Genetic Counsellor

Article Flag: Mandatory Vaccination Please Note:
As per the current Public Health Orders (Long Term Care/Seniors Assisted Living Provincial Health Order and the Health Sector Order), as of October 26, 2021, all employees working for Providence Health Care must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Proof of vaccination status will be required.

Summary:
Within the context of a client and family centred model of care, and in accordance with the Mission, Vision, Values and strategic directions of Providence Health Care, the person promotes a safe, respectful, and civil working environment for patients, residents, families, visitors and staff.

Reporting to the Operations Leader Support Cardiac (for Inherited Arrhythmia Clinic issues), and to the Leader Business Operations Heart Centre, Diagnostic Imaging, and Ambulatory Care (for Aortophathy Clinic issues), the Genetic Counsellor participates in a team approach to medical genetic services under the direction of the Medical Geneticist and Cardiologist(s). Responsibilities include counseling, education, clinical research and client care, focusing on medical facts including diagnosis and probable course of the disorder, hereditary contributions to the disorder and the risk of recurrence. Duties include conducting assessments, providing individual, family and group counseling services, maintaining client records, attending interdisciplinary clinical/ case conferences, facilitating genetic testing options, identifying and assisting client(s) to access applicable community resources, and contributing to the effectiveness of service delivery and development of program sponsored interdisciplinary research.

Qualifications / Skills and Education:
**Education**

**Master's degree in genetic counseling**. Two years of recent, related experience and/or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience. **Board eligible for certification or Board certified with the Canadian Association of Genetic Counselling or the American Board of Genetic Counselling.**

**Skills and Abilities**

Comprehensive knowledge of genetic counseling skills.

Broad knowledge of other health disciplines and their role in health care.

Broad knowledge of research methodology and familiarity with design and conduct of quantitative and qualitative research.

Broad knowledge of family, group and change therapy.

Demonstrated listening and information seeking skills that promote communication and lead to a cooperative approach to problem solving within an interdisciplinary setting.

Demonstrated ability to gather relevant data and make multi-dimensional assessments.

Demonstrated understanding of hereditary syndromes, genetic testing and clinical guidelines.

Demonstrated ability to conduct social and psychosocial assessments.

Demonstrated ability to understand and influence group and inter-group processes and decision making.

Demonstrated ability to establish rapport with clients and families in order to explore issues that are beyond the initial presented concerns.

Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with clients, families, staff and community agency personnel.

Demonstrated ability to effective deal with conflict situations.

Demonstrated ability to adjust to new and unexpected events.

Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as a member of an interdisciplinary team.

Demonstrated ability to establish workload priorities in collaboration with others.

Demonstrated ability to teach and supervise students.

Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.

Computer literacy with word processing, spreadsheet and database skills.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Participates on the clinical cardiogenetics team by developing, preparing and completing patient care history files. Conducts assessments through interviews with the client and/or family, obtaining relevant medical and family history information, eliciting client/ family concerns and gathering data regarding the client's support system. Analyses and interprets inheritance patterns including the diagnosis and probable course of the disorder to determine hereditary contributions and the risk of recurrence. Summarizes data, the client's and family's coping abilities, and anticipated needs for discussion with Medical Geneticist / Cardiologist as designated,

Provides a written consultation to the referring physician(s) in a timely manner, and when appropriate a written summary to the patient with details of the consultation and recommendations. Serves as a liaison person between the referring physician, the patient and the cardiogenetics physician, to assure an understanding of the counseling issues and follow-up recommendations; contacts patient/referring physician with results as needed.

Provides genetic counseling and support to patients and family members primarily independently, by providing families with information about particular genetic disorders, inheritance patterns, g