Job Summary:

In accordance with the Purpose, Vision, Values and Coast Salish Teachings, and strategic direction of PHSA, safety, including both patient and employee safety, is a priority and a responsibility shared by everyone at PHSA. As such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position.

Reporting to the Practice Leader, the Genetic Counsellor, Knowledge Mobilization is a highly competent and academic member of the department who demonstrates leadership, advanced knowledge, skills and judgment in support of strategic and operational decision-making related to the clinical and technical aspects for the care of patients receiving hereditary cancer care. The Genetic Counsellor, Knowledge Mobilization is responsible for working strategically across multiple internal and external invested partners to promote research and investigate best practices of hereditary cancer care across the province. The role provides strategic and operational input to leadership in relation to best practice and has a key role in shaping policies to develop and support a strong approach to hereditary cancer care. The Genetic Counsellor, Knowledge Mobilization contributes to the development of evidence-based hereditary cancer knowledge, ongoing improvement practice, research and knowledge mobilization (KMb) through the demonstration of leadership, formal and informal education delivery, and expert clinical consultation. Working within an interprofessional health team, the Professional Practice Lead, Clinical Coordinator, and leadership, the Genetic Counsellor, Knowledge Mobilization supports the provision of evidence-based care to the target population and ensures projects, initiatives, and program evaluations all consider the specific standards of practice. The Genetic Counsellor, Knowledge Mobilization acts in accordance with the mandate of BC Cancer to assess and coordinate services to best meet the needs of patients across the province and provide genetic counselling to individual patients and their family members.

Duties/Accountabilities:

1. Develops and maintains inter-professional research program, knowledge translation capacity building structures and resources that incorporate evidence-based practice and new innovations to optimize care delivery by performing duties such as creating partnerships across BC Cancer sites, programs, academic institutions and leadership; acting as Principal Investigator; and initiating and leading in the development of research and evaluation approaches.

2. Identifies, collects and analyzes relevant information/evidence relating to current clinical practice and synthesizes findings, by developing the data collection, interpretation and analysis approach and designing research studies to effectively integrate these into the development, implementation, analysis, dissemination of findings, and policy/practice implications of strategic programs and initiatives. Translates research outcomes to evidence-based practice and provides input to leadership on strategic initiatives including program planning, policies and procedures related to hereditary cancer care practice and operations. Makes suggestions to work models and workflow.

3. Provides consultation to BC Cancer leadership and inter-professional care teams across the province to support the planning and delivery of evidence-based services along the continuum of care such as identifying research priorities, developing and applying for research grants, implementing research projects, and acting as an investigator/collaborator in interdisciplinary collaborative research.

4. Provides complex clinical case consultation to target patient populations within an inter-professional clinic.

5. Introduces and integrates the Genetic Counsellor, Knowledge Mobilization role with patients, genetics professionals, and appropriate members of the care team. Participates in ongoing needs assessment and evaluation activities designed to measure the development and success of the role and achievement of associated outcomes.

6. Plans, develops, implements and evaluates evidence-informed and innovative programming, practice guidelines, resources, including quality improvement that support best practice, meet the needs of knowledge users and are aligned with organizational, provincial, and program priorities.

7. Participates in the development of KMb strategies regarding research, professional standards, regulation and practice as required.

8. Maintains up-to-date knowledge on literature on hereditary cancer care best practices. Conducts evidence reviews and jurisdictional scans, analyzes research, identifies key messages, and translates and disseminates new knowledge to all members of the healthcare team, patients, their families, groups, and communities.

9. Assesses and understands hereditary cancer-related KMb needs and priorities by using quantitative and qualitative methodology. Works collaboratively with HCP Leadership, the multidisciplinary HCP team, patients and families, and academic and community partners to ensure the needs of knowledge users are met.

10. Maintains an environment that values and promotes continuous learning and research by planning, developing, and evaluating programs and coordinating the delivery of programs in collaboration with the Provincial Practice Lead, Educators, and Genetic Counsellors so that staff can meet performance expectations and standards of professional practice.

11. Develops and collates information for policies, care pathways, and clinical practice standards along with business case developments for BC Cancer with the inter-professional team and other stakeholders.

12. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Education, Training and Experience

• Master’s degree in Genetic Counselling or Medical Genetics.
• Four (4) years’ recent related experience, such as quality improvement, research, and/or knowledge translation, working in a health care setting or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Certification with the Canadian Association of Genetic Counsellors and/or American Board of Genetic Counsellors.

Skills and Abilities

• Clinical competence and in-depth knowledge of evidence-based hereditary cancer practice.
• Knowledge of and experience in qualitative and quantitative research methodologies.
• Demonstrated understanding and experience in application of knowledge translation theories, principles and practices.
• Ability to work independently, participate as a member of an interdisciplinary team and foster effective working relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders, internally and externally to the organization.
• Broad knowledge of research process and methodology.
• Ability to lead change, inspire, engage, and collaborate with others, while also promoting innovation.
• Ability to establish courses of action for self and others that are results oriented.
• Strong leadership, and communications skills (oral and written), including a demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with non-specialist audiences.
• Strong critical thinking, analytical and interpretive skills, and an ability to present information in concise and meaningful ways, including producing written reports.
• Demonstrated ability to provide competent and culturally safe care in a variety of settings and with diverse populations.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.