Principal Genetic Counsellor

Job summary

The Principal Genetic Counsellor is a senior autonomous practitioner responsible for delivering, developing and leading specialist genetic counselling services within Prenatal and Rare Disease Genomics. The post holder will provide expert genetic counselling, risk assessment, genomic test coordination and clinical management of a highly specialised caseload, supporting individuals, couples and families with, or at risk of, genetic conditions.

Working as an integral member of the multidisciplinary Clinical Genetics Service, the post holder will provide leadership for prenatal and rare disease pathways, contributing to strategic service development, workforce development, education, audit, research and quality improvement. The role will involve close collaboration with fetal medicine, obstetric, maternity, neonatal, paediatric, laboratory and other specialist services across the region to ensure timely access to genomic testing and genetic counselling.

high-quality, equitable and patient-centred genomic services across the regional network.

Main duties of the job

1. Clinical Expertise

• Independently manage a specialist caseload in prenatal and rare disease genetics.
• Undertake genetic counselling consultations, risk assessment and psychosocial evaluation.
• Provide counselling on inheritance, reproductive options, genomic testing and genetic diagnoses.

2. Prenatal and Rare Disease Genomics

• Deliver specialist counselling for individuals and families affected by rare genetic conditions.
• Support implementation of genomic testing pathways and family testing strategies in line with national guidance.

3. Clinical Leadership and Service Development

• Provide professional leadership within prenatal and rare disease genetic counselling services.
• Lead development, implementation and evaluation of clinical pathways

4. Triage and Clinical Governance

• Lead referral triage and case review processes.
• Ensure compliance with professional standards, national guidance and organisational policies.

5. Education and Workforce Development

• Supervise, mentor and support Genetic Counsellors, trainees and genomic staff.
• Contribute to professional registration and assessment pathways.

6. Management Responsibilities

• Support the Consultant Lead Genetic Counsellor in workforce leadership and service development.
• Provide advice and reports on service performance, capacity and workforce needs.

7. Research, Audit and Professional Responsibility

• Support evidence-based practice, audit and service improvement.
• Present service developments and research outcomes.

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:

o 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

o St Mark's Hospital: an internationally renowned specialist centre for bowel disease

o 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

o 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 responsibilities

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

Person specification

Education/ qualifications

Essential

• oMaster's degree in Genetic Counselling or equivalent with advanced knowledge and clinical expertise in prenatal and/or rare disease genomic
• oGCRB/AHCS/HCPC registration
• oDemonstrates has met the criteria for Band 8A AGNC Genetic Counsellor - see www.agnc.org.uk (Agenda for Change endorsed career structure

Desirable

• oLeadership qualification

Knowledge and experience

Essential

• oUtilises advanced counselling skills in working with people who are distressed
• oExperience of multidisciplinary working with fetal medicine, obstetric, neonatal, paediatric and laboratory teams
• oProven ability to educate both genetic professionals and other healthcare professionals
• oExperience managing complex counselling situations involving uncertainty, reproductive decision-making and psychosocial complexity
• oExperience of pathway development, service improvement and clinical leadership
• oExperience supervising, mentoring or training genetics professionals, trainees or students.

Desirable

• oPrevious line management experience
• oGCRAB Sign off Mentor and / or experience as a training officer for Genomic counsellor STP programme
• oExperience implementing prenatal genomics service developments at regional level.

Skills, abilities and attributes

Essential

• oWorks within AGNC code of ethics and the GCRAB Code of Conduct and Scope of Practice
• oAbility to work effectively as a Team leader
• oExcellent communication skills and sensitivity to needs of others
• oExcellent interpersonal skills.
• oStrong sense of responsibility, integrity, and commitment to service delivery.
• oAble to work cooperatively with others, sharing knowledge and supporting colleagues to achieve shared goals.
• oAbility to recognise personal and professional boundaries.
• oEffective and flexible time management skills
• oAbility to review current literature and develop and implement clinical policies.
• oGood IT skills

Desirable

• oPrevious line management experience

HEART values

Essential

• Demonstrate commitment to Trust HEART values - Honesty, Equity, Accountability, Respect, and Teamwork