Genetic Counsellor

**Genetic Counsellor**:
Competition #

8057

Job Title

Genetic Counsellor

Department

North Eastern Medical Genetics Program

Status

Temporary (June 2025- July 2026)

Work Type

Full-time

Affiliation

ONA Paramedical

Shift Assignment

Days

Bilingualism Required

No

Police Check Requirement

Vulnerable Sector Check

Site

Sudbury Outpatient Centre
- ONA Paramedical

Salary Information

$45.14-$55.26/hour

Application Closing Date

May 21, 2025

**KEY FUNCTION**:
Provide information to clients and families about genetic factors in conditions, disabilities, and birth defects. Educate patients about genetic risks and the availability of testing to help patients make informed choices.

**REPORTING**:
Under the general direction of the Manager, Medical Genetics Program.

**DUTIES**:

- Provide genetic counselling to clients and families who seek information due to a family history, recent diagnosis, or suspected diagnosis of a genetic condition.
- Identify, organize, and summarize pertinent medical and genetic information for use in counselling.
- Convey genetic, medical, and technical information to clients who have a variety of education, socio-economic, and ethno-cultural backgrounds.
- Explain technical and medical aspects of diagnostic and screening methods and reproductive options, including associated risks, benefits, and limitations; assess client understanding and response.
- Identify major concerns and respond to emerging client or family issues.
- Provide counselling to pregnant women and couples.
- Provide short-term, client-centered counselling and psychological support to clients and those individuals/couples who have suffered a pregnancy loss.
- Design a case management plan around clients’ decision and systematically evaluate the extent to which optimal outcomes have been achieved.
- Work collaboratively with Geneticists, other physician specialists, patients, families, and members of the health care team to identify priorities, target dates, strategies, or interventions to facilitate the development of an individualized plan of care.
- Attend clients’ clinic appointments to ensure continuity of care and for self-educational purposes.
- Arrange and coordinate testing and follow-up with clients, laboratories, and professionals; make referrals to other professionals and agencies as required.
- Ensure privacy and confidentiality of medical information.
- Act as a resource and identify local, regional, and national resources and support services.
- Establish and maintain inter and intra-disciplinary professional relationships to function as part of a health care delivery team.
- Participate in regional, provincial, and national professional organizations, including the Ontario Health Provincial Genetics Program (OH-PGP) and Canadian Association of Genetic Counsellors (CAGC).
- Participate in program planning, development, meetings, and educational days.
- Develop and update policies and procedures for the department and identify education needs.
- Plan, organize, and conduct public and professional education programs on human genetics, patient care, and genetic counselling issues.
- Promote the services offered through the Medical Genetics Program to the public and physicians.
- Develop pamphlets and written information on different topics for client use.
- Determine and align improvement projects with HSN’s Strategic Plan; monitor and adjust to achieve goal outcomes.
- Evaluate patient care and satisfaction on an ongoing basis and formulate solutions for improvement.
- Participate in education and training specific to current, relevant federal and provincial health and safety legislation, standards and guidelines.
- Educate and promote health, safety and wellness in the work place.
- Represent the department or program on various committees and in meetings as required.
- Perform other duties as required.

**QUALIFICATIONS**

**EDUCATION AND TRAINING**:

- Minimum of a Master’s Degree in Genetic Counselling, from an accredited university.
- Current certification or eligible for certification with the Canadian Board of Genetic Counselling (CBGC) or American Board of Genetic Counselling (ABGC).
- Ministry of Labour “Worker Health and Safety Awareness in 4 Steps” training certificate is required.

**EXPERIENCE**:

- Two (2) years’ experience working in a Prenatal, Pediatrics, Adult, and/or Cancer Genetics department within a health care environment is preferred.

**KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES**:

- Demonstrated knowledge of human genetics as it applies to genetic counselling.
- Demonstrated sound judgement with organizational, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
- Demonstrated superior client and family service orientation.
- Demonstrated training, experience or utilization of quality improvement methodology for process improvement.
- Demonstrated ability to independently identify issues, plan improvements, measure success and continue improvement.
- Demonstrated excellent computer skill