Clinical Scientist | The Christie NHS Foundation Trust

Posting date:	04 March 2026
Salary:	Not specified
Additional salary information:	£38,682 - £46,580 Per annum, Pro rata
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	03 April 2026
Location:	Manchester, M20 4BX
Company:	The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
Job type:	Contract
Job reference:	7849232/413-103013-CMPE-DA

Summary

JOB OVERVIEW:
Give a brief overview of the role, what it takes and why this person would work for you.
You have a limit of 1500 characters, including spaces The Imaging Physics & Radiation Protection group within Christie Medical Physics & Engineering are seeking a trainee Clinical Scientist to join our growing team of 30 scientists, technologists and administrators. We deliver scientific support to mainly NHS clinical radiology departments in the North West of England.

This is a 4-year fixed term ‘Route 2’ training post, to facilitate development of a portfolio for state registration as a HCPC Clinical Scientist in Diagnostic Radiology and Radiation Protection. The trainee must be self-motivated and driven to gain state registration. The portfolio is generated through work in the field and as such this is a working trainee post, though time ‘off the job’ will be given for the academic component. Successful completion of registration will make a suitable candidate highly employable as a band 7 Clinical Scientist, as the profession seeks to double the workforce.

Candidates should have scientific and interpersonal skills. Good communication and proactive team working is essential.

A current driving license is essential as frequent travel is necessary in this role.

You will be involved in the CMPE RPA body (recognised by the Health and Safety Executive under the requirements of IRR17), providing radiation protection advice to diagnostic and interventional radiology/cardiology departments and dental practitioners. Typical work includes advice on facility design, personal dosimetry, risk assessments and local rules.

You will be heavily involved in the performance and safety assessment of X-ray equipment and the provision of Medical Physics Expert support for diagnostic radiology departments. Work will include undertaking patient dosimetry, optimisation of dose and image quality, digital imaging, computed tomography, interventional and cardiac imaging, mammography, bone densitometry and equipment calibrations.

Teaching small groups is fairly common and occasionally presenting to large audiences on the topic of radiation protection of diagnostic radiology is required.

An MSc in Medical Physics and/or relevant experience in imaging physics or radiation protection is essential. There is an academic component of registration that must either be achieved already or gained during the employment e.g. through undertaking a MSc in Medical Physics (we will fund this). Those with relevant skills without the relevant qualifications or experience should look into the national Scientist Training Programme (STP) or consider the Healthcare Science Practitioner pathway for a more technically focused career pathway in the Healthcare Science team.

The Christie is one of Europe’s leading cancer centres, treating over 60,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 15% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country.

We provide radiotherapy through one of the largest radiotherapy departments in the world; chemotherapy on site and through 14 other hospitals; highly specialist surgery for complex and rare cancer; and a wide range of support and diagnostic services. We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years.

We run one of the largest early clinical trial units in Europe with over 300 trials every year. Cancer research in Manchester, most of which is undertaken on the Christie site, has been officially ranked the best in the UK.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Management
• Plans own varied workload to meet deadlines, prioritising and responding to new demands as they come in.
• Contribute to ensuring the quality of the diagnostic and radiation protection service as required and as directed by line manager or group leader.
• Participate in the QMS for the group. Ensures implementation of policies, proposes changes to practices for work area.
• Assist with the group’s internal audits.
• Supervise and train less experienced healthcare science staff (assistants, associates, practitioners and scientists) as required and appropriate.
• Coordinate workload with internal staff (e.g. managers, customer leads and survey booker) and external staff (e.g. customer contacts) as required to ensure the smooth delivery of the service.
• Participate in generic shared group roles such as Health & Safety checks or course organisation as required.

2. Specialist areas
• Take a lead in the coordination (e.g. planning and organising) and development (with guidance and oversight) of services in one of the group’s areas of activity as required and as appropriate: for example, the online QA system, calibrations etc.
• It is expected that expertise will be developed in at least one modality in regard to Quality Assurance testing, clinical understanding of the use of the equipment and customer needs along with the radiation protection framework associated with the modality (IRR, IRMER, professional guidance etc). Learning should be shared with the team.

3. Scientific support to diagnostic radiology
• Provide scientific advice (within the QMS and scope of practice) to departments of radiology, including advice on local quality control measurements and assistance in reviewing departments’ quality control results.
• Undertake, as necessary, critical examinations, commissioning tests and quality control measurements on the full range of x-ray equipment, to ensure that it is safe to use on patients and is capable of providing the required clinical information. This will involve accurate positioning and methodical use of test objects.
• Be responsible for data entry and processing for equipment testing results or radiation protection assessments etc. Provide timely written reports in line with group Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and give advice to radiographers, radiologists and others.
• Liaise with manufacturers’ representatives where necessary.
• Assess and provide advice (within the QMS and scope of practice) on doses and risks to patients in routine and research procedures.
• Provide dose estimates and reports for accidental and unintended exposures.

4. Radiation protection
• Assist (within the QMS and scope of practice) in the provision of Medical Physics Expert support to NHS and independent sector healthcare establishments, with specific emphasis on the optimisation of patient dose and image quality and assist departments in resolving problems in these areas.
• Provide radiation protection advice (within the QMS and scope of practice) and support to specified Trusts and private hospitals, to help ensure that they meet their statutory obligations.
• Draft reports to radiation/imaging management meetings and attend.
• Undertake radiation facility assessments and prepare reports to be signed off by the Radiation Protection Adviser.
• Draft radiation protection documents such as risk assessments and local rules.
• Undertake calibrations of equipment as required.

5. Research, teaching and training
• Provide physics teaching for the department’s teaching commitments as appropriate to grade and experience e.g. the radiation protection courses.
• Undertake research and development work aimed at improving the service in line with group needs.
• Present results of research and development work at appropriate meetings.
• Participate in outreach events that the group undertake such as the CMPE open evening or IPEM big bang events etc.




6. Professional
• Staff development to undertake the role will be provided and it is expected that the successful candidate develops a body of evidence to achieve registration as a clinical scientist.
• Meet the competencies required: DOC-ACS018-Rev06-Specific-Competences-Medical-Physics-Clinical-Engineering.pdf
• This post is a scientific post with a clear need for high level scientific ability and self-drive to follow a training plan and complete competencies within a suitable timeframe. This will be trainee driven.
• Keep abreast of developments in the field and undertake continued professional development (self-directed and as directed by your line manager).
• Follow the appropriate key work instructions, risk assessments and systems of work and ensure direct supervision of those you are responsible for until they are competent.
• Take responsibility for own learning and development by recognising and taking advantage of all opportunities to learn, including appraisal, supervision, academic course and problem-based learning.
• Follow, monitor and develop your training plan in conjunction with training supervisor and produce portfolio of evidence for submission to ACS.
• Collaborate with all other members of the group and radiology staff as required.
• Be able to communicate complex information.
• Frequent requirement for concentration for long periods (with interruptions). Dealing with multiple workstreams simultaneously.
• Work under pressure with demanding workload. This includes the ability to prioritise based on risk and clinical need.
• Comply with the Data Protection Act, respecting confidentiality.
• Follow group expectations on professional conduct and working culture.


This advert closes on Wednesday 18 Mar 2026

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