Job summary
The post holder will work as part of an integrated team, in partnership with carers and other providers of health and social care to develop and deliver genetic counselling for pregnant women and couples with sickle cell and thalassaemic conditions/carriers in Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham. The post-holder will provide genetic counselling to support the antenatal, neonatal and opportunistic screening programmes. The post will include clinical practice, teaching and training, health promotion, research and audit.
Closing Date: 10th July 2025
Interview Date: 24th July 2025
Main duties of the job
The post-holder will provide genetic counselling to support the antenatal, neonatal and opportunistic screening programmes. The post will include clinical practice, teaching and training, health promotion, research and audit.
About us
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust comprises five of the UK's best known hospitals - Guy's, St Thomas', Evelina London Children's Hospital, Royal Brompton and Harefield - as well as community services in Lambeth and Southwark, all with a long history of high quality care, clinical excellence, research and innovation.
We provide a comprehensive range of services for the 127,000 children and young people that live in Lambeth and Southwark. This includesuniversal services - health visiting, family nurse partnership, school nursing, nutrition and dietetics, and a new-born hearing screening programme.Our specialist services cover community paediatrics, speech and language therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, complex needs nursing,sickle cell and audiology. As well as part of statutory services including looked after children, child protection, safeguarding, and adoption andfostering.We have two main health centres, Mary Sheridan Centre in Lambeth and Sunshine House in Southwark but we have many more across Lambethand Southwark. We also provide services in schools, community buildings, in families' homes, and occasionally in hospital. Through groupsessions and individual appointments, face-to-face and virtual, we hold over 145,000 appointments every year.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Receive referrals from individuals, clinicians laboratories and other professionals and agencies
- Deliver expert health advice and genetic counselling to individuals with or at risk of having a haemoglobinopathy
- Provide nurse-led genetic counselling clinic sessions at the South East London Sickle Cell/Thalassaemia Centre, and other local Health Centres/GP Practices, giving easy access to users
- Promote integrated care pathways
- Enable individuals with sickle cell and thalassaemic conditions to improve their health and reduce inequalities
- Provide input into service development
- Practice in a cost aware manner
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Receive referrals from individuals, clinicians laboratories and other professionals and agencies
- Deliver expert health advice and genetic counselling to individuals with or at risk of having a haemoglobinopathy
- Provide nurse-led genetic counselling clinic sessions at the South East London Sickle Cell/Thalassaemia Centre, and other local Health Centres/GP Practices, giving easy access to users
- Promote integrated care pathways
- Enable individuals with sickle cell and thalassaemic conditions to improve their health and reduce inequalities
- Provide input into service development
- Practice in a cost aware manner
Person Specification
Qualifications/ Education
Essential
- Registered General Nurse (RGN) oCertificate in Counselling
- Evidence of professional development
- Understanding of other haemoglobinopathies so as to provide support and counselling
- Phlebotomy (or willingness to undertake relevant training)
Desirable
- Certificate in Counselling
- Experience of caring for individuals with haemoglobinopathies in a community setting
- Experience of delivering teaching and training packages to different disciplines Experience of delivering teaching and training packages to different disciplines
Skills/Knowledge/ Ability
Essential
- Clean, valid motor vehicle driving licence
- Phlebotomy (or willingness to undertake relevant training)
- ENB No8 Care and Management of Individuals with Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia (or willingness to undergo relevant training)
Desirable
- Certificate in Counselling
- Pegasus Training (or willingness to undergo training)
Previous experience
Essential
- Ability to deal sensitively with patients, relatives and carers
- Ability to convey contentious/complex information to patients, relatives and carers
Desirable
- Understand the requirements of the National Ante Natal and Neonatal Screening Programme Standards and National Standards for Sickle Cell & Thalassaemia
Person Specification
Qualifications/ Education
Essential
- Registered General Nurse (RGN) oCertificate in Counselling
- Evidence of professional development
- Understanding of other haemoglobinopathies so as to provide support and counselling
- Phlebotomy (or willingness to undertake relevant training)
Desirable
- Certificate in Counselling
- Experience of caring for individuals with haemoglobinopathies in a community setting
- Experience of delivering teaching and training packages to different disciplines Experience of delivering teaching and training packages to different disciplines
Skills/Knowledge/ Ability
Essential
- Clean, valid motor vehicle driving licence
- Phlebotomy (or willingness to undertake relevant training)
- ENB No8 Care and Management of Individuals with Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia (or willingness to undergo relevant training)
Desirable
- Certificate in Counselling
- Pegasus Training (or willingness to undergo training)
Previous experience
Essential
- Ability to deal sensitively with patients, relatives and carers
- Ability to convey contentious/complex information to patients, relatives and carers
Desirable
- Understand the requirements of the National Ante Natal and Neonatal Screening Programme Standards and National Standards for Sickle Cell & Thalassaemia
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
