Senior Radiotherapy Engineering Technician

Job summary An opportunity as a Band 6 Senior Radiotherapy Engineering Technician (Electronics) has arisen at the University Hospitals of Leicester.The Leicester Radiotherapy Department is a friendly, busy and modern training department.
It is housed in a purpose built Oncology Unit, which is centrally located with easy access to both road and rail connections.
Leicester itself is a vibrant, friendly multicultural city within beautiful countryside.The post requires specialised technical expertise founded on formal training to HND or BSc degree level in an appropriate subject eg.
healthcare science (engineering) / electronic engineering or equivalent.
Three years' minimum relevant technical experience and recent experience of servicing radiotherapy equipment is required.
Experience of fault diagnosis on Varian Linacs is desirable.
Registration with the RCT as a Clinical Technologist is required within 1 year of appointment if not already held.
Suitable candidates showing potential without the required experience may be considered for appointment at a lower grade.
Main duties of the job The post holder will work as part of a team in the electronic section of the technical service which is responsible for the Linac maintenance programme.
Good systems knowledge of radiotherapy equipment and the ability to contribute across different engineering disciplines is required.
The post holder contributes to the immediate response to equipment breakdown and scheduled maintenance and performs project work to meet defined research and development needs.
Good communication skills are required to liaise with other staff groups and external suppliers.The radiotherapy department is based at Leicester Royal Infirmary and provides state of the art treatment including SABR treatments for lung cancer and oligomets, respiratory gating and deep inspiration breath hold for breast radiotherapy.
Over 40% of all radical treatments are IMRT, of which 95% are VMAT.
All IMRT patients receive IGRT as routine and we have an ongoing program to further increase utilisation.
We provide Oncology services to a catchment population of approximately 1 million within Leicestershire and Rutland and are ISO 9001(2015) accredited.
We fully support staff development; the department has an impressive clinical trials portfolio and established links with Leicester University.
About us We are one of the biggest and busiest NHS trusts in the country, incorporating the General, Glenfield and Royal Infirmary hospitals.
We have our very own Children's Hospital and run one of the country's leading heart centres.
Our team is made up of more than 17,000 staff providing a range of services primarily for the one million residents of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
We work with partners at the University of Leicester and De Montfort University providing world-class teaching to nurture and develop the next generation of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals, many of whom go on to spend their working lives with us.
Our purpose is to provide 'Caring at its best' and our staff have helped us create a set of values that embody who we are and what we're here to do.
They are:We focus on what matters mostWe treat others how we would like to be treatedWe are passionate and creative in our workWe do what we say we are going to doWe are one team and we are best when we work together Our patients are at the heart of all we do and we believe that 'Caring at its best' is not just about the treatments and services we provide, but about giving our patients the best possible experience.
About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust ( Job description Job responsibilities Clinical Technical Maintain clinical technology expertise by undertaking funded Radiotherapy equipment manufacturers certified courses, self-study and liaison with manufacturers.Use specialist electronics knowledge and communication skills to cross engineering/clinical boundaries when working on radiotherapy equipment breakdown events.
Resolve or escalate as appropriate expediency/safety conflicts and staff stress arising from crisis repairs.Exchange technical and planning information during communication with multi-disciplinary staff involved in cancer patient care.
Implement the best engineering strategy to restore and maintain patient treatment and clinic schedules.Calibrate Radiotherapy equipment and assure that performance is within manufacturers limits.Contribute to the multi-disciplinary commissioning of very high cost radiotherapy equipment as part of Oncology service developments.
Contribute to the design and planning process for the engineering aspects of new facilities.Analyse Radiotherapy fault scenarios taking evidence from multi-parameter diagnostic facilities, radiographer's/patients accounts of untoward actions and invasive investigation.Interpret the recovered information and make decisions on corrective actions within own competence or with support from senior staff in highly complex cases, discussing the broad consequences with the patient team and supporting scientific staff.Rectify faults to component level on complex electronic, electro-mechanical and subsystems.
Undertake repairs on MLC systems, electron guns and other delicate assemblies requiring great care and precision by utilising specialised tools and disassembly/assembly techniques.
Apply safety procedures in line with COSHH and Health and Safety policies to effect repairs.Exchange technical information and debate repair strategies with manufacturers technical helpdesks, referring to senior staff as required.Participate in research on the suitability, purchase and supply of components and subsystems used in the specialist support for Radiotherapy treatment machines and allied equipment.
Undertake study to update and develop Radiotherapy software knowledge.Undertake duties within the Radiotherapy technical support bleep holder rota and contribute to an effective rapid response repair service to preserve the continuity of patient treatment.
Contribute to periods of technical support outside normal working hours as required to support the clinical service.
Negotiate with radiographers for access to radiotherapy treatment machines and network facilities.Undertake linear accelerator run up duties prior to normal working hours.
Capture Linac performance data as part of the Radiotherapy servicing programme.Interpret treatment machine standby & running values, to identify possible deterioration of specific components, predict useful life remaining and be proactive in the acquisition of replacement items prior to machine failure.Assist in analysing network problems that directly impact on the continuity of patient treatment.
Support and assist radiographers to work through minor treatment and networking technical problems.Propose and implement actions to improve the security of radiotherapy equipment.Contribute to the maintenance of a safe working environment at all times.Maintain high value test equipment in a safe and operable condition.Participate in Quality Assurance duties, including equipment testing and rotas.Contribute to work required for compliance with manufacturer safety bulletins.Participate on weekend, early, evening and on-call rotas when required.
Person Specification Training and Qualifications Essential Appropriate academic qualifications Professional Registration Desirable Varian manufacturer training tm1 and tm2 Trust Values and Behaviours Essential good knowledge of trust values and behaviours Experience Essential Minimum 3 years relevant experience Desirable Experience with Varian products Communication Essential Good literacy Good computing/IT skills Able to communicate technical information to an appropriate level Teamworking Analytical and judgement Essential Fault finding electronic circuits Fault finding mechanical systems Decision making skills Physical Skills Essential Ability to do appropriate manual handling tasks Ability to effect repairs on electronic systems Ability to use a variety of electronic test equipment Planning and Organisational Essential Evidence of planning and time management skills Role Specific Essential Knowledge of radiotherapy systems and workflow Desirable Risk assessment skills Quality system knowledge Equality and diversity Essential Knowledge and application of equality and diversity