Genomics Education and Communications Co-ordinator, North Thames GMS

Job description

Job responsibilities

Department: This is a North Thames GMS funded role (comprising the Genomic Laboratory Hub and Genomic Medicine Service Alliance) hosted under UCLPartners

Contract Type: 1 WTE. Fixed Term Contract up to 31st March 2023 and open to secondment

Background

Context of the role – North Thames Genomic Medicine Service

The UK is recognised worldwide as a leader in genomics and the unique structure of the NHS is allowing the delivery of genomic advances at scale and pace for patient benefit. As part of NHS England’s (NHSE) strategy to establish a national Genomics Medicine Service (GMS), building on the success of the 100,000 Genomes Project, NHS England has commissioned seven genomic laboratory hubs (GLHs) each responsible for coordinating genomic and genetic testing services for a particular part of the country, including the start of whole genome sequencing.

Seven GMS Alliances (each aligned with one of the GLHs) have also been created to support the systematic implementation of genomic medicine into the mainstream healthcare system and harness the power of genomics to improve the health of our population.

Together GLHs and GMS Alliances comprise the new Genomic Medicine Service (GMS) which will:

· Address variations in genetic testing quality and access across the country

· Enhance the quality of information e.g., the cost and type of tests performed

· Broaden understanding of the causes of disease and the effectiveness of interventions

The NHS GMS Alliances will have a critical role in facilitating strong collaborations across large geographies, working with all healthcare providers, patients and the public to build trust in genomics, and providing clinical leadership to enable the multi-professional workforce to use genomics safely, effectively and efficiently. Potential improvements in care for patients include effective, quicker diagnosis of rare conditions, personalising treatments and care for patients with inherited conditions and cancer, and a better understanding of the underlying cause of many conditions.

By taking this approach, the NHS will become the first health service in the world to systematically embed genomics into routine care and make significant strides to create a system focused on improving health, not just treating illness, with the ability to predict accurately disease and tailor treatments.

However, it will only be possible to secure the benefits if everyone, including patients, the whole multi-professional team across the care system – medics, nurses, midwifes, allied health professionals, healthcare scientists, pharmacists – and academics are able to understand the value of genomics and actively contribute to make this vision a reality. Communications and education initiatives are crucial to this endeavour.

The GLH and GMS Alliance responsible for North London, and parts of Essex and Hertfordshire, is called the North Thames. The North Thames GMS Alliance is hosted by UCLPartners and supported by Imperial College Health Partners. The North Thames GLH is led by Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Team

Internal

• North Thames GMS Alliance senior management team
• North Thames GLH senior management team
• UCLPartners and Imperial College Health Partners AHSNs

External

• NHS England and Improvement
• Health Education England and Genomics Education Programme
• Stakeholders across the geography covered by the North Thames GMSA
• Other GMSAs and GLHs across England

Role description

About the role

This role presents an exciting opportunity to help design and deliver the education and communications activities of the NHS North Thames GMS. We are seeking an individual who is passionate about increasing genomic awareness among the NHS workforce, patients and the public.

The Genomics Education and Communications Co-ordinator will work closely with the Workforce and Education and Training (E&T) Lead and Communications and Engagement Manager to deliver a range of activities which will support embedding genomic medicine into mainstream care across the North Thames geography.

Key responsibilities

The post holder will have a key role in helping to upskill and enable the multi-disciplinary NHS workforce to use genomics safely, effectively and efficiently with a focus on mainstreaming genomic medicine. The overarching role will be to assist the Education and Training lead to implement the Regional Workforce Development and E&T Strategy and delivery plan.

Activities will include working with a wide faculty of educators and supporting communications relating to education, coordination of educational events, development of educational resources, and collation and analysis of educational outcomes to ensure alignment of the educational programme with regional and national strategy.

Through involvement in the communications and engagement initiatives, the post holder will work to support everyone in our region – patients, healthcare professionals (genetic and non-genetic specialists) and the public – to understand the value of genomics and the role it can play in improving the health and care of our population and raise awareness of the North Thames GMS. Activities will include: creation of high-quality communications outputs aimed at healthcare professionals, the public and other interested parties; delivery of media activities; management of social and digital channels; and designing communications activities for the range of genomics projects underway within the North Thames GMS.

The role will also work to support our commitment to bringing patient, public and carer involvement across our activities. The post holder will support the activities of our patient, public and carer panel; collaborate with relevant charities, community networks and patient representative groups to inform and develop public and professional engagement material; and provide support in identifying under-represented groups or individuals and developing a wide range of channels to engage and involve them.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Educated to degree level or equivalent relevant experience
• Continuing professional development

Desirable

• Educational qualification or continued professional development in the subject of education and/or marketing/communications

Experience

Essential

• Recent experience of working with professional clinical leads as part of a work based environment
• Experience of delivering communications and engagement strategies

Desirable

• Experience of working with patients and members of the public in co-design or patient involvement activities
• Demonstrable experience of change management and/or transformation and of supporting the development of new initiatives
• Experience of working across health systems in a network

Skills, Abilities and Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge and experience development and delivery, including learning needs and outcomes, models of delivery, workplace learning, evaluation and quality assurance
• Examples of knowledge and experience across Technologies for delivery education remotely
• Experience of establishing and maintaining working relationships with external stakeholders
• Have excellent IT skills including the ability to develop and manage databases, use of MS Office, web applications and desktop publishing
• Be able to monitor objective targets, milestones and KPIs as appropriate
• Experience of delivering clear, engaging communications using a range of channels, including websites, email, social media, printed materials and events
• Experience of updating websites using content management systems and developing digital content and experience of managing social media accounts for professional purpose
• Ability to communicate with people from different professional and social backgrounds
• Ability to process and analyse complex information
• Proactive and solution focused
• High levels of motivation, and confidence to work independently with minimal supervision
• Demonstrate initiative and appropriate decision making
• Have flexible working practices and be able to prioritise work within set deadlines
• Work as part of a multi-professional team to inspire, motivate and influence others and work across boundaries
• Active commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion

Desirable

• Understanding of the NHS Genomic Medicine Service commitments and aims and understanding of the organisations supporting genomics education, locally and through national organisations such as Health Education Englands Genomics Education Programme
• Management or oversight of quality assurance in education

Employer details

Employer name

UCLPartners

Address

U C L Partners

170 Tottenham Court Road

London

W1T 7HA

Employer's website

https://uclpartners.com/ (Opens in a new tab)