The Specialist Clinical Scientist in Nuclear Medicine is a senior member of a highly specialised service area from within the Science & Technology Directorate at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.

The role includes supporting all aspects of delivering a clinical nuclear medicine service (both diagnostic and therapeutic) that would be expected in the setting of a major acute teaching hospital trust. This would include operational delivery of clinical service, line management of staff, maintenance of the quality management system, undertaking and supporting R&I and contributing to the strategic develop of the service.

The Specialist Clinical Scientist supports the Head of Nuclear Medicine Physics and deputises for them as required. This is a specialist role, with the freedom to initiate action within broad scientific principles as directed by the Head of Nuclear Medicine Physics. The post holder leads in two or more specialist areas; has advanced theoretical and practical knowledge of Nuclear Medicine Physics and acts as a Medical Physics Expert (MPE) in their specialist area(s); they may also act as a Radiation Protection Adviser (RPA) and/or Radiation Waste Adviser (RWA); provides specialist scientific support and advice to medical consultants, clinical, scientific, and technical staff on highly complex issues and the interpretation of relevant guidance related to Nuclear Medicine.

The main duties of the job include:
Leadership and team management - support effective collaboration, mentorship and professional development to meet clinical and organisational objectives. Provide line management to clinical scientists and technologists.

Provision of a safe and efficient service - take on responsibilities for operational management of two sub-services within Nuclear Medicine (MRT & PET/CT). Support the management of a range of services within nuclear medicine and optimise protocols to minimise radiation dose to patients and staff

Delivery of a quality management service - be responsible and support the management of the QMS and oversee the procurement and commissioning of new equipment

Radiation safety and regulatory compliance - interpret and support compliance with national regulations

Research and Innovation - lead R&I projects to advance service provision

Training and education - provide education and training to staff within the service and other key stakeholders

With over 19,000 staff, we are one of the biggest employers in the city with a central role in supporting the health and wellbeing of our local population. We play a leading role in research, education and innovation.

Come and join our wonderful team at NUH. We are big believers in diversity and welcome new ideas to help develop our team in order to deliver world class healthcare to the vast patient populations we serve. With endless personal development opportunities available, at NUH we will endeavour to turn your job into a career!

We particularly welcome applications from people who identify as Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic, or Disabled, as we are striving to be better represented at NUH.

1. Patient/Client care

1.1. Act as Medical Physics Expert in Nuclear Medicine (as required by the Ionising Radiation [Medical Exposure] Regulations 2017), providing complex expert scientific and highly specialised advice to other health professionals on the justification, optimisation, analysis and interpretation of investigations, the safe use of equipment, and the development of new techniques and staff training. Also:
a. Communicate complex information regarding the investigations to patients, and if appropriate their carers. In particular discuss the risks arising from ionising radiation and put these into a context that can be understood by patients or carers to provide reassurance.
b. Perform risk assessments to ensure that radiation doses received by staff, patients, and members of the public are “as low as reasonably practicable” and within statutory limits as defined in the Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017.
1.2. Be responsible for the effective and safe provision of two or more services offered by Nuclear Medicine e.g. diagnostics nuclear medicine, MRT service, PET/CT scientific support.
1.3. Be responsible for providing scientific support to the Nuclear Medicine Service according to the duty physicist rota and at other times as required, including:
a. Interpret highly complex data to write clinical reports on patient investigations for referring consultant medical doctors.
b. In collaboration with consultant medical staff, interpret complex clinical investigations to produce clinical reports.
c. Provide scientific support to technical staff, for example in determining whether sufficient data has been obtained during a patient investigation for an accurate diagnosis to be made or whether further data are required.
d. Support the Radiopharmacy Unit including batch release of radiopharmaceuticals.
e. Support quality assurance programmes for equipment and specialist software in Nuclear Medicine/PET associated with the acquisition and analysis of patient investigations and therapies.

2. Policy & Service Development

2.1. Be responsible for interpreting the regulatory framework in which the nuclear medicine service operates and ensure compliance.
2.2. Be responsible for the development, implementation and review of individual procedures within the Quality Management System for the service.
2.3. As a Medical Physics Expert determine the most appropriate methods for individual patient treatments or for acquiring, analysing and presenting the results from patient investigations, by interpreting published best practice, national guidance and statutory regulations.
2.4. Contribute to the maintenance of statistical information as required for audit, clinical governance and management purposes. Analyse, interpret and action learning outcomes from this information across the service.
2.5. Identify and implement policies (both local and national) and service developments to maximise the benefit of the service and understand the impact of these changes to other stakeholders.
2.6. Assist in the engagement of external stakeholders, such as regulatory bodies, commissioners and partners within the Integrated Care System (ICS) to ensure effective utilisation of resources.

3. Resource Management

3.1. Take on operational responsibilities for the delivery of sub-services within the Nuclear Medicine Service.
3.2. Take on line management responsibility for staff within the service and delegate tasks appropriately.
3.3. Advise on the suitability of equipment for specific tasks within the Nuclear Medicine Service and the need for loan or replacement equipment.
3.4. In collaboration with scientific, clinical and technical colleagues specify and select major equipment ( > £500k) for use in the service. Assist with the development and performance of acceptance tests on this equipment to ensure that it meets its specification and is safe to use with patients.
3.5. Assist with the financial management of the Nuclear Medicine Service such that it stays within agreed budgets.

4. Teaching, Training and Research

4.1. Contribute to the training and development of staff in the Nuclear Medicine Service.
4.2. Ensure that suitable staff development is undertaken to provide a resilient and sustainable workforce.
4.3. Provide training to other groups of healthcare professionals within the Trust and other organisations (including FRCR and IRMER lectures).
4.4. Initiate and participate in research and innovation in Nuclear Medicine and in other Trust and academic departments as agreed with the Head of the Service.
4.5. Analyse and interpret the results from research and development studies for presentation at scientific meetings and publication in peer-reviewed journals.

5. Professional

5.1. Demonstrate appropriate leadership to the staff in the Nuclear Medicine Service and project a positive collaborative image of the service to the Trust and other stakeholders.
5.2. Maintain continuing professional development to standards defined by the relevant professional and regulatory bodies and maintain registration as a Clinical Scientist.
5.3. Ensure all activities are carried out within the ISO quality framework and conform to Statutory Regulations, Approved Codes of Practice and Local Rules.
5.4. Keep abreast of the latest technical and scientific developments and their applications in medical and associated fields as part of training and personal development and to further the work of the section.
5.5. Prioritise and manage own workload and meet agreed objectives

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

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Specialist Clinical Scientist Nuclear Medicine