Genetic Counsellor | Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
| Posting date: | 30 April 2024 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Not specified |
| Additional salary information: | £51,488 - £57,802 per annum incl. HCA |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 30 May 2024 |
| Location: | London, SE1 9RT |
| Company: | Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust |
| Job type: | Contract |
| Job reference: | 6193256/196-LIS8410 |
Summary
We are looking for experienced, enthusiastic and confident Genetic Counsellor to join our dynamic and autonomously working team. With a focus on high quality clinical practice, flexibility and team working, we welcome applications from suitable candidates to support our growing portfolio of genetic counselling initiatives.
Applicants must have a recognised genetic counselling qualification (MSc) and GCRB Registration or eligibility to register within the next 2 years.
Applicants who have sufficient experience and the appropriate qualifications to be eligible to work towards registration may be employed at Annexe U/Band 6 level (Search GCRB Org). Evidence of delivering a Band 7 Genetic Counsellor case load will be required for those aspiring to
this level. The post holder will have an autonomous caseload covering cancer genetics. The post holder will work as part of a strong multidisciplinary team and be required to interact with other specialties across the Trust to enable mainstreaming, embedded and multi-disciplinary clinics and educational initiatives.
The team of Genetic Counsellors, Nurses, Clinical Psychologists and Research Practitioners constitutes a key part of this busy and well
supported service.
Undertake an autonomous case load of patients referred into the cancer genetic counselling team including genetic testing and relevant
management.
Contribute to the education and training of trainees, colleagues and wider multidisciplinary team in cancer genetics.
Practice according to departmental and trust policies.
Maintain professional registration and proactively utilise counselling supervision to maintain personal and professional boundaries and
development.
Contribute to and undertake clinical audits, QIPS, SOPs, patient leaflets and other protocols as needed by the service.
Comply with trust clinical governance processes, undertake risk reporting and maintain patient safety.
The Genetic Counselling team is based within the Clinical Genetics Department at Guy’s Hospital but undertake clinical activity through a
combination of virtual and in person appointments across our region including travelling to peripheral sites. All take part in teaching at
undergraduate and postgraduate level and many are active in national and international organisations. There are opportunities to be involved in
research and audit, with an expectation that work will be presented at national and international conferences and meetings. Genetic Counsellor
Registration is actively promoted. However, the department has a long-standing reputation for being a stimulating, challenging and happy
environment committed to developing our staff and providing excellent clinical services. The team has a national and international reputation for
high standards of practice and patient care. International collaborations with countries developing genetic counselling services is supported
through commercial ventures. Genetic Counsellors also lead and deliver several formal courses that attract an international audience. The team is
known for being forward thinking, dynamic and autonomous. A supportive and accountable environment with a clear team ethos lies at the core of
the genetic counselling team that also has the richness of clinical psychology, research nurses and family history nursing colleagues within it.
Duties and Responsibilities
Communication with patients and families
Elicit client’s concerns and expectations and accurately document client’s detailed family history.
Interpret medical, family and psychological history and confirm diagnoses.
Communicate genetic information to patients and their relatives, taking responsibility for communication and applying current or new scientific
information for the benefit of the family and identifying changes of risk within the family.
Identify and respond to emerging issues for the client or family.
Interpret and communicate normal and abnormal genetic test results to patients and their health care professionals.
Organise, lead or partake in co-counselling with colleagues to provide predictive testing.
Expertly communicate highly sensitive and potentially psychologically damaging information, which may cause high levels of distress such as
giving a positive predictive testing result for hereditary cancer.
Communicate with patients who are bereaved and provide support, e.g. around termination of pregnancy. Liaise with relevant colleagues to
arrange termination of pregnancy following an abnormal prenatal result, referrals for risk reducing surgery and cancer surveillance.
Use advanced counselling skills to counsel patients about various testing options and to facilitate decision-making.
Identify and manage conflict within families created by sensitive genetic information.
Manage conflict when patients’ demands are incompatible to professional responsibilities and resource.
Deal with patients who have great difficulty accepting a clinical diagnosis or a genetic test result.
Use advanced counselling skills to communicate sensitively in the presence of language, cultural and/or medical issues. Work with interpreters.
Prepare and dictate letters to patients summarising clinic discussions and giving test results.
Develop and utilise patient information leaflets in the Departmental series.
Communication with Colleagues
Liaise with laboratory colleagues to order genetic tests and discuss complex test results that are difficult to interpret.
Liaise regionally, nationally and internationally with other laboratories, departments of histology, surgery, screening, psychiatry, and cancer care to
obtain and provide information.
Liaise with colleagues in other genetic centres to obtain and provide information and to establish understanding and cooperation.
Prepare and dictate letters to referring clinicians and other health professionals.
Liaise and defer to medical colleagues about issues that have diagnostic or clinical complexity.
Obtain information from other cancer specialities to enhance patient care within genetics.
Discuss cases with ethical complexity with colleagues where appropriate.
Educational Activities
Interviewer information pack
Duties and Responsibilities of the Trainee:
To learn and practise under supervision the values and principles of teamwork as a team member, supervised in each section of the training and
on call rota.
To agree learning objectives and review performance with the supervisor in each section and meet the leaning contract requirements as agreed
with the named supervisor and line manager.
To develop the required knowledge, skills and attitudes of a genetic counsellor eligible to register with the GCRB in accordance with the GCRB
competency framework and code of conduct/ adhere to the HCPC standards of conduct, performance and ethics/ adhere to the AGNC code of
ethics (as applicable).
To maintain practice within the stipulated GCRB Scope of Practice document and seek timely advice from colleagues when needed.
To compile and produce a portfolio of evidence to meet the assessment requirements of the GCRB in order to become eligible to submit an
intention to register.
To produce a portfolio using genetic counselling practice work based evidence for assessment against the competency framework as stipulated
by the GCRB.
To learn and practice effective communication skills and attitudes towards patients, team members and all stakeholders.
To work collaboratively with and contribute to the daily routine of the genetic counselling team.
Present findings of research, audit and clinical practice to large groups of staff or members of the public, within the Trust, regionally, nationally, or
internationally.
Participate in the teaching of genetics to medical personnel, other health care professionals and members of the public.
Actively contribute to and help develop the annual cancer genetics course for healthcare professionals which is delivered by the Consultant
Genetic Counsellor in Cancer Genetics.
Prepare and present scientific articles in clinical and departmental journal clubs and study days.
Act as an educational resource for medical and other personnel attached to the clinical genetics team.
Patient/Client Care
Calculate risks of patients and families being affected by various genetic disorders, the risks of recurrence and the carrier risks, risk of further
primary cancers and have a discussion about competing risk. This can involve making decisions where expert opinion differs or some information
is unavailable. In order to do this; source and interpret complex scientific papers and genetic test results.
Assess patients to determine where there is need for referral to specialist therapeutic counselling, psychiatric assessment or screening, and make
appropriate referrals.
Act as duty genetic counsellor for enquiries from patients and health professionals.
Take responsibility for accepting referrals from GPs, nurses, hospital doctors and other health care professionals and prioritising action
accordingly.
Phlebotomy.
Order genetic and biochemical tests as clinically appropriate and in line with department policies obtain appropriate approvals for specific tests.
Planning & Organisation
Manage an individual caseload autonomously. Pre-registration Genetic Counsellors will be able to work towards this within a mutually agreed time
frame.
Arrange for blood samples taken outside the Trust to be transported to Guy’s (or elsewhere) as appropriate.
Based upon each family member’s specific risk of developing/carrying a condition, develop a programme of care for the patient. This may involve
referring to multiple specialities. Provide information on the care of other family members, to identify at-risk relatives and advice on how they
could obtain genetic counselling or screening.
Act as named genetics supervisor to Breast, Bowel or Gynaecological-Oncology Care nurse(s) in Family History Clinic at local hospital(s) in the
region.
Policy and Service Development
Within areas of speciality design protocols and polices with guidance from colleagues, Clinical Genetic associations and Department of Health
Policies.
Information Resources
Interviewer information pack
Ensure that all clinical documents are up-to-date, accurate, legible and appropriately filed.
Use available IT resources to accurately send standard and non-standard letters and other communications as appropriate.
Accurately record data on patient information systems and use the in-house databases.
Occasional requirement to create databases or spreadsheets using computerised systems.
Staff Supervision & Training
Contribute to clinical supervision and training of Specialist Trainee Genetic Counsellors and MSc students, Lab trainees and Visiting Professional
Programme participants where appropriate. This will be based on level of experience.
Be the named Genetic Counsellor supporting our family history nurses and participate in the training and supervision of nurses new to the family
history role.
Research and Development
Design and implement audit of clinical genetics to maintain clinical governance and audit profile of department.
Access and interpret literature reviews relating to clinical practice.
General Patient Care
See patients and their families in clinics at Guys and St Thomas’ Hospitals, or peripheral clinics elsewhere in the Region, in GP surgeries or in
their own homes as appropriate.
Ensure that the views of patients, or those speaking on their behalf, are well received; and that complaints, both formal and informal, are received
courteously and responded to promptly according to Trust guidelines.
Maintain a good working environment in which patients receive a high standard of care.
Ensure that standards of care are maintained and that effective procedures exist to assess and review the quality of services offered regularly.
Maintain the safety and well-being of patients and staff in accordance with the Health and Safety Policy, and ensure that all accidents/incidents
are reported and documented.
Self Development
Take personal responsibility for continuing professional self-development (together with the Genetic Counsellor Team Lead) and keep up-to-date
with changes in the practice of genetic counselling.
Attend monthly team counselling supervision sessions to discuss difficult cases with group and the supervisor taking a proactive approach.
Comply with the agreed department consultative supervision contract and the GCRB counselling supervision guidelines.
Actively utilise counselling supervision to develop psychosocial skills, self-awareness, reflective practice and for resilience building.
Actively contribute to lab clinic meetings, genetic counsellor internal CPD meetings and other educational events relevant to area of practice.
Pre-registration Genetic Counsellors will be expected to achieve GCRB registration within 3-4 years of taking up post (based on skills,
competencies and performance which will be negotiated with their line manager)
GCRB Registered Genetic Counsellors will be expected to maintain their continuous professional development in line with GCRB renewal of
registration guidelines and contribute to the professional development of pre-registration colleagues in conjunction with the Principal Genetic
Counsellors.
This advert closes on Wednesday 8 May 2024