Genetic Counsellor

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for two Genetic/Genomic Counsellors to join the North West Thames Regional Genetics Service (NWTRGS). The post holders will deliver a comprehensive, equitable and person-centred genetic counselling service for individuals and families with, or at risk of, rare and inherited conditions.

The substantive posts will be based primarily within the Rare Disease and Prenatal Team. The post holders will autonomously manage a varied caseload, with a particular focus on prenatal, reproductive and rare disease genomics, including urgent and time-sensitive referrals. They will contribute to the rare disease and prenatal on-call service and work closely with Clinical Geneticists, fetal medicine, obstetric, maternity, neonatal, paediatric, laboratory and other specialist teams across the region.

To support service resilience and changing departmental priorities, the post holders may also undertake cancer genetics work appropriate to their competence, experience and agreed scope of practice. The balance of duties may change in response to service need, with appropriate induction, supervision and professional support.

The post holders will practise as autonomous Band 7 Genetic/Genomic Counsellors, maintaining professional registration and up-to-date scientific, clinical, ethical and psychosocial knowledge. They will support informed decision-making, coordinate appropriate genomic testing and follow-up, contribute to education, audit, service improvement and research, and promote accessible genomic care across the regional network.

Main duties of the job

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• Manage an autonomous caseload of rare disease, prenatal and reproductive genetics cases, with cancer genetics activity undertaken where required to meet service needs and within competence.
• Provide genetic/genomic counselling through face-to-face, video, telephone and, where appropriate, written or digital pathways, including preparation, consultation, follow-up and coordination of care.
• Elicit and interpret detailed medical, obstetric and three-generation family histories; construct and maintain accurate pedigrees using approved clinical systems.
• Assess inheritance patterns, recurrence risks, carrier risks and implications for the individual and wider family, integrating clinical, genomic and psychosocial information.
• Explain testing options, possible outcomes, limitations, uncertainty and reproductive choices, and facilitate informed, voluntary and non-directive decision-making.
• Arrange and, where authorised, request appropriate genomic tests in line with the National Genomic Test Directory, local pathways and professional scope of practice.
• Interpret and communicate genomic results, including uncertain or complex findings, and coordinate appropriate follow-up, cascade testing, referral, management advice and signposting.
• Participate in the rare disease and prenatal on-call rota, responding to urgent enquiries and coordinating time-sensitive cases, results and referrals.
• Contribute to referral triage and advice and guidance within an agreed area of expertise and according to approved protocols, escalating complexity appropriately.
• Prepare for and participate in relevant multidisciplinary meetings, presenting cases clearly and documenting agreed outcomes and actions.
• Maintain accurate, timely and contemporaneous records, correspondence, activity data and a safe caseload tracking system.
• Work collaboratively with mainstream services and act as a specialist resource for healthcare professionals, patients, families and relevant support organisations.
• Contribute to teaching, supervision, audit, quality improvement, pathway development, research and the implementation of evidence-based practice.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.