Genetic Counsellor @ London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Genetic/Genomic Counsellor to join the North West Thames Regional Genetics Service (NWTRGS) Cancer Genetics Team. The post holder will provide a comprehensive, equitable and person-centred genetic counselling service for individuals and families with, or at risk of, inherited cancer predisposition.

This is a full-time, fixed-term Band 7 post for 12 months to provide maternity leave cover. The post holder will support continuity and capacity within the Cancer Genetics Team and will autonomously manage a varied caseload that may include diagnostic, predictive, presymptomatic and urgent cancer genetics cases.

The post holder will undertake cancer risk assessment, arrange appropriate genomic testing, interpret and communicate results, and coordinate referral to relevant screening, surveillance and specialist management pathways. They will contribute to cancer genetics advice and guidance, multidisciplinary meetings, mainstreaming pathways and the on-call service according to competence and service need.

Main duties of the job

o Manage an autonomous cancer genetics caseload, including diagnostic, predictive, presymptomatic and urgent cases.

o Provide genetic/genomic counselling through face-to-face, video and telephone consultations, including preparation, follow-up and coordination of care.

o Elicit and interpret detailed medical and three-generation family histories and maintain accurate pedigrees using approved clinical systems.

o Assess inheritance patterns and cancer risks using appropriate evidence, clinical information and validated risk-assessment tools.

o Explain testing options, possible outcomes, limitations and uncertainty, and facilitate informed, voluntary and non-directive decision-making.

o Arrange and, where authorised, request genomic tests in line with the National Genomic Test Directory, local pathways and professional scope of practice.

o Interpret and communicate results, including complex or uncertain findings, and coordinate appropriate follow-up, cascade testing and referral.

o Participate in the cancer genetics on-call rota and respond to urgent enquiries and time-sensitive treatment-related testing.

o Contribute to referral triage and advice and guidance within agreed competencies and approved protocols.

o Prepare for and participate in multidisciplinary meetings, presenting cases and documenting agreed actions.

o Contribute to teaching, supervision, audit, quality improvement, pathway development and research.

About us

London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust (LNWH) cares for the people of Brent, Ealing, Harrow and beyond.

Our team of more than 8,200 clinical and support staff serve a diverse population of almost one million people.

We run major acute services at:

• Northwick Park Hospital: home to one of the busiest emergency departments (A&E) in the country. The hospital provides a full range of services including the country's top-rated hyper-acute stroke unit and one of only three hyper-acute rehabilitation units in the UK
• St Mark's Hospital: an internationally renowned specialist centre for bowel disease
• Ealing Hospital: a busy district general hospital providing a range of clinical services, as well as 24/7 emergency department and urgent care centre, and specialist care at Meadow House Hospice
• Central Middlesex Hospital: our planned care site, hosting a range of surgical and outpatient services and collocated with an urgent care centre.

We are a university teaching NHS trust, in recognition of the important role we play in training clinicians of the future and bringing the benefits of research to the public.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To view the main responsibility, please see the attached the Job Description and Person Specification.

Person Specification

Education/ qualifications

Essential

• First degree in relevant subject and MSc in Genetic Counselling OR Graduate Nurse or Midwife with two years post-registration experience plus counselling skills training of at least 120 hours and an accredited genetics science course of at least 30 hours
• Registered Genetic Counsellor with AHCS: if not AHCS Registered, appointment on band 6 is possible with the expectation that Registration is obtained within 3 years of appointment. OR Registered Genetic Counsellor (clinical scientist) with the HCPC OR Registered with an overseas body which has a reciprocity agreement in place with the GCRAB / AHCS and be willing to commit to register with the AHCS within 1-2 years of appointment.

Desirable

• Counselling skills qualification
• Recognised qualification or training relevant to clinical supervision, teaching or assessment.

Knowledge and experience

Essential

• Post-qualification or equivalent supervised experience in genetic/genomic counselling, including autonomous or progressively autonomous caseload management.
• Demonstrable knowledge and clinical experience in cancer genetics.
• Experience of family-history assessment, pedigree interpretation, cancer risk assessment, informed consent, arranging genomic tests and communicating results.
• Experience of complex, sensitive or time-critical clinical situations and multidisciplinary working.
• Understanding of professional scope of practice, confidentiality, consent, safeguarding, clinical governance and data protection.

Desirable

• Previous experience at Band 7 or equivalent.
• Experience of diagnostic, predictive or presymptomatic cancer testing, mainstreaming pathways, urgent treatment-related testing or specialist cancer clinics.
• Experience of advice and guidance, referral triage, on-call work, audit, quality improvement, pathway development, research or teaching.
• Experience supporting trainees or students.

Skills, abilities and attributes

Essential

• Advanced counselling, communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate highly complex and distressing information clearly and sensitively.
• Ability to work autonomously, make accountable clinical decisions, recognise limitations and escalate appropriately.
• Ability to prioritise a varied caseload, respond to urgent work and maintain safe tracking and documentation.
• Ability to critically appraise evidence and apply professional guidance, national testing criteria and local protocols.
• Ability to work effectively across professional and organisational boundaries.
• Commitment to non-directive practice, informed decision-making, equity, inclusion and accessible communication.
• Competent use of clinical, pedigree, risk-assessment, communication and office IT systems.
• Commitment to continuing professional development, reflective practice and regular genetic counselling supervision

Desirable

• Ability to teach genetic and non-genetic healthcare professionals.
• Ability to lead or coordinate a defined pathway, MDT activity, audit or improvement project.
• Experience using CanRisk or other relevant cancer risk-assessment and genomic information systems.

HEART values

Essential

• Demonstrates commitment to Trust HEART values: honesty, equity, accountability, respect and teamwork.
• Demonstrates commitment to placing quality at the heart of patient care and professional practice.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust

Address

Clinical Genetics - North West Thames, Regional Genetics Centre

Northwick Park Hospital, Watford Road

Harrow

HA1 3UJ

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.lnwh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)