Job Description
We are looking for 2 Degree Apprentices to join the Dosimetrist team. These posts are designed for someone educated to A-Level standard in a scientific discipline, wishing to study towards a career as a Dosimetrist within a radiotherapy department. As part of the Degree Apprenticeship, you will be in full-time professional employment, learning in the workplace following a structured programme, supported by both the university and the NHS Trust. You will complete a funded degree at University of West of England (UWE) as part of a level 6 apprenticeship resulting in a B.Sc. (Hons) in Healthcare Science (Radiotherapy Physics).
(https://www.uwe.ac.uk/courses/degree-apprenticeships/current-degree-apprenticeships/healthcare-science-practitioner-medical-physics#section-2)
Degree apprenticeships are a new type of programme offered by the Trust. Whilst employed, students can achieve a full bachelor's degree as part of their apprenticeship, funded by the employer. The programmes are developed by employers, universities, and professional bodies working in partnership, and offer an opportunity for students to earn and learn without the debt from the traditional university route. Apprentices are employed throughout the programme, and spend part of their time at university (approx. 3 weeks) and the rest with their employer. The training is for a three year period starting September 2023 and ending August 2026.
- Interview Date 24/04/2023
- 37 Hours 30 Minutes/Week
- Managing the daily organization of own workload to ensure the precise delivery of the external beam radiotherapy dose planning service.
- For individual patients, importing CT/MRI scans into the department’s specialist radiotherapy planning system (Raystation).
- For individual patients, identifying and outlining potential organs of risk within the treatment field
- For individual patients, designing the radiotherapy plan and determining the treatment parameters on a treatment planning system.
- For individual patients, validating treatment data, which has been generated, to ensure its integrity and appropriateness for clinical use, then exporting it for treatment.
- Solving dosimetric problems and where appropriate communicating the complex information on the plan to other staff groups.
- Participating in research development projects from inception to completion.
Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the busiest, largest and most successful teaching NHS foundation trusts in the country, with over 18,000 staff and an annual income of £1 billion.
Rated ‘Outstanding’ by the CQC for the second consecutive time in 2019, we have a long history of providing high quality care, clinical excellence, and innovation in medical research regionally, nationally and internationally.
We’re also proud to be the second largest provider of specialised services in the country. This means we support people with a range of rare and complex medical, surgical and neurological conditions, cancers and genetic orders.
Our staff oversee around 1.84 million patients ‘contacts’ each year, delivering high standards of healthcare.
We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and recognise the benefit in providing an inclusive environment. We value and respect the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects the communities we serve, and is equipped to deliver the best service to our patients. We welcome all applications irrespective of people’s race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups.
The NHS also offers one of the most competitive benefits package with regards to Annual Leave, Pensions and a comprehensive range of NHS Discounts.
- The Apprentice Health Care Practitioner (Radiotherapy Physics) is responsible for following the technical and analytical curriculum and progressing through work-based experience in the Department.
- The post holder will be expected to perform a range of demanding roles under supervision, as well as occasional duties in response to specific elements of the curriculum.
- Successful completion of an integrated 3 year BSc (Hons) in Healthcare Science (Radiotherapy: for Dosimetrists); gaining skills to undertake the role of a healthcare science practitioner and eligibility to join the accredited Register of Clinical Technologists (RCT) held by the Academy for Healthcare Science.
- Learn from qualified staff to provide all technical aspects within scope of practice.
- Learn to perform a range of specialist healthcare science activities to provide technical aspects of the Radiotherapy Physics service at NCCC.
- Become involved in research and development projects.
- To carry out any other reasonable duties to achieve learning may be required, which are commensurate with the grade and nature of the post to meet the learning outcomes.
- This job description outlines the current and main duties and responsibilities of the Apprentice post.
The practical aspects of the training will be delivered at either the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne or the Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle (you will be asked to identify your preferred site of employment on the application form within the “Supporting Information” section). The Dose Planning Section is comprised of a large team of Dosimetrists / Clinical Technologists who provide the clinical radiotherapy planning services and use complex equipment and planning software (e.g. Raystation) for the treatment of cancer across both sites. Staffing in Radiotherapy is a mix of physicists, dosimetrists, engineers, radiographers, consultant oncologists and clerical staff working together as a multidisciplinary team.
Both Radiotherapy Departments benefit from state of the art equipment which includes dedicated planning MRI scanner facilities, 3 Siemens CT scanners with 4D capability, access to a PET/CT facility, 11 linear accelerator treatment machines, a brachytherapy machine and a superficial Xray unit. The Centre is committed to delivering a high quality service, maintaining the highest specification equipment and contributing to radiotherapy research and development. Current developments include the evaluation of organ contouring using artificially intelligent software, MVision, and implementation of ProKnow contour and plan review software.
We are looking for individuals who are keen to learn, and possesses the qualifications suitable to enroll with University of West of England (UWE) for this course: GCSE Grade C or above in English Language, Mathematics and Double Science, plus A-level Grade C or above in a science subject, preferably Physics and Biology.
Interested candidates should be able to demonstrate an aptitude for the role, and be able to commence the role from 1stSeptember, in order to meet the University course dates. Students currently undertaking A-Level examinations are encouraged to apply indicating their predicted grades. In these instances, a conditional offer may be given subject to actual grades.
For further details or to arrange an informal visit please contact: nuth.DosePlanningApprenticeship@nhs.net
You will become an integral part of the team, within which we will support your personal and continued professional development through the funding of the BSc (Hons) Degree programme via the Apprenticeship.
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate. The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first month’s pay.
Newcastle Hospitals encourages all staff and volunteers who are appointed to join the Trust to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy.
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