Post Title:Senior Genetics CounsellorPost Status:PermanentDepartmentDepartment of Medicine and Nephrology reporting to TUN Business Manager.Location:Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, IrelandReports to:Prof Conlon Department of Nephrology/ Business Manager TUN DirectorateSalary: Appointment will be made in line with government pay policy on the following scale: Social Worker, Senior €70,980 - €81,874Hours of Work: 35 hours per week.Closing date:12 Noon on the 29/01/2026Please note the hospital reserves the right to close the competition early should a substantial number of applications be received.Job Purpose:To contribute to the provision of a comprehensive, high quality, specialist genetic counselling service for inherited diseases clinics at Beaumont hospital in particular inherited kidney disease, inherited Neurological disease and Family Breast cancer clinicsTo carry out the duties and responsibilities of a Genetic Counsellor with the aim of helping patients and families:Comprehend the medical facts, including the diagnosis, probable course of the disorder and the available managementAppreciate the way heredity contributes to the disorder, and the risk of recurrence in specified relativesUnderstand the options (including genetic testing) for dealing with the risk;Choose the course of action most appropriate for themMake the best possible adjustment to the disorder / risk of the disorderTo contribute to professional education and training.*ResponsibilitiesClinical-Direct Patient Care:*See patients and their families in inherited disease clinics at Beaumont Hospital incorporating inherited renal disease, Neurological disease and Breast cancer family clinics at Beaumont Hospital.Manage an individual caseload, consulting with the Specialist Consultant as appropriate, and in line with the Genetic Counsellor scope of practice appropriate to the gradeWork within Genetic Counsellor competency frameworks and recognise when to refer to appropriate healthcare specialistsContribute to joint consultant and Genetic Counselling clinics, and co-counselling genetic counsellor clinics to ensure their effectiveness and efficiency as well as continuity of care for families referred.Participate in multidisciplinary clinicsEndeavour to achieve for all families seen in clinic, a good understanding of the genetics information and the best possible adjustment to the presence of a genetic condition in their family.Ensure the best possible standard of work by applying scientific and clinical understanding and counselling expertise to unique clinical situationsMaintain confidentiality of information about patients, staff and other health service users.Liaise with laboratory colleagues to communicate clinical information necessary to ensure appropriate genetic testing is carried out and to discuss complex test results that are difficult to interpret.Prioritise work, particularly assessing the urgency of clinical work.Maintain a full and accurate record of clinical workload undertaken in both manual and computerised records and preserve their confidentiality, which may include a genetic patient management systemOrder genetic tests as clinically appropriate and according to agreed clinical departmental guidelines, with assigned consultant approvalArrange relevant referrals, consulting with the assigned consultant as appropriateAssess patients to determine where there is need for specialist therapeutic counselling, psychiatric assessment or screening, and make appropriate referralsProvide information on the care of other family members, identify at-risk relatives and advise on how they could obtain genetic counselling or screening via agreed protocolsDiscuss cases with colleagues at clinical meetingsPrepare letters to patients summarising clinic discussions and giving test resultsUndertake any other duties within the context of this job description and appropriate grade of the post, necessary for the changing needs of an effective and efficient patient service.Communication with patient and families:Elicit and accurately document patient's detailed family historyElicit patient's concerns and expectationsInterpret medical, family and psychological historyConfirm medical and diagnostic informationCommunicate genetic information to patients and their relativesCommunicate highly complex and possibly conflicting informationIdentify and respond to emerging issues for the patient or familyIdentify changes of risk within the familyTake responsibility for communicating and applying new scientific information for the benefit of the familyInterpret and communicate normal and abnormal genetic test results to patients and health care professionals in line with agreed protocolsProvide advice on factors that reduce and influence riskUse non-directive and other counselling skills to counsel patients about various testing options and to facilitate decision-makingCommunicate with patients who are bereaved and provide supportUse counselling skills to communicate sensitively in the presence of language, cultural and/or medical issuesFacilitate effective support to patients who have great difficulty accepting and/or understanding a clinical diagnosis or a genetic test resultCommunicate highly sensitive and potentially distressing information to patients and relatives about their genetic status with implications for biological and social family relationships.Use counselling skills to facilitate decision making and promote adjustments in patient and family members.Self-Development:Work within the ethical and professional frameworks of any professional organisation to which the post holder may belong e.g. the Association of Genetic Nurses and Counsellors' code of ethics, AHCS Good Scientific Practice, GCRB Code of Conduct, GCRB Scope of Practice, GCRB Standards of ProficiencyAttend regular counselling supervision sessions to discuss difficult cases and enhance counselling skillsMaintain annual professional registrationKeep up to date with departmental, hospital and national training requirementsTake personal responsibility for continuing professional self-development and keep up-to-date with changes in the practice of genetic counselling. It is expected this will include regular attendance at local, regional, national, and occasionally international events.Participate in appraisal processesCommunication with colleagues:Attend departmental clinical meetings and teaching sessions to participate in discussion and feedback on clinical cases.Attend regular Genetic Counsellor and service meetings.Advise colleagues on issues around informed consentDiscuss cases with ethical complexity with colleagues at the weekly clinical meeting.Share in fulfilling the departmental teaching and educational commitments.Assist in the training of less experienced staff and students as appropriate.Contribute to departmental research and audit.Promote ideas and initiative developments within the teamAttend to yearly CPD attainment in the related discipline.Leadership & Direction:Develops networks and communications systems to ensure that they are fully informed in a dynamic and challenging environment.Is an effective leader and a positive driver for change; transforms the vision into a framework and structures for moving forward.Understands the challenges of leading complex systems change.Balances change with continuity – continually strives to improve service delivery, to create a work environment that encourages creative thinking and to maintain focus, intensity and persistence even under increasingly complex and demanding conditions.Working With & Through Others - Influencing to Achieve:Has significant experience in engaging with healthcare organisations.Demonstrates the ability to work independently as well as work with a wider multidisciplinary / multi-agency team in a complex and changing environment.Is persuasive and effectively sells the vision; commands attention and inspires confidence.Sets high standards for the team and puts their work and the work of the organisation into meaningful context.Has excellent influencing and negotiation skills.Managing & Delivering Results:Places strong emphasis on achieving high standards of excellence.Commits a high degree of energy to well directed activities and looks for and seizes opportunities that is beneficial to achieving organisation goals.Perseveres and sees tasks through.Champions measurement on delivery of results and is willing to take personal responsibility to initiate activities and drive objectives through to a conclusion.Quality, Risk & Safety Responsibilities:Participate and cooperate with legislative and regulatory requirements with regard to Quality, Risk and Safety.Participate and cooperate with Quality and Risk and Safety initiatives as required.Participate and cooperate with internal and external evaluations of hospital structures, services and processes as requiredTo initiate, support and implement quality improvement initiatives in their area which are in keeping with the hospitals continuous quality improvement programme.The above is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.Health and Safety:Ensure that effective safety procedures are in place to comply not only with the Health, Safety and Welfare at Work Act but also within the spirit of the Hospital's mission, vision and values, and they are known and followed by staff. You are also required to familiarise yourself with the requirements of employees under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005Confidentiality:You will be aware of the confidential nature of Hospital work and in particular, the right of patients to confidentiality.Policies & Procedures:You are required to familiarise yourself with and adhere to all policy and procedural documents relevant to your position.Hygiene Standards:It is the responsibility of all staff to have a fundamental understanding of individual responsibility in maintaining departmental and site hygiene standards.Information Technology:Ensure the most effective and efficient use of developments in information technology for administrative support in a manner, which integrates well with systems throughout the organisation.Business Continuity Management:Business Continuity Management (BCM) is a holistic management process that identifies potential impacts that threaten an organisation and provides a framework for building resilience and the capability for an effective response that safeguards the interests of its key stakeholders and reputation" (BS All Staff employed in the Beaumont Hospital are obliged to:make themselves familiar with the Organisational Business Continuity Planattend BCM education sessions provided for themmake themselves familiar with their individual roles as set out in their departmental business continuity plan if applicable and or the Organisational business continuity planNOTE:The extent and speed of change in the delivery of health care is such that adaptability is essential. The incumbent will be required to maintain, enhance and develop their knowledge, skills and aptitudes necessary to respond to a changing situation. The job description must be regarded as an outline of the major areas of accountability at the present time, which will be reviewed and assessed on an ongoing basis.*QualificationsJob requirementsEssentialDesirableQualifications*An Approved Master of Science degree in Genetic/Genomic CounsellingORAttainment of the NHS Scientific Training Programme (STP) in Genomic CounsellingORA qualification recognised for professional registration via the grandfather clause by the GCRB/AHCS or an equivalent overseas Genetic Counselling Board/Regulatory BodyANDhold current registration with that Genetic Counselling Board/Regulatory Body*Experience*Have 3 years relevant post qualification experienceExperience in genetics of Inherited kidney disease, neurology and breast cancerExperience in Transition Clinics (ie patients from paediatric care to adult care)RegistrationMaintain live registration on the AHCS register (attained via the Genetic Counsellor Registration Board) or an equivalent overseas Genetic Counselling Board/Regulatory BodyOrganisational knowledgeKnowledge of performance management systems / key performance indicatorsFamiliarity with Irish and European Clinical Genetics health structures, ERNs and services and processesKnowledgeDemonstrate evidence of recent formal continuing professional development relevant to the required area of specialism, in the form of post-graduate qualifications or relevant courses.CoreCompetenciesExcellent analytical, planning and organising skills.A strong commitment to continuous improvement.Ability to network and build and maintain relationships.Excellent interpersonal and communication skillsAbility to work as part of a team and to establish good working relationships with personnel at all levels.Committed to protecting personal privacy and confidentiality of personal informationExcellent knowledge of Microsoft (including Excel).Strong leadership and influencing skillsCommunicationExcellent oral and written language skillsProficient in the use of MS Word, Excel, Power Point