Head of Radiology Physics

Ekhuft; Canterbury; On-site; GBP 76,000 - 89,000; Full time

Job summary

A major UK hospital trust located in Canterbury seeks an enthusiastic Clinical Scientist specializing in Radiology Physics. The candidate must have MPE accreditation and demonstrate scientific leadership within the department. The role encompasses ensuring a safe and effective Radiology Physics service, managing technical aspects, and advising on radiation exposure risks. This position also allows for professional development within a supportive team, and a comprehensive understanding of diagnostic radiology facilities is crucial.

Qualifications

• MPE accreditation is essential for this role.
• Experience in the application of relevant legislation and guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Help ensuring that a safe and effective Radiology Physics service is provided.
• Act as the lead Medical Physics Expert under the regulations.
• Lead investigations of complex radiation dosimetry issues.

Skills

Highly specialised practical experience in Diagnostic Imaging and Radiation Protection

Knowledge of budget holding and financial resource management

Ability to teach, train and supervise

Good negotiating and influencing skills

Education

1st or 2nd class honours degree in Physics or a closely related subject

IPEM-accredited MSc in Medical Physics

HCPC registration as a Clinical Scientist

Job description

Job Summary

We are looking for an enthusiastic Clinical Scientist with MPE and RPA accreditations and a background in providing scientific leadership and support in Radiology Physics. MPE accreditation is essential for this role. We may consider candidates who are close to submitting a portfolio for RPA accreditation within an agreed time frame. Radiology Physics is part of the Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering Department, which has a high profile within the Trust and is building networks with other Trusts and Universities. We support a wide range of Diagnostic Radiology facilities, including CT, Mammography, Cardiac and the Kent Interventional Radiology Centre. Committed to providing a high quality, safe and effective service, we are able to offer opportunities for career development and progression within a vibrant, progressive and supportive team.

Main duties of the job

• Help ensuring that a safe and effective Radiology Physics service is provided to the East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust (EKHUFT).
• Delegate day‑to‑day scientific, technical, clinical and regulatory aspects of the Radiology Physics service.
• Delegate day‑to‑day managerial aspects of the Radiology Physics service, in conjunction with the operational lead.
• Act as the lead Medical Physics Expert under the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017 (IR(ME)R 2017) for Diagnostic Radiology, leading the equipment assessment program, including specification, acceptance testing, commissioning, quality assurance and optimisation of complex imaging equipment.
• Lead investigations of complex radiation dosimetry issues and advise on the associated risks.
• Calculate dose and risk in the event of planned, unintended or accidental exposures including to the unborn child, and advise clinicians.
• Provide and oversee specialist radiation protection teaching and training to a range of staff groups and act as training lead for STP and Route 2 within the section.
• Serve as an appointed Radiation Protection Adviser (RPA) under the Ionising Radiation Regulations 2017 (IRR 2017) to EKHUFT.
• Improve delivery of the Radiology Physics services and conduct research and development.

About Us

We are one of the largest hospital trusts in England, with five hospitals and community clinics serving a local population of around 800,000 people. Our vision is ‘great healthcare from great people’. Everything we do is guided by our values: ‘People feel cared for, safe, respected and confident that we are making a difference’. We have a new way of working at East Kent Hospitals, called ‘We care’. It is about empowering frontline staff to lead improvements day‑to‑day. We are looking for compassionate people to be part of our improvement journey for the patients, families and carers we care for every day.

Details

Date posted: 31 December 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 8c

Salary: £76,965 to £88,682 a year

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full‑time, Flexible working

Reference number: 344‑7308DCB‑B

Job locations: Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Ethelbert Road, Canterbury, CT1 3NG

Person Specification

Essential – Qualifications and Training

• 1st or 2nd class honours degree in Physics or a closely related subject.
• IPEM‑accredited MSc in Medical Physics, MSc in Medical Imaging or a relevant higher degree.
• HCPC registration as a Clinical Scientist.
• Corporate Membership of IPEM or an equivalent relevant professional body.
• Inclusion on the RPA2000 list of Core Competence to act as a Medical Physics Expert (MPE) under IR(ME)R17.
• Certificate of Competence to act as a Radiation Protection Adviser (RPA) under IRR17.

Essential – Skills and Experience

• Highly specialised practical experience in Diagnostic Imaging and Radiation Protection.
• Knowledge of budget holding and financial resource management.
• Specialist knowledge and practical experience of the techniques employed to measure the performance and radiological safety of a wide variety of digital and analogue state‑of‑the‑art X‑ray imaging equipment.
• Specialist knowledge and practical experience of the dose measurement techniques of ionising radiations including the various techniques for measurement of patient dose in radiography, fluoroscopy, cardiology, CT, mammography and dental.
• Specialist understanding of risks to patients and staff arising from ionising radiation, and the precautions required.
• Able to supervise individual staff in their clinical and scientific practice.
• Experience in the application of relevant legislation, national standards, professional and other guidelines and ability to communicate their application to other health professionals including senior management.
• Experience working in teams.
• Experience of auditing others.
• Experience of service provision.
• Ability to communicate highly complex, sometimes sensitive information effectively in oral and written forms to multi‑disciplinary groups at all levels and to patients and their carers.
• Ability to analyse and interpret complex data, compare ranges of options, make judgements from the results and determine the cause of erroneous results.
• Ability to interpret technical and scientific situations, in which facts may conflict, and judge the measures required to deal with them.
• Ability to produce detailed and accurate written reports and present scientific papers at national and international conferences.
• Highly developed manual dexterity skills to achieve precision and speed in the use of sophisticated scientific and technical equipment.
• Ability to develop electronic documents, spreadsheets and Clinical Applications software.
• Ability to teach, train and supervise.
• Experience of supervising STP and/or Route 2 trainees.
• Good negotiating and influencing skills; able to gain acceptance and agreement in situations where change is needed.

Desirable

• PhD in relevant field.
• Chartered Physicist (CPhys) or Chartered Scientist (CSci).
• HSS registration or the necessary experience to obtain this.
• Chartered Radiation Protection Professional (CRadP).
• Radioactive Waste Adviser (RWA).
• Use of Quality Systems.
• Knowledge of risk management systems.

Governance – Essential

• Understanding of incident reporting pathways (internal and external) in the context of diagnostic imaging.
• Participating in and contributing to Radiation Protection Committees, the Trust Radiation Modalities Group and the Trust Radiation Advisory Committee.

Personal/Professional Attributes – Essential

• Understanding of the risks associated with the incorrect calibration, misuse or failure of equipment.
• Highly developed scientific, analytical, interpretation and reasoning skills.
• Able to concentrate for long periods and when the work pattern is unpredictable.
• Flexibility in approach to coordinating workload.
• Able to work independently and as a member of a multidisciplinary team.

Other Requirements – Essential

• Awareness of and adherence to the Trust's Vision, Mission and Values.
• Full UK driving licence and access to vehicle.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see the NHS Careers website.

Employer details

East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust
Kent and Canterbury Hospital
Ethelbert Road
Canterbury
CT1 3NG

Employer's website

https://www.ekhuft.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/