Regional Genomic Clinical Practitioner - Suffolk and NE Essex

Over the next ten years, the NHS plans to routinely offer genomic testing to all people with cancer for whom it would be of clinical benefit and it is expected that most future cancer therapies will be targeted to tumours based on specific genomic and other biomarkers.

Pathways will need to be redesigned to enable for example the collection of biopsies for cancer genomics early in the diagnosis pathway so as to ensure the timely return of genomic test results to inform clinical care and decision making.

Furthermore, genomics will be routinely used in the healthy population to accurately predict the risk of cancer within national screening programmes for at-risk populations.

To meet these challenges in the East of England the Cancer Alliance is funding 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 (MGS) 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., We are looking for a registered nurse or Allied Health Professional to work across the East of England geography, with a dedicated responsibility for Trusts in Suffolk & North East Essex ICB. The post holder will work autonomously, and it is expected that they should be able to demonstrate awareness of genomic landscape to facilitate the mainstreaming of genomic medicine across primary, secondary, and tertiary care sites, support colleagues, individuals, and families, and address important ethical issues such as equity of access. The post holder will demonstrate an understanding of genomic healthcare and its impact on cancer services, and of the NHS Genomic agenda and the Long-Term Plan.

This post is an 18 month FTC or secondment. During this time we will be gathering evidence to demonstrate the value of the service, working towards sustained commissioning.

The post holder will work peripatetically across organisational boundaries, working both remotely and with honorary contracts to support clinical staff and MDTs on the ground with mainstreaming and adopting new patient pathways.

You will need to work flexibly across the region. You will report into the Lead Genomic Clinical Practitioner but it is important that you are confidentworking on your own and have an ability to build effective and collaborative networks, establishing and maintaining strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough is an Integrated Care Board (ICB) and the statutory NHS organisation responsible for planning and delivering local health and care services to the population and communities of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough.