Genomics Associate

Job content

The primary duty of the post holder will be to work with the Guy’s Clinical Genetics service and the Guy’s Urological cancer services to develop, embed and facilitate a robust pathway between the two services which enables the offer of tumour and germline genetic testing to eligible patients with Urological cancers at the point of care. Working closely with the Lead Urology Clinical Nurse Specialist, Consultant Genetic Counsellor in Cancer Genetics and Medical Oncologists, the Genomic Associate will help develop local pathways for patient contact, information dissemination and consent, supported by meticulous record keeping to ensure decisions are captured and communicated according to departmental and national guidance. The Genomics Associate will be responsible for the tracking of patients in this pathway to facilitate the process of germline genetic testing for this group of patients. They will ensure results are returned to the appropriate clinician in a streamlined pathway. The development of written material such as standard operating procedures, educational material and leaflets will also be required.

The vacancy may be closed early if sufficient applications are received.

• This role is an enabler of point of care access to genomic testing for patients with prostate cancer
• The postholder will work closely with the project team to deliver the project aims including capturing metrics, conducting audits and reviewing clinical trial data
• Development of pathways between clinical cancer services and the Genomic Laboratory Hub (GLH) to facilitate clarity and consistency of a high quality pathway delivering the national genomic test directory criteria
• Working closely with the project lead and collaborators to align priorities by taking a proactive approach to agreed actions.
• Be patient centred and consider the impact of actions on care.
• Work within scope of practice and under guidance from colleagues.
• Be a key link between urology and cancer genetics.
• Schedule meetings, patient appointments and other forums.

The Department of Clinical Genetics at Guy’s Hospital is one of the busiest in the UK. It is comprised of an extensive team of genetic counsellors and clinical geneticists. With responsibility for providing genetic services for the South-East Thames region of five million people, we offer general and highly specialist input. We deliver general, paediatric and cancer genetic services, and conduct a wide range of genetic counselling clinics, including community-based cancer family history risk assessments.

Embedded in the Genomic Medicine Centre – South London, the department benefits from recent advancements in high-throughput DNA diagnostic analysis, delivered in conjunction with long-standing core cytogenetic, molecular and biochemical genetic laboratory services. We have established new clinical practices to keep patients and their families informed of new testing strategies in genetic conditions, and help them through the consent process.

We offer training at multiple levels, accommodating the needs of different trainees, clinical and scientific, whilst encouraging and supporting life-long learning across the department.

Individuals joining us will benefit from the wealth of experience they will acquire through working in this innovative team built on a long-established clinical genetics service.

1. Administrative and Clinical responsibilities

• Taking samples (blood and saliva) for genetic testing.
• Obtaining family history information in order to transcribe pedigrees onto computer systems.
• Facilitating patient access, including establishing if patient wants to be seen, supporting minority populations to access services, supporting patients with disabilities/audio/visual impairment to access services, contacting patients to explain what tumour and germline genetic testing can offer, arranging interpreters when needed.
• Facilitating patient access to leaflets, signposting to existing resources.
• Acting as a chaperone in clinic.
• Arranging measurements for patients in clinic, e.g. taking patient’s weight and height
• Responsible for specific and appropriate departmental tasks, e.g. clinical ordering.
• Under instructions from higher bands, collect medical records, request/process samples (e.g. tumour blocks), collect lab reports in preparation for clinic.
• Releasing records to other departments after checking appropriate permissions are in place to do so.
• Monitoring outstanding records/samples/screening and actioning appropriately.
• Administrative support to the Genetic Counsellors and Urology Clinical Nurse Specialists.
• Taking family history, medical history, surgical history.
• Obtaining appropriate medical and genetic records, results and investigations, cancer confirmations.
• Responsibility for responding to referrals under direction that do not require clinical contact e.g. those that do not meet referral criteria.
• Organising and obtaining familial blood or saliva samples to help confirm the diagnosis in proband.
• Facilitating patient access in more complex scenarios and auditing/improving systems to improve patient access.
• Obtaining and/or checking appropriate permission/consent have been given as required for clinic.
• Obtaining record of patient choice/consent (not having the full consent conversation, but recording that it has been taken).
• Participation in clinical audit and in some circumstances initiate relevant audit.
• Responsible for appropriate and specific departmental tasks e.g. fire warden, health and safety, first aider.
• Be able to work in a mainstream setting or in other clinical departments.
• May involve additional responsibilities dependent on speciality, e.g. taking blood pressure, ECGs, ophthalmology, screening.
• Working under supervision of clinical team.
• Recognising limits of role and escalating queries appropriately.
• Monitoring outstanding records/samples/screening and actioning appropriately.
• Facilitating patient support events.
• MDT coordination, collating agenda items, taking meeting minutes.
• Organising patient days, educational events for Genetic Counsellors.
• Education coordination (administration-wise).
• Collecting regular metrics data and providing reports to project lead.
• Writing/supporting the creation of patient leaflets, signposting to existing resources.
• Writing SOPs, checklists, creating logs, monitoring data, capturing and reporting metrics regularly.

2. Clinical and Communication Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of patients acting as a professional in ensuring a duty of care to the patient and their families.
• Work within relevant guidelines and frameworks to ensure pathway/protocol is adhered to at all times.
• Devise, implement and evaluate strategies for identifying eligible patients for germline genetic testing within Urology, including by attending clinics, departments, screening notes/consultant/nurse referrals and Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) meetings.
• Participate in the informed consent process acting as a resource and support to patients and their families, in addition to the Lead Urology CNS and Medical Oncologists.
• Co-ordinate the pathway between Urology and Genetics from screening through to enabling sample collection, consent and result tracking.
• Maintain adequate patient records and ensure all relevant information is documented in the medical electronic notes or relevant clinical information systems and communicated with clinical teams within cancer services.
• Liaise with the Genomic Laboratory Hub to facilitate timely processing of samples and assist Urology to make results available in a timely manner.
• Liaise with primary and secondary care to assist patients with timely blood sample collections locally when needed.
• Report any adverse events or health concerns which occur whilst the patient is taking part in the clinical pathway to the appropriate clinician in a timely manner, and to the appropriate line manager.
• Undertake a range of clinical tasks in line with personal competencies such as blood pressure, temperature, respirations, questionnaires, urinalysis, weight and height, and report abnormalities or changes appropriately.
• Perform tasks requiring clinical skills, including phlebotomy, venepuncture, obtaining a three generation family history, utilising electronic pedigree drawing software.
• Responsible for safe tracking, storage, efficient transport and robust documentation of patient samples.
• Collect minimum data sets to help inform pathway mapping
• Act as a patient advocate.
• Report any deviation from normal practice to senior staff and agree changes in care programme.
• Deal with concerns raised by patients and families in a proactive manner and take remedial action as necessary.
• Report to the senior clinical staff any clinical incidences. Assist in managing incidents, accidents and complaints in accordance with Trust Policies.
• Collect, report and monitor a set of project performance metrics working closely with the Consultant Genetic Counsellor and Lead Urology CNS.
• Design, write and update pathway literature for clinicians and patients such as leaflets, checklists, SOPs working closely with clinicians and laboratory staff to ensure it is reflective of the pathway.
• Build strong professional relationships with other departments in order to promote a good working environment integration of research and open channels of communication.

3. Education & Professional Development

• Take responsibility for identifying personal training and educational needs within the context of the service and those identified during the appraisal process.
• Contribute to updating, developing and implementing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Undertake an Individual Performance Review annually with your Line Manager.
• Maintain a record to reflect any training carried out pertaining to the post and ensure direct reports maintain training files.
• Plan, coordinate and deliver educational activities working closely with clinicians in clinical genetics and urology
• Seek support and advice from genetic counselling team working closely with them to develop own performance.
• Assist in minute taking, meeting scheduling, agenda setting as directed by Consultant Genetic Counsellor
• To communicate intelligently and sensitively with patients who are bereaved and/or highly anxious. The post holder will use counselling skills (e.g. listening, validating, paraphrasing, normalising) to support patients/carers. The post holder will identify when a patient should be in telephone contact with a Genetic Counsellor for advanced counselling support when necessary.
• To recognise areas of conflict when patients’ demands are incompatible to professional responsibilities and resources and seek guidance and support from the Genetic Consultants and/or Lead Genetic Counsellor in how to resolve such issues.

4. Operational and Networking

• To work with local clinical teams to support the establishment of pathways for consent to genomic testing for patients and families with cancer in line with NHSE Genomic Test Directory.
• To be aware of ethical considerations of genomics and key considerations for consent to genomic testing including the voluntary nature of participation in research such that: 1. The patient (and significant others) fully understand the nature of the research offer made;

2. The patient is aware that data sharing is voluntary and their participation in the NGRL can be withdrawn at any point without prejudice;
3. The consent form is completed accurately and filed as required.

• To maintain accurate electronic and/or paper patient records as per standard expectations for clinical practice, and take responsibility for essential patient data entry and submission in a timely manner into patient records and other clinical systems as required.
• To maintain awareness of any updates or changes to clinical or research protocols or guidelines relating to genomic testing in Urological Cancers.
• To identify barriers to patients taking up the offer of genomic testing and work with the local team and more broadly through the South East London Cancer Alliance to identify and implement action/plans as required.
• To participate in meetings relevant to the nature of the job, including relevant multidisciplinary team meetings.
• To work autonomously, using initiative to identify tasks.
• To attend and assist with the development of patient and public awareness events.
• To maintain links with other genomic practitioners and genomic associates within the SEL Cancer Alliance, Genomic Medicine Service Alliance (GMSA) and Genomic Laboratory Hub (GLH) and where possible to develop a network to share knowledge and to provide mutual support.
• To work closely with the Consultant Genetic Counsellor (clinical lead for the project), Lead Cancer Geneticist, Urology nurses and consultants, Consultant Geneticists, Genetic Counsellors, and any other colleagues as required by the Principal Genetic Counsellor (line manager).