Helen Coppins Back
Sittingbourne,Kent
Summary
Experienced therapeutic radiographer and operational leader with over 15 years' experience working within specialist cancer services. Currently providing operational, governance and quality leadership within Kent Oncology Centre, a large multi-site oncology service serving approximately 1.8 million people across Kent and East Sussex. Combining frontline radiotherapy expertise with service improvement, workforce leadership and strategic development, I have a strong track record of delivering safe, effective and efficient patient-centred services within the NHS. Passionate about advancing the profession through innovation, sustainability and continuous improvement, with particular interests in service modernisation, workforce development, digital transformation and improving patient experience. Experienced in governance, risk management, operational performance, service redesign and multidisciplinary collaboration, with a proven ability to influence stakeholders and translate strategic priorities into measurable outcomes.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
8
8
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work history
Clinical Radiotherapy Specialist (Superintendent)
Kent Oncology Centre
Maidstone, Kent
2024.04 - 2026.06
- Directly line manage team of radiographers and provide matrix leadership across multidisciplinary teams.
- Apply extensive radiotherapy treatment expertise to support service development, pathway redesign, workforce planning and implementation of new technologies, ensuring changes are clinically credible and patient centred.
- Lead patient safety, governance and risk management processes across a radiotherapy service delivering approximately 5,500 treatments annually.
- Provide assurance through structured reporting of risk, safety, quality and performance to senior leadership and Divisional Board governance structures.
- Lead incident investigations, root cause analysis and organisational learning activities, including externally reportable incidents where required.
- Lead service transformation initiatives focused on demand, capacity, workforce sustainability and operational efficiency.
- Contribute to strategic planning through workforce redesign, pathway optimisation and capital investment programmes.
- Support achievement of national cancer waiting-time standards through effective capacity management, performance monitoring and operational oversight.
Senior Therapeutic Radiographer
Kent Oncology Centre
Canterbury, Kent
2020.05 - 2024.04
- Delivered advanced radiotherapy treatment and image-guided radiotherapy within a high-volume oncology service.
- Provided day-to-day leadership and supervision for radiographers, students and support staff.
- Supported service delivery through effective coordination of treatment capacity, patient flow and operational priorities.
- Contributed to governance, audit and quality assurance programmes to support continuous improvement and regulatory compliance.
- Participated in incident review, risk management and organisational learning processes.
- Supported implementation of new technologies, treatment techniques and pathway improvements.
- Contributed to staff and student development through supervision, mentoring and education.
Senior Research Radiographer
Kent Oncology Centre
Canterbury, Kent
2019.01 - 2021.09
- Coordinated delivery of commercial and non-commercial clinical trials across multiple tumour sites.
- Worked closely with principal investigators, sponsors, research networks and multidisciplinary teams to ensure safe and effective study delivery.
- Managed study finances, including negotiation of per-patient tariffs and recovery of research and excess treatment costs.
- Monitored recruitment performance and study activity to ensure contractual and operational targets were achieved.
- Supported implementation of new evidence and innovation into clinical practice through research activity.
- Maintained compliance with regulatory, governance and ethical standards across all research activity.
Therapeutic Radiographer
Kent Oncology Centre
Canterbury, Kent
2010.01 - 2020.05
- Delivered radiotherapy treatment and image guidance.
- Developed expertise across a range of treatment techniques, technologies and tumour pathways.
- Maintained compliance with patient safety, quality assurance and professional standards.
- Supported delivery of patient-centred care throughout the radiotherapy pathway.
- Contributed to service development, audit and quality improvement activities.
Education
PRINCE2 Foundation & Practitioner - Project Management
PeopleCert
2026.01 -
Level 7 Diploma - Strategic Leadership
CMI
UK 2025.05 - 2026.03
Rosalind Franklin NHS Leadership Programme - Healthcare leadership
Pearson TQ
UK 2025.05 - 2026.04
Level 5 Diploma - Leadership & Management
CMI
UK 2025.01 - 2025.06
Mary Seacole NHS Leadership Programme - Healthcare leadership
Pearson TQ
UK 2025.01 - 2025.10
Introductory Award in NHS Finance - Healthcare Finance
HFMA
UK 2025.01 - 2025.01
MSc Credits - Integrated Clinical Academic Programme
University of Kent
Canterbury 2020.09 - 2021.07
MSc Credits - Image Guided Radiotherapy
Sheffield Hallam University
Sheffield 2019.09 - 2020.09
BSc (Hons) - Therapeutic Radiography
University of London, St George's Hospital Medical School
London 2006.09 - 2009.09
Skills
- Operational leadership
- Radiotherapy service delivery
- Governance & risk management
- Patient safety & quality improvement
- Strategic planning
- Workforce leadership & development
- Performance & capacity management
- Stakeholder engagement & influencing
- Change management
- Research & innovation
Certification
- HCPC Registered Therapeutic Radiographer - RA63881
- Society and College of Radiographers - 72049
- Chartered Management Institute (CMI) - P05173794
Timeline
PRINCE2 Foundation & Practitioner - Project Management
PeopleCert
2026.01 -
Level 7 Diploma - Strategic Leadership
CMI
2025.05 - 2026.03
Rosalind Franklin NHS Leadership Programme - Healthcare leadership
Pearson TQ
2025.05 - 2026.04
Level 5 Diploma - Leadership & Management
CMI
2025.01 - 2025.06
Mary Seacole NHS Leadership Programme - Healthcare leadership
Pearson TQ
2025.01 - 2025.10
Introductory Award in NHS Finance - Healthcare Finance
HFMA
2025.01 - 2025.01
Clinical Radiotherapy Specialist (Superintendent)
Kent Oncology Centre
2024.04 - 2026.06
MSc Credits - Integrated Clinical Academic Programme
University of Kent
2020.09 - 2021.07
Senior Therapeutic Radiographer
Kent Oncology Centre
2020.05 - 2024.04
MSc Credits - Image Guided Radiotherapy
Sheffield Hallam University
2019.09 - 2020.09
Senior Research Radiographer
Kent Oncology Centre
2019.01 - 2021.09
Therapeutic Radiographer
Kent Oncology Centre
2010.01 - 2020.05
BSc (Hons) - Therapeutic Radiography
University of London, St George's Hospital Medical School
2006.09 - 2009.09