Job description

Job responsibilities

Regional Genomic Clinical Practitioner Service

The NHS Long Term Plan aspires to offering more extensive genomic testing to patients who are newly diagnosed with cancers. This growth in cancer genomic testing is likely to increase the range of cancer specialist services requesting genomic tests.

Genomic medicine can improve patient care through supporting faster, more accurate diagnoses and by enabling more tailored care. As understanding of the genome increases, it is likely to become part of all cancer care pathways and nurses will play a key role in bringing the benefits of genomics to patients as it becomes part of routine care, including in identifying patients for genomic testing, discussing testing with patients, referring to genetic counselling services or the relevant clinicians for targeted therapies, and personalising care plans.

To meet these challenges the ICB / Cancer Alliance is seeking to appoint a team of Genomic Clinical Practitioners aligned to the East Genomic Medicine Service Alliance (GMSA), the Genomic Laboratory Hub (GLH) and the East of England Medical Genetics Service that will facilitate, support, and engage with primary and secondary care colleagues to develop pathways and embed genomic testing and advice for all service users in cancer care.

This regional service will help to bring genomics into mainstream cancer care.

The Genomic Clinical Practitioners will work across the East of England Cancer Alliances geography and will be key to delivering the genomics agenda which includes the embedding of pathways, supporting clinical teams and providing timely information and guidance to enable a seamless service user pathway across cancer specialties.

The post holder will support the Lead Regional Genomics Practitioner and their team to ensure that their workstream of programmes are planned and managed effectively and take the lead in assisting in their successful delivery.

The role of this service will include but not be limited to:

• Supporting colleagues in cancer teams in relation to the management of service users that might be affected by inherited cancers and facilitate genomic testing and referral to clinical genetics if required.
• Supporting clinical teams in the care of service users with less complex needs through the provision of expert advice by phone, video link or email, directly supporting hospital specialties until genomic-informed care is consistent, pathways are embedded, and the delivery of services can be managed effectively through mainstream hospital specialities.
• Standardisation in consent processes, increasing consistency and familiarity for clinicians and patients.
• Supporting programmes of work that look to address health inequalities and understanding of the importance of genetic testing in populations we know to have health disparities.
• Providing a mechanism for communications between the GMSA, GLH, Regional Clinical Genetics Services and providers in secondary and primary care.
• Support workforce development and engagement with genomics through training, education, and new standards of care.
• Supporting audit and data collection where it provides evidence of service improvement.
• Supporting research studies and encouraging trial participation and recruitment.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• To develop clinical pathways and embed genomic testing and/or advice for all service users in cancer care working in collaboration with the provider organisations to drive continuous improvement.
• To participate in the development of a specialist nurse led / delivered service model for patients accessing relevant genomic services.
• To provide the highest standard of holistic care for patients through the utilisation of advanced clinical skills and advice in the assessment and management of patients, working autonomously and with the multi-disciplinary team to improve the quality and safety of patient care.
• To work autonomously and be accountable for the planning and delivery of all aspects of patient care in relation to the Regional Genomic Clinical Practitioner Service.
• To continuously improve clinical care standards in line with the clinical governance framework to ensure the highest quality of care is provided in the safest manner.
• To have the ability to influence peers and build strong working relationships with a variety of internal and external stakeholders.
• To provide clinical leadership, expertise and specialist clinical advice and support to clinical staff on the management and care of patients within the Regional Genomic Practitioner Service and lead the effective delivery of care to patients.
• To provide expert specialist knowledge, care, and experience to support the wider nursing team to facilitate the effective delivery of care to patients at all times.
• To lead and participate in the continuing improvement of services in line with the East of England Cancer Alliance (EoE CA) Regional Genomic Clinical Practitioner Service aligned to the Memorandum of Understand for delivery of the programme.
• To lead the provision of education and training to clinical staff and internal/external agencies
• The job description and person specification are an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. The job holder will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by their line manager.
• The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the Department or Directorate and the Organisation.

Job responsibilities

Regional Genomic Clinical Practitioner Service

The NHS Long Term Plan aspires to offering more extensive genomic testing to patients who are newly diagnosed with cancers. This growth in cancer genomic testing is likely to increase the range of cancer specialist services requesting genomic tests.

Genomic medicine can improve patient care through supporting faster, more accurate diagnoses and by enabling more tailored care. As understanding of the genome increases, it is likely to become part of all cancer care pathways and nurses will play a key role in bringing the benefits of genomics to patients as it becomes part of routine care, including in identifying patients for genomic testing, discussing testing with patients, referring to genetic counselling services or the relevant clinicians for targeted therapies, and personalising care plans.

To meet these challenges the ICB / Cancer Alliance is seeking to appoint a team of Genomic Clinical Practitioners aligned to the East Genomic Medicine Service Alliance (GMSA), the Genomic Laboratory Hub (GLH) and the East of England Medical Genetics Service that will facilitate, support, and engage with primary and secondary care colleagues to develop pathways and embed genomic testing and advice for all service users in cancer care.

This regional service will help to bring genomics into mainstream cancer care.

The Genomic Clinical Practitioners will work across the East of England Cancer Alliances geography and will be key to delivering the genomics agenda which includes the embedding of pathways, supporting clinical teams and providing timely information and guidance to enable a seamless service user pathway across cancer specialties.

The post holder will support the Lead Regional Genomics Practitioner and their team to ensure that their workstream of programmes are planned and managed effectively and take the lead in assisting in their successful delivery.

The role of this service will include but not be limited to:

• Supporting colleagues in cancer teams in relation to the management of service users that might be affected by inherited cancers and facilitate genomic testing and referral to clinical genetics if required.
• Supporting clinical teams in the care of service users with less complex needs through the provision of expert advice by phone, video link or email, directly supporting hospital specialties until genomic-informed care is consistent, pathways are embedded, and the delivery of services can be managed effectively through mainstream hospital specialities.
• Standardisation in consent processes, increasing consistency and familiarity for clinicians and patients.
• Supporting programmes of work that look to address health inequalities and understanding of the importance of genetic testing in populations we know to have health disparities.
• Providing a mechanism for communications between the GMSA, GLH, Regional Clinical Genetics Services and providers in secondary and primary care.
• Support workforce development and engagement with genomics through training, education, and new standards of care.
• Supporting audit and data collection where it provides evidence of service improvement.
• Supporting research studies and encouraging trial participation and recruitment.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• To develop clinical pathways and embed genomic testing and/or advice for all service users in cancer care working in collaboration with the provider organisations to drive continuous improvement.
• To participate in the development of a specialist nurse led / delivered service model for patients accessing relevant genomic services.
• To provide the highest standard of holistic care for patients through the utilisation of advanced clinical skills and advice in the assessment and management of patients, working autonomously and with the multi-disciplinary team to improve the quality and safety of patient care.
• To work autonomously and be accountable for the planning and delivery of all aspects of patient care in relation to the Regional Genomic Clinical Practitioner Service.
• To continuously improve clinical care standards in line with the clinical governance framework to ensure the highest quality of care is provided in the safest manner.
• To have the ability to influence peers and build strong working relationships with a variety of internal and external stakeholders.
• To provide clinical leadership, expertise and specialist clinical advice and support to clinical staff on the management and care of patients within the Regional Genomic Practitioner Service and lead the effective delivery of care to patients.
• To provide expert specialist knowledge, care, and experience to support the wider nursing team to facilitate the effective delivery of care to patients at all times.
• To lead and participate in the continuing improvement of services in line with the East of England Cancer Alliance (EoE CA) Regional Genomic Clinical Practitioner Service aligned to the Memorandum of Understand for delivery of the programme.
• To lead the provision of education and training to clinical staff and internal/external agencies
• The job description and person specification are an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. The job holder will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by their line manager.
• The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the Department or Directorate and the Organisation.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• NMC Registered Nurse/ Midwife/ AHP with significant clinical experience.
• Educated to first degree level or equivalent level of experience.

Desirable

• Qualification in teaching/mentoring.
• Educated to Master's Level in relevant subject or equivalent level qualification or significant experience of working at a similar level in a specialist area.

Communication

Essential

• Ability to prepare and produce concise yet insightful communications for dissemination to senior stakeholders and a broad range of stakeholders as required.
• Experience of creating and giving presentations to a varied group of internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent communication (both written and verbal) and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent influencing and negotiation skills.

Analytical

Essential

• Ability to analyse very complex issues where material is conflicting and drawn from multiple sources.
• Demonstrated capability to act upon incomplete information, using experience to make inferences and decision making.
• Ability to problem solve and assert, when necessary, in order to meet the service needs.
• Numerate and able to understand complex financial issues combined with deep analytical skills.
• Experience of setting up and implementing internal processes and procedures.

Planning

Essential

• Demonstrated capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly.
• Experience of setting up and implementing internal processes and procedures.

Experience

Essential

• Commitment to develop skills and expertise in Genomics Medicine. Significant experience in specialist area, or relevant area with transferable skills.
• Experience of working with databases.
• Experience of working in multidisciplinary team.
• Experience of cancer nursing.
• Experience of delivering against competing priorities and deadlines while also directing the work of teams/individuals.

Desirable

• Leadership and/or Management experience.
• Experience of working across professional and organisational boundaries.
• Knowledge of and experience in cancer genetics.
• Knowledge of genetic counselling and NHS Genetic Services.
• Experience of consent processes.

Qualifications

Essential

• NMC Registered Nurse/ Midwife/ AHP with significant clinical experience.
• Educated to first degree level or equivalent level of experience.

Desirable

• Qualification in teaching/mentoring.
• Educated to Master's Level in relevant subject or equivalent level qualification or significant experience of working at a similar level in a specialist area.

Communication

Essential

• Ability to prepare and produce concise yet insightful communications for dissemination to senior stakeholders and a broad range of stakeholders as required.
• Experience of creating and giving presentations to a varied group of internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent communication (both written and verbal) and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent influencing and negotiation skills.

Analytical

Essential

• Ability to analyse very complex issues where material is conflicting and drawn from multiple sources.
• Demonstrated capability to act upon incomplete information, using experience to make inferences and decision making.
• Ability to problem solve and assert, when necessary, in order to meet the service needs.
• Numerate and able to understand complex financial issues combined with deep analytical skills.
• Experience of setting up and implementing internal processes and procedures.

Planning

Essential

• Demonstrated capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly.
• Experience of setting up and implementing internal processes and procedures.

Experience

Essential

• Commitment to develop skills and expertise in Genomics Medicine. Significant experience in specialist area, or relevant area with transferable skills.
• Experience of working with databases.
• Experience of working in multidisciplinary team.
• Experience of cancer nursing.
• Experience of delivering against competing priorities and deadlines while also directing the work of teams/individuals.

Desirable

• Leadership and/or Management experience.
• Experience of working across professional and organisational boundaries.
• Knowledge of and experience in cancer genetics.
• Knowledge of genetic counselling and NHS Genetic Services.
• Experience of consent processes.

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.

UK Registration

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

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

NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough

Address

Gemini House

Cambridgeshire Business Park

Ely

CB7 4EA

Employer's website

https://www.cpics.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)