Job overview

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.
Please see below for detailed job description of the role.

Job Title: Head of Brachytherapy Physics

Contract Type: Permanent

This is an exciting opportunity to lead a small team within the Radiotherapy Physics Group to  deliver a cutting-edge Brachytherapy Service.

As part of this role, you will work closely with Clinical Oncologists, Radiographers, Clinical Scientists and Technologists to deliver both HDR and LDR Brachytherapy Services.
Reporting to the Head of Radiotherapy Physics, you will be part of a friendly, Senior Team, contributing to strategic and technical developments within Radiotherapy Physics.

Working for our organisation

As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. UHS is rated ‘Good’ by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care. 

 We support flexible working and will consider requests taking into account the needs of the service. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.

 Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 30% lower than London and 17 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.

 We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalising your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.

We currently treat both gynaecological and prostate patients with Elekta Microselectron HDR afterloader. Image guided Brachytherapy Treatments are planned using Oncentra Brachy treatment planning system and with state of the art CTMR compatible applicators enabling interstitial insertions where clinically required. GEC-ESTRO (GYN) Recommendations are fully implemented for cervix treatments. An ongoing interest in this field would be desirable.

The team also supports delivery of Iodine-125 seed prostate treatments, using Variseed Treatment Planning system.

External Beam Radiotherapy is delivered on a suite of 7 Elekta Linacs, supported by Raystation Treatment Planning System and Mosaiq.

Service development and innovation are at the core of our work and staff are encouraged to attend and present their work at National and International meetings.

While the primary focus of this role is to provide technical and managerial leadership for the brachytherapy service, we will be happy to discuss involvement in other areas of interest with potential applicants.

The successful applicant needs to be a state registered Clinical Scientist with experience to act as a Medical Physics Expert (MPE) in Brachytherapy Physics.

Registration as a Radiation Protection  Advisor (in Radiotherapy) would be an advantage, but we can offer training to develop the successful candidate to support this role.

An informal visit to the department in encouraged. 

The successful candidate will be responsible for leading and managing the Brachytherapy Physics service, contributing directly to Clinical treatments, training staff and implementing new developments and equipment within Brachytherapy.
You will act as an MPE in Brachytherapy and take overall responsibility for delivery of the service.
You will work closely with the Head of Radiotherapy Physics and Radiation Protection Advisor to ensure compliance with Regulations related to delivery of a Brachytherapy service.

Extensive experience of brachytherapy is essential for this role, together with proven management and leadership skills.
Ability to work flexibly to accommodate clinical treatments is essential.

Excellent communication skills are required to reassure patients, interact with clinicians, radiographers, scientists and technologists and contribute to the strategic direction of the Radiotherapy Physics Senior Team.