own work. Desirable Organised, neat, articulate and numerate. Proven leadership (empowering, motivating/developing others), interpersonal skills (oral communication), analytical skills (judgement, objective), organisational awareness (self confident/decisive) Proven ability to prioritise and manage the work of the treatment planning section and own work. Proven ability to influence cross discipline teams working within own specialist area of competence. Other Criteria Essential Proven ability to deal with distressing circumstances working with patients in clinical areas (e.g. Patient set up in Virtual simulator/overseeing patient plan set-up in radiotherapy treatment rooms) Proven ability to deal with highly contentious waiting list issues. Proven ability to deal with highly contentious issues either within own staff group or between groups of staff. Qualifications Essential Either: Degree in Clinical Technology or related discipline or equivalent level of knowledge and experience; Or: BSc Therapy Radiography. Understanding of advanced, technical Treatment Planning &Mould room activities through post-graduate formal training to Masters degree level, or equivalent level of expert knowledge & experience. Either: Registered Clinical Technologist Or: Registered Therapy Radiographer Desirable Additional clinical experience in Simulator and/or Virtual simulator. Incorporated level membership of the Institute of Medical Physics & Engineering. Person Specification Experience Essential Expert knowledge of external beam radiotherapy treatment planning, Mould Room and virtual simulation and their interrelationships. Expert knowledge of the principles of external beam radiotherapy. Advanced understanding of physiology and anatomy as applied to treatment planning. Specialist knowledge of CT and MRI anatomy as applied to treatment planning. Expert knowledge of the modern principals of 3D treatment planning. Desirable The operation of complex radiotherapy technology including linear accelerators, orthovoltage and superficial therapy units and simulators. Experience of working in a virtual simulator. Knowledge of materials used in Mould Room. Auditor training. Skills & Behaviours Essential Team working skills, flexibility, initiative, honesty, integrity, influencing and persuading skills and ability to learn. Works within timeframes and works well under pressure. Patient, diplomatic and able to develop good working relationships with different groups of colleagues. Problem solving and initiative when dealing with issues within own specialist area of competence. Proven ability to prioritise the work of the treatment planning section and own work. Desirable Organised, neat, articulate and numerate. Proven leadership (empowering, motivating/developing others), interpersonal skills (oral communication), analytical skills (judgement, objective), organisational awareness (self confident/decisive) Proven ability to prioritise and manage the work of the treatment planning section and own work. Proven ability to influence cross discipline teams working within own specialist area of competence. Other Criteria Essential Proven ability to deal with distressing circumstances working with patients in clinical areas (e.g. Patient set up in Virtual simulator/overseeing patient plan set-up in radiotherapy treatment rooms) Proven ability to deal with highly contentious waiting list issues. Proven ability to deal with highly contentious issues either within own staff group or between groups of staff. Qualifications Essential Either: Degree in Clinical Technology or related discipline or equivalent level of knowledge and experience; Or: BSc Therapy Radiography. Understanding of advanced, technical Treatment Planning &Mould room activities through post-graduate formal training to Masters degree level, or equivalent level of expert knowledge & experience. Either: Registered Clinical Technologist Or: Registered Therapy Radiographer Desirable Additional clinical experience in Simulator and/or Virtual simulator. Incorporated level membership of the Institute of Medical Physics & Engineering. 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. UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Additional information 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. UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Employer details Employer name Leeds Teaching Hospitals Address St. James's University Hospital Beckett Street Leeds LS9 7TF Employer's website https://www.leedsth.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)