Background to the scheme

 The commitment, set out in the Genetics White Paper, to increase the genetic counsellor workforce by at least 50 posts through support for existing and new training opportunities is well on its way to being met through the Genetic Counsellor Training Post (GCTP) scheme. This scheme is profession-led and monitored, and funded by the Department of Health.  

A total of 17 Centres were approved for genetic counsellor training and 43 trainees were appointed in the first two phases of the scheme. Approved Centres needed to provide access to a comprehensive learning environment suitable for genetic counsellor training, including a multidisciplinary approach to patient care, a named registered/eligible for registration genetic counsellor to act as a training supervisor/mentor and clinical and counselling supervision.  

Appointment to the training posts was very competitive, with up to 70 applications received after advertisement for individual posts. This has meant that the GCTP scheme has been able to attract individuals with a high degree of commitment and enthusiasm.

 Professional and educational backgrounds of trainees 

One of the primary aims of the scheme, to ensure a diversity of backgrounds amongst the genetic counsellor workforce, has been achieved.

·        Around 1 in 3 trainees (37%, n=16) had a professional background in the health or social services, mainly in nursing. Four of these trainees had an MSc in Genetic Counselling in addition to a professional background.

·        Half the trainees (51%, n=22) had a scientific background and an MSc in Genetic Counselling.

·        The remaining five trainees had neither a health professional background nor a Genetic Counselling MSc, but were graduates who used their training post to obtain an “entry-level” MSc (permissible only in the first phase of the scheme).

 Outcome data: the current situation

·        The vast majority of the 43 trainees (93%, n=40) now hold a substantive genetic counselling post in a Regional Genetics Centre

·        About two-thirds of past-trainees (63%, n=25) obtained a post in the Centre in which they trained, with the remainder moving to practice in a different Centre. 

·        One trainee is still in their training post.

·        Only two trainees left their posts for employment other than genetic counselling, one of whom completed her training as a genetic counsellor. 

Professional registration

The GCTP scheme was designed to enable trainees to develop the competencies and prepare the portfolios required for UK genetic counsellor registration.  Of the 38 former trainees in post, 14 are now Registered Genetic Counsellors, with another 12 having submitted their portfolios to the Genetic Counsellor Registration Board in the current annual round of applications for Registration. The remaining past-trainees plan to submit their portfolios next year or as soon as they are eligible to register.  

The next phase of the scheme

The GCTP Panel, the AGNC Committee and the Genetic Counsellor Registration Board remain committed to the continuation of structured training posts and approval of training centres. Recently, the GCTP Panel have been successful in obtaining DH funding for a third phase of the scheme which will enable the White Paper commitment of 50 new genetic counsellors to be realised.  

In this third phase, the DH will part-fund up to ten new training posts by providing 50% of the trainee’s salary and on-costs, as well as providing generous funding for an educational allowance and a training centre stipend. The GCTP Panel will professionally monitor the new phase of the Scheme.  

Once DH funding was confirmed, Centres were invited to apply for re-validation as a genetic counsellor training centre. All re-validated centres were able to apply for training post funding after confirming that their host Trust would meet 50% of the salary and employment costs of a trainee. Mentors in the scheme must be Registered Genetic Counsellors.  

This process in currently underway as we write, but it is hoped that all new trainees will be in post before the end of the current financial year.  

This will be the final phase of the DH-supported scheme. However, we hope that this part-funded scheme will encourage many departments to embed a training post within their budgets for the future. 

The GCTP Panel will also be pleased to monitor non-DH funded training posts in a similar manner to the DH posts. If any Centre has such a post, we would be pleased to hear from them. 

Genetic Counsellor Training Post Scheme Panel