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New Genetic Counsellor’s
group
Starting out as a new genetic counsellor can, at times, feel
challenging. There are many others across the country in the same
situation so why not contact them? Every genetics department works
differently, and so every experience as a new genetic counsellor
will be different. Some of us are DOH trainees, others are employed
in a substantive post and some of us are somewhere in between! This
group is a way of sharing our experiences and problems in a
supportive and non-judgmental atmosphere where everyone is in the
same boat, so can understand where you're coming
from.
Who can join?
Genetic counsellors who are new in post, or have been working
for less than three years. Members of this group must be
members of the AGNC. (For information on how to join
the AGNC please click here)
Aims of the group
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To allow new GCs across the country to keep in
touch
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To support each other
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To ask advice from one an other
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Share information, experiences and let others know about
upcoming events
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To ensure our views are being voiced in the AGNC committee
meetings via our New GC Representative.
How do I join?
If
you would like to join our group please email:
Sarah Wilcox
New
GC representative
sarah.wilcox@addenbrookes.nhs.uk
Frequently asked questions:
Q:
I need information on a genetic condition, where do I
go?
A: The GeneReviews
part of the GeneTests website is always a good place to start. It is
always important to bear in mind that availability of testing, and
services, may well vary locally.
UKGTN and
EDDNAL (an European
website) are good websites for checking which labs do which tests.
The Oxford Desk Reference - Clinical Genetics (Oxford Desk Reference
Series) by Firth,
Hurst and
Hall gives short and to
the point descriptions of many genetic conditions. These are good
starting points but it may be necessary to do a literature search to
look at primary information sources. It is always wise to check any
new information you are giving to families with a senior colleague.
Q:
My department is short of cash and I would like to attend a
conference
A:
The AGNC offer travel awards for both UK and abroad which could help
pay towards this. Please click here for details of
eligibility.
Q:
I have a problem with my training post/ new GC
post.
A:
You can try to sort out any issues locally, with your mentor and/or
line manager. As a genetic counsellor new in post you should be
having regular meetings to iron out any problems with your training.
However, if you think you have a wider issue about training posts in
general you can raise these with the Training Board of
the AGNC. Sarah Wilcox can help to advise you about who to
contact.
Q:
I have a clinical ethical dilemma, where do I take
this?
A:
Again, your mentor can be a good first port of call. They will
usually be a very experienced GC and may have encountered a similar
situation before. You could also try taking the case to an
individual or group or supervision to get the views of a number of
people in a structured way. Alternatively, there may be a forum for
you to share the case with your department as a whole. Departments
often hold meetings to discuss "difficult cases" where you can learn
from your peers and get the views of a multidisciplinary team. A
further option is to go to a meeting of the "Genethics Club". Genethics club is run by the Ethox Centre at Oxford University and
has been set up to provide a
"forum
for health professionals and others to discuss difficult ethical
issues encountered in genetic medicine". There are usually 3 of these
meetings per year held at different locations in the UK.
Visit the Ethox Centre website for more details
(http://www.ethox.org.uk/ethics-support/the-genethics-club/).
Q:
I have a question about registration.
A:
If
you want to know anything about registration, such as your
eligibility to register or what registration entails, then you can
find lots of information on the GCRB
website. If you can’t find your answer there then you
can contact the registration panel directly. Please note, the new GC
representative cannot take queries about registration to the AGNC
committee meetings.
Q:
Should I be doing anything about registration now?
A:
One of the criteria for registration is that we must have 2 years
full time clinical experience, starting from the written
notification of successful completion of the Genetic Counselling
MSc, if you have one. That means, for some people, the first few
months working as a genetic counsellor may not count in terms of
eligibility for registration. However, it might be useful to get
into the habit of recording internal and external CPD as this is a
requisite of registration. Some people also find a way of keeping a
log of patients you have seen. Just a couple of lines about each
patient may help you to think about whether they are suitable for
your registration case log in the future.
Q:
Should I join a union?
A:
The AGNC suggests that it is a good idea to be part of a trade
union. Unions are there to protect your interests at work and
negotiate on your behalf.
Unions
can provide help with any work related problems that may arise such
as pay disputes, discrimination and health and safety. Most genetic
counsellors (who are not nurses, as they would be in nursing union)
are a member of UNITE or
UNISON, which are two of the
largest trade unions. It costs around
£10 per month to be a member
of a union. However, some people have been able to have a reduced
rate with Unite for being in an occupational training scheme so
check to see if you qualify.
Q:
Where do I look for jobs?
A:
The two main places to find advertised genetic counsellor posts are;
here on the AGNC website – there is a link on the home page to the
left of the page half way down the list called
Jobs. There is also
the website www.jobs.nhs.uk, where you can even add NHS jobs alerts
to your email account so that it lets you know whenever there is a
genetic counsellor post being advertised.
Please stay in touch.
You
can use the email group to let us know if:
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You are attending any conferences or meetings that you
think might be interesting
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You have been to a meeting that was particularly
interesting… so we know for next year
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You have seen a new book, journal article, website,
educational resource that might be interesting or helpful for
others
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