Job overview

This role offers an exciting opportunity to be part of the radiotherapy team at UCLH, and to also become a key member of the UCLH head and neck-oncology service. Our head and neck-oncology patients are currently treated with advanced photon radiotherapy techniques.
The post holder will provide care to patients receiving treatment in both the photon and proton departments. This role will enable patients to have access to a key-worker who will provide highly specialised support in technical radiotherapy treatment planning, delivery and toxicity management. This support will be available for patients and their families through their Radiotherapy journey.
This post holder will have the specialist technical expertise to plan and deliver this complex pathway, combined with sustained patient contact over several weeks. Their knowledge, skill, care and support are essential to ensuring that the outcomes and experiences of patients are as successful and as positive as possible.

This post would work alongside the wider MDT, as well as colleagues in other Trust and primary care, to develop services to further support patients and their families, improving results both in terms of patient experience and disease outcome. The role would increase the availability, reliability and level of support for this patient group and therefore enable a more equitable service provision. Comprehensive proton beam therapy training will be provided.

Main duties of the job

This is an autonomous role where the post holder is expected to manage their own case-load and is accountable for their own professional actions and the actions of more junior staff members. They will provide professional clinical leadership leading on the care of our head and neck patients and be an integral part of the oncology team.
They will be recognised and accessible as an expert in head and neck radiotherapy, promoting best practice, giving expert advice to patients and carers, and disseminating knowledge to the profession and wider multi discipline team.
The post holder will be required to evaluate daily, the patient condition and accurate set-up, drawing on expert knowledge and experience to intervene and problem solve where necessary. They will also be responsible for identifying and setting standards. They will ensure that staff are kept up to date with current treatment techniques and ongoing developments. They will play a key role in the overall pathway management of head and neck patients within the radiotherapy service and for meeting national and local targets. They will ensure national and trust guidelines and directives are implemented and monitored. 
They will develop policies and protocols and will play an active role in research and in exploring and developing new ways of working to achieve the tri-fold goal of the service: improving quality of radiotherapy treatment, improving patient care, and improving staff satisfaction.        

Working for our organisation

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.  

We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:  

·       University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)  

·       National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery  

·       Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital  

·       Eastman Dental Hospital  

·       Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine  

·       University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre  

·       The Hospital for Tropical Diseases  

·       University College Hospitals at Westmoreland Street  

We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women’s health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.  

At UCLH, we have a real ‘One Team’ ethos, and our values – safety, kindness, teamwork and improving, are central to the way we work. This is supported by our staff, who voted us as the #1 NHS Acute Trust to work for in the whole of England.