Senior Dosimetrist
Job Specification & Terms and Conditions
Job Title and Grade
Senior Dosimetrist (Grade Code 3036)
Campaign Reference
NRS0740
Closing Date
Friday 14th September 2012 @ 12.00 noon
Proposed Interview
Date (s)
Week beginning Monday 8th October 2012
Taking up
Appointment
Organisational Area
To be decided at job offer stage.
Location of Post
Galway Roscommon University Hospitals Group.
Initial assignment will be to Radiotherapy Department, University Hospital Galway.
The successful candidate may be required to work in any service area within the vicinity as
the need arises.
Details of Service
HSE West, Galway and Roscommon University Hospitals Group
 Galway University Hospital is part of the Galway-Roscommon Hospital Group
(GRHG) which is comprised of GUH (University Hospital Galway & Merlin Park
Hospital), Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe and Roscommon General Hospital.
 The Radiotherapy Dept provides external beam radiotherapy and brachytherapy
treatment to patients diagnosed with cancer. The Radiotherapy Physics section of
the department of Medical Physics and Bioengineering (MPBE) is part of the multidisciplinary team of radiation oncologists, radiation therapists, oncology nurses,
administration staff, dosimetrists and physicists that work within the Radiotherapy
Department at University Hospital Galway (UHG).
 The Radiotherapy department has three Siemens Oncor linear accelerators, each
with an EPID and 82-leaf MLC. One linac has an elekta-Clarity ultrasound image
guidance system for IGRT for pelvic treatments. There is one Varian-GammaMed
HDR afterloader for gynaecological and breast brachytherapy. There is a busy
LDR prostate seed implant brachytherapy program also. There is a Philips
AcQSim wide-bore CT-simulator and a Nucletron conventional simulator.
Superficial external beam treatments are delivered using a Gulmay superficialorthovoltage unit. Treatment planning is carried out using Oncentra Masterplan
from Nucletron-Elekta, CT-simulation and organ contouring is carried out using a
Pinnacle virtual simulation system. The record and verify system is Siemens Lantis
and this is also used as the electronic patient record within the Radiotherapy
department. Brachytherapy planning is carried out using Varian Brachyvision and
seed implant planning is done using Varian Variseed.
 The Radiotherapy Department at UHG serves a population of approximately 1
million people living in the West and North West of Ireland. It is one of the Irish
Government’s eight designated cancer centres within the public health system and
has been open clinically since March 2005. As part of the National Cancer Control
Programme, the facilities in Galway are due for expansion by 2015, which will see
refreshment and addition of radiotherapy equipment and associated imaging
equipment in line with current technology and national cancer strategy policy.
 The radiotherapy multi-disciplinary team has been actively involved in the constant
optimisation of treatment techniques and overall service delivery. The department
has facilitated IMRT treatments since 2006 and ultrasound-based 3-D IGRT since
2008. Accelerated partial breast irradiation using HDR brachytherapy began in
2005 and the prostate seed implant program began in 2007. The team at UHG is
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currently involved in the training and roll-out of the prostate seed implant program
to the other designated cancer centres in Dublin and Cork. The Radiotherapy
department is actively involved in national (ICORG) and international (NSABP,
TROG, ICR-UK, MRC-UK) clinical trials including trials concerned with prostate,
breast, lung and head-and-neck cancers.
 The Medical Physics & Bioengineering department (MPBE) has been accredited
by the North American group CAMPEP for training medical physics residents and
has a number of graduates since the program started in 2008. The MPBE staff
also teaches on the taught MSc program in Medical Physics run by the National
University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) and supervise research projects as part of
this postgraduate course. The MPBE team also supports and collaborates with
PhD research in medical physics at NUIG.
 The Senior Dosimetrist will be a member of the Medical Physics & Bioengineering
Department (MPBE) and will work within the Radiotherapy Physics section on
location in the Radiotherapy department. All members of the MPBE team report to
the Chief Physicist who in turn reports to the CEO of Galway Roscommon
University Hospitals Group (GRUHG). The Head of Radiotherapy Physics is a
member of the management team of the Radiotherapy Department.
Reporting
Relationship
The post holder will report on a daily basis to the Head of Radiotherapy Physics, however,
the Chief Physicist will have overall responsibility for the post holder.
Purpose of the Post
The overall purpose of the Senior Dosimetrist post is to provide radiotherapy treatment
planning for radiation oncology patients in line with international best practice and in
accordance with the Radiation Oncologists’ prescriptions and to perform patient specific
calculations and measurements of dose (dosimetry) required to ensure safe delivery of
patient treatment. The Senior Dosimetrist will be expected to manage the workflow through
treatment planning section and together with the physicists, to participate in development
of new techniques, in staff education and training and to engage in departmental research
and support of clinical trials.
Principal Duties and
Responsibilities
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The person holding this post at Galway University Hospitals is required to support
the principle that the care of the patient comes first at all times and will approach
their work with the flexibility and enthusiasm necessary to make this principle a
reality for every patient to the greatest possible degree
Maintain throughout the Hospital awareness of the primacy of the patient in
relation to all hospital activities.
Role Summary:
1. The holder of the post of Senior Dosimetrist will be a member of the Department of
Medical Physics and Bioengineering, University College Hospital, Galway.
2. Within the framework outlined above, the post holder must perform the following duties
set out below, working to a standard consistent with good professional practice:
Clinical & Technical:
The post holder will:
a) participate in day-to-day routine treatment planning work and manage the
scheduling of this work within the treatment planning section.
b) be responsible for and will co-ordinate the development of treatment planning
procedures and quality assurance within the Treatment Planning section, in liaison
with the Physicist responsible for Treatment Planning.
c) ensure that a high level of technical competency is achieved and maintained within
the treatment planning section.
d) promote the development of new treatment techniques and new treatment
modalities, together with other staff in the Department of Radiotherapy.
e) ensure that difficult/non-standard treatment planning is adequately discussed with
Physicists and/or Radiotherapy Oncologists, as appropriate, prior to clinical
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implementation.
f)
assist other Treatment Planning staff with technical problems as required.
g) develop and maintain Treatment Planning procedure manuals, together with the
Physicist with responsibility for Treatment Planning.
h) supervise, perform, or assist in the application of specific methods of dosimetry
measurements, including ion chamber, TLD and gafchromic film under the general
direction of the Head of Radiotherapy Physics.
i)
supervise, perform or assist in the preparation and/or manufacture of patient
specific immobilization and fixation devices and other devices which affect patient
dosimetry (e.g. customised bolus, blocks, shields, electron cut-outs etc.).
Managerial:
The post holder will:
j)
manage the scheduling of treatment planning work within the treatment planning
section and coordinate the weekly peer review treatment planning meeting.
k) manage the communication regarding treatment planning between the treatment
planning team and radiation oncologists, radiation therapists and physicists and
provide feedback to the Head of Radiotherapy Physics.
l)
be responsible for development of teaching/training programmes for new staff and
other relevant personnel or students within Radiotherapy Treatment Planning
section.
m) have an active role in the supervision of other dosimetrists, trainee physicists or
radiation therapists working with the treatment planning team.
n) keep such records as are consistent with good professional practice.
o) perform other duties as may be assigned from time to time by the Head of
Department.
Teaching, Training & Research:
The post holder will:
p) organise and develop orientation and teaching/training programmes for new staff
as well as other relevant personnel or students in the area of Treatment Planning.
q) promote, actively support and participate in clinical research for the development
and implementation of new techniques.
r)
participate in clinical trial work as part of the radiotherapy multi-disciplinary team
s) participate in research carried out by the radiotherapy physics team and NUIG
Professional:
The post holder will:
t)
keep informed of developments in the area of treatment planning techniques and
advances in Medical Dosimetry as part of continual professional development.
PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING GENERAL CONDITIONS:
 Employees must attend fire lectures periodically and must observe fire orders.
 All accidents within the Department must be reported immediately.
 Infection Control Policies must be adhered to.
 In line with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005 all staff must comply
with all safety regulations and audits.
 In line with the Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Act 2004, smoking within the
Hospital Building is not permitted.
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Hospital uniform code must be adhered to.
Provide information that meets the need of Senior Management.
Risk Management, Infection Control, Hygiene Services and Health & Safety
 The management of Risk, Infection Control, Hygiene Services and Health & Safety is
the responsibility of everyone and will be achieved within a progressive, honest and
open environment.
 The post holder must be familiar with the necessary education, training and support to
enable them to meet this responsibility.
 The post holder has a duty to familiarise themselves with the relevant Organisational
Policies, Procedures & Standards and attend training as appropriate in the following
areas:
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Continuous Quality Improvement Initiatives
Document Control Information Management Systems
Risk Management Strategy and Policies
Hygiene Related Policies, Procedures and Standards
Decontamination Code of Practice
Infection Control Policies
Safety Statement, Health & Safety Policies and Fire Procedure
Data Protection and confidentiality Policies
The post holder is responsible for ensuring that they become familiar with the
requirements stated within the GUH Risk Management Strategy and that they comply
with the Hospitals Risk Management Incident/Near miss reporting Policies and
Procedures.
The post holder is responsible for ensuring that they comply with hygiene services
requirements in your area of responsibility.
Hygiene Services incorporates
environment and facilities, hand hygiene, catering, cleaning, the management of
laundry, waste, sharps and equipment.
The post holder must foster and support a quality improvement culture through-out
your area of responsibility in relation to hygiene services.
It is the post holder’s specific responsibility for Quality & Risk Management, Hygiene
Services and Health & Safety will be clarified to you in the induction process and by
your line manager.
The post holder must take reasonable care for his or her own actions and the effect
that these may have upon the safety of others.
The post holder must cooperate with management, attend Health & Safety related
training and not undertake any task for which they have not been authorised and
adequately trained.
The post holder is required to bring to the attention of a responsible person any
perceived shortcoming in our safety arrangements or any defects in work equipment.
It is the responsibility of the post holder to be aware of and comply with the HSE
Health Care Records Management / Integrated Discharge Planning (HCRM / IDP)
Code of Practice.
The above Job Description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties
involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties
as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and
to contribute to the development of the post while in office.
Eligibility Criteria
Qualifications and/ or
experience
Candidates must on the closing date:
a) Hold a First or Second Class Degree (Level 8 on the National Qualifications
Framework NQF) in either Physics or Radiation Therapy
OR
A recognized equivalent qualification at least equivalent thereto;
AND
b) Have at least 3 years relevant experience as a Dosimetrist.
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Health
A candidate for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and capable of
undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would
indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.
Character
Each candidate for and any person holding the office must be of good character
Age
Age restrictions shall only apply to a candidate where he/she is not classified as a new
entrant (within the meaning of the Public Service Superannuation Act, 2004). A candidate
who is not classified as a new entrant must be under 65 years of age.
Post Specific
Requirements
The post holder will be required to demonstrate in their application:
 Experience designing and calculating 3-D external beam treatment plans using
conformal methods and demonstrate knowledge of complex treatment planning
methods e.g. IMRT
 Experience and knowledge of quality assurance practices for treatment planning
 Experience and knowledge of the various methods for patient specific dose
measurement e.g. in-vivo diode and TLD measurements, film measurements etc
Other requirements
specific to the post
Skills, competencies
and/or knowledge
A flexible approach to working hours is required in order to ensure deadlines are met.
Planning & Organising
 The ability to manage workflow through the treatment planning section among the
staff available and to identify ways that may improve the efficiency of the process
 The ability to identify key performance indicators for the treatment planning
process and to give this feedback to the Head of Radiotherapy Physics.
 The ability to organise and coordinate the weekly peer review planning meeting
among the multidisciplinary team.
Knowledge & Professional Knowledge
 Demonstrate an excellent working knowledge of the radiotherapy process
 Demonstrate experience designing and calculating 3-D external beam treatment
plans using conformal methods
 Demonstrate experience in use of the software used in the treatment planning and
delivery process (e.g. treatment planning systems, record and verify systems,
independent MU calculation programs)
 Demonstrate a good understanding of modern treatment techniques such as IMRT
and IGRT
 Demonstrate experience in the various methods of dose measurement including
patient specific measurement e.g. diode, TLD and film measurements.
 Demonstrate knowledge of detectors and systems that measure radiation dose
 Demonstrate evidence of experience with multidisciplinary team of radiation
therapists, physicists, radiation oncologists and oncology nurses when developing
new treatment techniques and optimising current techniques
 Demonstrate a high standard of professional knowledge in regard to radiotherapy
treatment planning and delivery process for external beam radiotherapy including
knowledge of international guidelines for best practice.
 Demonstrate knowledge of risk assessment and safety procedures applied to
radiotherapy
 Demonstrate experience participating in quality assurance of the radiotherapy
treatment process.
Leadership & Teamwork
 The ability to ensure that staff resources are allocated in an effective way, and
activity levels are monitored
 The ability to intervene to align resources and maximise efficiencies.
 The ability to work as part of a team with the dosimetrist and physicists and to
represent that team in multi-disciplinary meetings if required
 The ability to perform a management role
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Providing a quality service:
 Demonstrate a commitment to assuring high standards and strive for a user
centred service
Problem Solving and Decision Making:
 Demonstrate the ability to evaluate pertinent information to solve problems and
make appropriate decisions in a timely manner.
Communication & Interpersonal
 The ability to get a message across fluently and persuasively in a variety of
different media – oral, written and electronic.
 The ability to make a compelling case to positively influence the thinking of others.
 The ability to listen to others and to achieve compromise
Policies and Procedures
 The ability to design and implement structured policies and systems for the
management of service delivery in consultation with the Head of Radiotherapy
Physics
Campaign Specific
Selection Process
Ranking/Shortlisting /
Interview
A ranking and or shortlisting exercise may be carried out on the basis of information
supplied in your application form. The criteria for ranking and or shortlisting are based on
the requirements of the post as outlined in the eligibility criteria and skills, competencies
and/or knowledge section of this job specification. Therefore it is very important that you
think about your experience in light of those requirements.
Failure to include information regarding these requirements may result in you not being
called forward to the next stage of the selection process.
Those successful at the ranking stage of this process (where applied) will be placed on an
order of merit and will be called to interview in ‘bands’ depending on the service needs of
the organisation.
Those successful at the shortlisting stage of this process (where applied) will be called
forward to interview.
Code of Practice
The Health Service Executive will run this campaign in compliance with the Code of
Practice prepared by the Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA). The Code
of Practice sets out how the core principles of probity, merit, equity and fairness might be
applied on a principle basis. The Code also specifies the responsibilities placed on
candidates, facilities for feedback to applicants on matters relating to their application
when requested, and outlines procedures in relation to requests for a review of the
recruitment and selection process and review in relation to allegations of a breach of the
Code of Practice. Additional information on the HSE’s review process is available in the
document posted with each vacancy entitled “Code of Practice, information for
candidates”.
Codes of practice are published by the CPSA and are available on
www.hse.ie/eng/staff/jobs in the document posted with each vacancy entitled “Code of
Practice, information for candidates” or on www.cpsa-online.ie.
The reform programme outlined for the Health Services may impact on this role and as structures change the job
description may be reviewed.
This job description is a guide to the general range of duties assigned to the post holder. It is intended to be neither
definitive nor restrictive and is subject to periodic review with the employee concerned.
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Senior Dosimetrist
Terms and Conditions of Employment
Tenure
The initial vacancy for this post is permanent, whole time. This post is pensionable. A
panel will be created from this campaign from which current and future permanent,
specified purpose, whole-time and part time posts will be filled. The tenure of these
posts will be indicated at “expression of interest” stage.
Appointment as an employee of the Health Service Executive is governed by the
Health Act 2004 and the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointment)
Act 2004.
Remuneration
The Salary scale for the post is: €51,868 – €67,231 as at 01/01/2010, (8 points on
the salary scale).
Working Week
The standard working week applying to the post is: 35 hours.
HSE Circular 003-2009 “Matching Working Patterns to Service Needs (Extended
Working Day / Week Arrangements); Framework for Implementation of Clause 30.4
of Towards 2016” applies. Under the terms of this circular, all new entrants and staff
appointed to promotional posts from Dec 16th 2008 will be required to work agreed
roster / on call arrangements as advised by their line manager. Contracted hours of
work are liable to change between the hours of 8am-8pm over seven days to meet
the requirements for extended day services in accordance with the terms of the
Framework Agreement (Implementation of Clause 30.4 of Towards 2016).
Annual Leave
Annual Leave to be advised at Job Offer Stage.
Superannuation
Membership of the HSE Employee Superannuation Scheme applies to this
appointment.
Existing Members who transferred to the HSE on 1 st January 2005 pursuant to
Section 60 of the Health Act 2004 are entitled to superannuation benefit terms
under the HSE Scheme which are no less favourable to those to which they were
entitled at 31st December 2004.
Appointees to posts in the Mental Health Services which formerly attracted fast
accrual of service should note that the terms of Section 65 of the Mental Treatment
Act 1945 do not apply to New Entrant Public Servants as defined by Section 12 of
the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004.
Probation
Every appointment of a person who is not already a permanent officer of the Health
Service Executive or of a Local Authority shall be subject to a probationary period of
12 months as stipulated in the Department of Health Circular No.10/71.
Ethics in Public
Office 1995 and
2001
Positions remunerated at or above the minimum point of the Grade VIII salary scale
(€ 64,812 as at 01.01.2010) are designated positions under Section 18 of the Ethics
in Public Office Act 1995. Any person appointed to a designated position must
comply with the requirements of the Ethics in Public Office Acts 1995 and 2001 as
outlined below;
Positions
remunerated at or
above the
minimum point of
the Grade VIII
salary scale (€
64,812 as at
01.01.2010)
A) In accordance with Section 18 of the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995, a person
holding such a post is required to prepare and furnish an annual statement of any
interests which could materially influence the performance of the official functions of
the post. This annual statement of interest should be submitted to the Chief
Executive Officer not later than 31st January in the following year.
B) In addition to the annual statement, a person holding such a post is required,
whenever they are performing a function as an employee of the HSE and have
actual knowledge, or a connected person, has a material interest in a matter to
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which the function relates, provide at the time a statement of the facts of that
interest. A person holding such a post should provide such statement to the Chief
Executive Officer. The function in question cannot be performed unless there are
compelling reasons to do so and, if this is the case, those compelling reasons must
be stated in writing and must be provided to the Chief Executive Officer.
C) A person holding such a post is required under the Ethics in Public Office Acts
1995 and 2001 to act in accordance with any guidelines or advice published or
given by the Standards in Public Office Commission. Guidelines for public servants
on compliance with the provisions of the Ethics in Public Office Acts 1995 and 2001
are available on the Standards Commission’s website http://www.sipo.gov.ie/
Infection Control
Have a working knowledge of Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA)
Standards as they apply to the role for example, Standards for Healthcare, National
Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections,
Hygiene Standards etc.
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