Careers and Training

Vacancies in the department are advertised on the NHS Jobs website.

The Clinical Technologists joining the department often come in through the Level 3/4 apprenticeship training programme, or through the Level 6 apprenticeship programme which uses the IPEM accredited distance learning degree course at the University of Western England. This course has four paths, covering:

Radiation engineering
Medical engineering
Renal technology
Rehabilitation engineering

Level 6 apprentice graduates are eligible to apply for senior Clinical Technologist roles and full membership of the IPEM Register of Clinical Technologists.

For professional development, we also have an in-house training programme for technologists. Staff who are working at this level are encouraged to apply to be registered Clinical Technologists by completing a portfolio of evidence of work they have done to demonstrate their achievements. The in-house training programme has been drawn up to help to create a suitable portfolio for this purpose. Work is underway to gain accreditation for this training programme through the Trust’s CPD scheme.

We offer a three year advanced apprenticeship in Medical Engineering. We work in partnership with JTL who are our training provider and the academic coursework is undertaken on day release at a local technical college. JTL assess and monitor the apprentice’s progress in the workplace. Workplace training supervision is provided by medical physics throughout the apprenticeship. Placements are in sections including Radiotherapy Engineering, Clinical Engineering and Diagnostic Imaging. Leaflets about Medical Engineering Apprenticeships are available to download.

At the end of the apprenticeship, trainees are ready to apply for Clinical Technologist vacancies as support technicians.

There are also professional routes available for people to enter the professional who have vocational / academic training who have not gone through an accredited course, but who have gained equivalent knowledge.

Most clinical scientists enter their career through a national training scheme, the Scientific Training Programme (STP). The scheme covers the whole of clinical science, from genetics, blood sciences and haematology to audiology, medical physics and clinical engineering. The intake to the scheme is in September/October each year, the selection process starts in the preceding January. Applicants apply online and are asked to nominate two specialisms / themes.

Some training centres specify the specialism if there is a particular workforce need, or if they can only train to specialism level in specific areas. In other training centres the specialism is not chosen until part way through the course.

Following a shortlisting procedure, applicants attend a national assessment centre in March/April where they have multiple interviews at which a candidate’s knowledge of physics/engineering and the NHS, leadership skills and communication skills are tested.

The training programme application procedures are notified via NHS careers website. The application process for the training scheme is normally open during the month of January.

Generally candidates need a 1st or upper second in physics or related subjects. If a lower second has been achieved, candidates additionally need an appropriate higher degree.

The Department hosts STP trainees in Medical Physics and in Clinical Engineering for the three year training scheme.

The scheme includes study towards an MSc in Clinical Science (Medical Physics specialism), or MSc in Clinical Science (Clinical Engineering specialism). Trainees have placements in different sections of the department where they gain experience in aspects of clinical science and leads to a Certificate of Competence from the Academy for Healthcare Science and ultimately registration with the Health and Care Professions Council HCPC as a Clinical Scientist.

The scheme is split into rotations (a taster of four areas) and then a specialism (one area is studied in depth). In Leeds, rotations take around 15 months including the first academic portion. The specialism then takes the remainder of the three year scheme. The Leeds trainees in medical physics attend Newcastle University. The trainees in clinical engineering attend Kings College, London.

Medical Physics areas are: