Cancer Genomics Associate

The South East Genomic Medicine Service is searching for a highly motivated, personable and flexible individual to join our dynamic team as a Cancer Genomics Associate.

We are looking for someone who is dynamic, creative, flexible, and may be considering a career in genetic counselling, clinical research or project delivery and find that this opportunity provides a key stepping stone to their career development.

The post would suit an individual with significant experience in the NHS who is confident when communicating sensitive information to patients and families. Applicants from a range of backgrounds and experiences are welcomed.

**The primary duties of the post holder will be**:
Acquisition of tissue and bodily fluids from patients at Guys & St Thomas' Hospital Trusts, King's College Hospital as well as other collaborating sites

Communicate with patients and families in a sensitive and friendly manner over the telephone, in-person and on video calls to obtain consent for Whole Genome Sequencing

Travelling to various sites to acquire tissues from operating theatres, wards, pathology laboratories and transporting tissues in accordance with Trust and South East Genomic Laboratory Hub guidelines

Distribution of acquired tissue and bodily fluids to different laboratories across King's Health Partners

Support the laboratories where necessary with the receipt, processing, quality control and storage of tissue samples for further processing

Work collaboratively with members of the GLH Management team, including

Laboratory leads and Scientists

Cancer and Rare Disease Clinicians

Service Delivery team

Administrative and Managerial staff.

The post holder will be based on-site primarily at Kings College Hospital, Denmark Hill site and Guys & St Thomas Hospital sites. The role will also require travel to various hospital sites in the South East region. The patient consenting process may need to be undertaken outside the normal clinic times, so a degree of flexibility will be required for this post.

The South East Genomics Medicine Service, consisting of the South East Genomic Laboratory Hub (SE GLH) and the South East Genomic Medicine Service Alliance (SE GMSA), as we move into a new era of genetic testing for NHS patients with rare genetic diseases and certain types of cancer.

The South East Genomic Laboratory Hub is a partnership which is led by Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and includes King’s College Hospital, St George’s University Hospital, South London and Maudsley, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells and University Hospitals Sussex as consortium partners, and Synnovis as a delivery partner.

The post-holder will work across our diverse teams to continue the progress made in developing Whole Genome Sequencing. This is a new technology which aims to improve diagnosis and treatment stratification, and build an unparalleled resource for medical research.

The SE GMS is committed to addressing health inequalities. Our equality, diversity and inclusion strategy sets out our ambitions and commitments, including ensuring we have a team that represents the diversity that exists across our region, ensuring representation in our programmes of work from across the health service, and ensuring that we have strong patient representation across all our projects.

Main duties and responsibilities
Sample Handling and transport

Acquisition of tissue and bodily fluids from GSTT/KCH patients as well as other collaborating sites.

Travelling to various sites to acquire tissues from operating theatres, wards, pathology laboratories and transporting tissues in accordance with Trust and SEGLH guidelines.

Distribution of acquired tissue and bodily fluids to different laboratories across KHP.

Support the laboratories where necessary with the receipt, processing, quality control and storage of tissue samples for further processing.

Clinical

To obtain informed consent for Whole Genome Sequencing and patient consent for tissue collection as required.

To liaise with lab teams across Synnovis Laboratories at GSTT and KCH to ensure samples reach the lab and all necessary quality control checks are carried out in advance of their dispatch.

To support the Cellular Pathology Genome Centre (CPGC) histopathology lead in embedding sample preparation pathways for onward submission throughout the GLH network.

The post holder will also be required to answer queries from patients and clinical colleagues about WGS, especially the process of returning results.

To monitor outstanding records or samples and take appropriate action.

To communicate complex information in an understandable way regarding the process of Whole Genome Sequencing in the NHS, to both adults and children/parents. The post holder will ensure families are provided the information they need to give informed consent. They will check that all relevant documents are signed correctly and that each family member is able to provide a blood sample (fo