CAREERS IN RADIOTHERAPY

As a Clinical Scientist you will be involved in:  

• Commissioning, assessing, and ensuring the safe operation of specialist equipment used by Therapeutic Radiographers. 
• Planning and supervising radiotherapy treatment in discussion with medical and other staff. 
• Processing complex patient image data. 
• Supporting clinical trials. 
• Researching new equipment developments and techniques, reviewing existing local practice, advising on procurement of new equipment, and compiling reports to initiate changes.
• Overseeing the quality control of equipment to ensure that correct and consistent results or outputs are achieved.
•  Ensuring that ongoing maintenance routines are followed. 
• Lecturing and training other health professionals, including radiographers, nurses and doctors.

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science.
• 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including maths and physics.
• A degree that includes a high level of physics, for example, applied physics, physics and mathematics or astrophysics.
• An MSc in medical or radiation physics may also be required by some departments.

You would then complete one of the following to get registration with the HCPC:

• 3-year Scientists Training Programme (STP) run by the National School of Healthcare Science
• "Route 2" through in-work training, operated by the Association of clinical scientists, supported by IPEM’s clinical scientist guided training scheme
• STP equivalence, operated by the Academy of Healthcare Science

• The ability to work well under pressure.
• To be able to adapt to change.
• To work well as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Good communication skills.

 As a Clinical Technologist you will be involved in:  

• Producing routine and complex treatment plans, in accordance with relevant clinical protocols. 
• Checking that all patient images required to produce treatment plans are available. 
• Co-registering images from different sources; evaluating the validity of the co-registration. 
• Accurately outlining anatomical volumes from CT scans for Gross Tumour Volumes and Organs at Risk, where trained. 
• Advising clinical staff on the effects of various treatment plan options and patient dose distributions. 
• Checking treatment plans generated by other staff for accuracy and appropriateness prior to treatment commencing.
•  Assisting with the development of new techniques in conjunction with other staff groups and taking an active role in introducing new equipment and clinical techniques.

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) or equivalent, including English, maths and science.
• 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including maths and physics.
• BSc in Therapeutic Radiography.
• Optional: A BSc that includes a high level of physics, for example, applied physics, physics and mathematics or astrophysics.

You will be expected to register with the Register of Clinical Technologists by completing one of the following:

• The Clinical Technologist Training Scheme, operated by IPEM. 
• Healthcare Science Practitioner degree (Level 6) apprenticeship. 
• Practitioner Training Programme operated by the National School of Healthcare Science.

• The ability to work well under pressure.
• To be able to adapt to change.
• To work well as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Good communication skills.

As a Clinical Engineer you will be involved in:  

• Monitoring and testing radiotherapy equipment
• Calibrating devices, taking measurements, and readings to ensure that equipment and devices are safe to use.
• Maintaining, fault finding, and repairing complex radiotherapy machines.
• Maintaining accurate records of the condition of specialist medical devices and any safety checks, repairs, and tests that have taken place.
• Working closely with other professionals e.g., Therapeutic Radiographers and Clinical Scientists.
• Using software to diagnose, calibrate, and repair computer systems used in radiotherapy.

•  5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths, and science.
• 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including maths and physics.
• Optional: BSc in physics or engineering. 

• The ability to work well under pressure.
• To be able to adapt to change.
• To work well as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Good communication skills.