Consultant Clinical Geneticist 8PAs

Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the busiest and largest NHS hospital trusts in the country, with around 16,000 staff and an annual budget of £1.7 billion. With a strong history of providing high-quality care, clinical excellence, research, and innovation, we are in the top five providers of specialised health services in the UK. We support people with a range of rare and complex medical, surgical, neurological conditions, cancers, and genetic disorders.

We are committed to promoting equality and diversity, fostering an inclusive environment, and recruiting a workforce that reflects the communities we serve. Newcastle Hospitals are also leaders in sustainability, aiming for Net Zero by 2030 for our direct carbon footprint and by 2040 for our broader footprint.

About the role

We are offering a less-than-full-time (8 PA) substantive post for a highly motivated clinical geneticist to join the Northern Genetics Service. This role is ideal for a candidate with broad-based training in all areas of clinical genetics, particularly those with an interest in paediatric and fetal genetics. The post-holder will be part of a large multidisciplinary team providing a coordinated genetics service to a population of 3.1 million in the North East of England and Cumbria, as well as highly specialised services for limb girdle muscular dystrophies across the UK.

The Service is part of the Directorate of Integrated Laboratory Medicine. As a flexible working-friendly organisation, we strive to accommodate arrangements that work for both the service and the individual.

For an informal discussion, contact Dr Richard Martin, Clinical Lead, on 0191 241 8700.

Responsibilities

• Participate in multi-professional triage of patients and families referred for genetic assessment.
• Provide expert diagnostic opinions on patients with adult or paediatric syndromes as part of a multi-professional team.
• Ensure appropriate diagnostic testing is undertaken and communicate results and their implications to referrers, patients, family members, and other clinicians.
• Manage outpatient clinics to deliver high-quality care and meet local and national targets.
• Collaborate with laboratory staff to ensure effective use of diagnostic resources.
• Participate in Genomic MDT Meetings to facilitate interpretation of genomic test results.
• Engage in regular department and multidisciplinary team meetings.
• Undergo Continued Medical Education (CME) in line with Royal College guidelines and complete annual appraisals.
• Adhere to Trust policies on infection prevention and control.

Managerial

• Participate in all aspects of Clinical Governance, including audit projects, guideline formulation, and risk management.
• Assist in the investigation of complaints as needed.
• Contribute to the organisation and running of the Genetics service.
• Lead specific management projects as requested.

Administrative

• Undertake administrative duties related to patient care and the running of the Northern Genetics Service.

Research & Audit

• Participate in improvement and innovation activities, including potential roles as a Principal Investigator for NIHR portfolio studies.
• Comply with Trust policy on Innovation and Intellectual Property.
• Conduct regular audits of compliance with national and local clinical guidelines.

Teaching

• Participate in the teaching of undergraduate and postgraduate students.
• Educate health professionals on new genomic testing and advances in genomic medicine.

Flexibility

To meet patient needs, staff may be required to work flexible patterns, including evenings and weekends, as service demands evolve.

Requirements

Education, Qualifications & Specialist Skills

• Essential:
  • Primary Medical Qualification and full GMC Registration.
  • Entry onto the GMC Specialist Register (within 6 months of the AAC).
  • MRCP/MRCPCH or appropriate professional qualification.
• Desirable:
  • Higher degree or postgraduate qualification in interpretation of genomic data.
  • Specialised training in fetal and paediatric genetics.
  • Experience in assessment of whole genome results.

Clinical Experience

• Essential:
  • Ability to offer expert clinical opinions in outpatient and inpatient settings.
  • Proficiency in using and interpreting diagnostic testing.
• Desirable:
  • Experience in fetal and paediatric genetics.
  • Evidence of MDT working.

Management & Administration

• Essential:
  • Commitment to shared professional and managerial responsibilities.
  • Successful completion of audit projects.
  • Flexible approach to service delivery and understanding of Clinical Governance.
• Desirable:
  • Evidence of successful participation in management processes.

Teaching

• Essential:
  • Experience in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching.
• Desirable:
  • Postgraduate qualification in Medical Education.
  • Teaching experience in a cardiac genetics setting.

Research

• Desirable:
  • Evidence of involvement in research methodology and publication of findings.
  • Presentations at national/international conferences within the last 2 years.