Salary: The salary range for this position is CAD $42.27/Hr. - CAD $52.81/Hr.

Summary:

Within the context of a client and family centred model of care, and in accordance with the Mission, Vision, Values and strategic directions of Providence Health Care, the person promotes a safe, respectful, and civil working environment for patients, residents, families, visitors and staff.

Reporting to the Operations Leader Support Cardiac (for Inherited Arrhythmia Clinic issues), and to the Leader Business Operations Heart Centre, Diagnostic Imaging, and Ambulatory Care (for Aortophathy Clinic issues), the Genetic Counsellor participates in a team approach to medical genetic services under the direction of the Medical Geneticist and Cardiologist(s). Responsibilities include counseling, education, clinical research and client care, focusing on medical facts including diagnosis and probable course of the disorder, hereditary contributions to the disorder and the risk of recurrence. Duties include conducting assessments, providing individual, family and group counseling services, maintaining client records, attending interdisciplinary clinical/ case conferences, facilitating genetic testing options, identifying and assisting client(s) to access applicable community resources, and contributing to the effectiveness of service delivery and development of program sponsored interdisciplinary research.

What You Bring:

Education
Master's degree in genetic counseling. Two years of recent, related experience and/or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience. Board eligible for certification or Board certified with the Canadian Association of Genetic Counselling or the American Board of Genetic Counselling.

Skills and Abilities

Comprehensive knowledge of genetic counseling skills.

Broad knowledge of other health disciplines and their role in health care.

Broad knowledge of research methodology and familiarity with design and conduct of quantitative and qualitative research.

Broad knowledge of family, group and change therapy.

Demonstrated listening and information seeking skills that promote communication and lead to a cooperative approach to problem solving within an interdisciplinary setting.

Demonstrated ability to gather relevant data and make multi-dimensional assessments.

Demonstrated understanding of hereditary syndromes, genetic testing and clinical guidelines.

Demonstrated ability to conduct social and psychosocial assessments.

Demonstrated ability to understand and influence group and inter-group processes and decision making.

Demonstrated ability to establish rapport with clients and families in order to explore issues that are beyond the initial presented concerns.

Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with clients, families, staff and community agency personnel.

Demonstrated ability to effective deal with conflict situations.

Demonstrated ability to adjust to new and unexpected events.

Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as a member of an interdisciplinary team.

Demonstrated ability to establish workload priorities in collaboration with others.

Demonstrated ability to teach and supervise students.

Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.

Computer literacy with word processing, spreadsheet and database skills.

What We Offer:

• A competitive salary: The salary range for this position is $42.27-$52.81 per hour depending on experience.
• A comprehensive health benefits package including dental, vision, and life insurance as well as pension.
• Growth opportunities: We welcome individuals at all stages of their career, offering opportunities for professional development and growth.
• State-of-the-art facilities: The new St. Paul’s Hospital and health campus will be the most innovative approach to the delivery of integrated care in B.C. and Canada, designed to appropriately address the future health needs of patients, families and our communities. From hospital care to primary and community health solutions, the new St. Paul’s Hospital and health campus will continue to lead innovations in care, research, and teaching. The new St. Paul’s Hospital is expected to open in 2027.
• Inclusive culture: We respect the diversity, dignity and interdependence of all persons. We value the cultural richness that our diverse workforce brings to the care of our equally diverse population of patients and residents.

Your Day-to-Day:

Participates on the clinical cardiogenetics team by developing, preparing and completing patient care history files. Conducts assessments through interviews with the client and/or family, obtaining relevant medical and family history information, eliciting client/ family concerns and gathering data regarding the client's support system. Analyses and interprets inheritance patterns including the diagnosis and probable course of the disorder to determine hereditary contributions and the risk of recurrence. Summarizes data, the client's and family's coping abilities, and anticipated needs for discussion with Medical Geneticist / Cardiologist as designated,

Provides a written consultation to the referring physician(s) in a timely manner, and when appropriate a written summary to the patient with details of the consultation and recommendations. Serves as a liaison person between the referring physician, the patient and the cardiogenetics physician, to assure an understanding of the counseling issues and follow-up recommendations; contacts patient/referring physician with results as needed.

Provides genetic counseling and support to patients and family members primarily independently, by providing families with information about particular genetic disorders, inheritance patterns, genetic risk, genetic testing options and available support groups, in addition to assisting the patient/ family in coping with the emotional stress associated with a cardiogenetic diagnosis. Facilitates informed choices by providing information about the process of the disorder, expected outcomes, available genetic tests, risk of recurrence of the disorder, and alternatives for dealing with the risk of recurrence including changes in coping style, behavior, attitude, feelings, and adaptive responses to an adverse life event.

Explains genetic susceptibility testing and the associated potential benefits and harms to clients/ families. Facilitates genetic testing options by booking appropriate tests, contacting client/ family to confirm appointment and relay pre-appointment instructions as applicable, and transferring test results into appropriate client record/ database.

Attends clinical/case conferences as a member of an interdisciplinary team for client reviews, admissions, discharges and provides input from a genetic counseling perspective on a variety of care issues related to the client, and program effectiveness to ensure proper and effective treatment of the client. Transfers cases to ensure continuity of care as appropriate.

Arranges to obtain outstanding patient results, reviews outside reports and test results following department guidelines and procedures, orders relevant medical records, arranges medical testing and organizes referrals to other specialists/clinics as required by the Cardiogeneticist. Maintains and updates client records by methods such as documenting client assessments, charting client information, preparing progress notes and reports in accordance with established standards, and documenting for future reference; transfers applicable clinical and genetic information into appropriate database.

Engages in program evaluation and quality improvement by methods such as identifying opportunities for change, assessing available resources, analyzing outcomes, and formulating recommendations for improved efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery to enhance client service within hospital programs and reduce gaps in service in the community.

Initiates and participates in program sponsored interdisciplinary research by identifying current trends/ gaps in the literature, conducting research; including disseminating, presenting and publishing findings, and ensuring clinical practices and protocols are consistent with current research findings.

Provides consultative and direct services to clients, families, staff and community health professionals regarding community resources, support groups, and access to these resources by methods such as identifying applicable resources, providing information on resources, suggesting contacts, and making referrals to facilitate optimal planning; maintains follow up contacts with clients/ families as required.

Maintains knowledge of current developments in the Genetic Counselling profession by methods such as reviewing literature in specialty areas, consulting with clinical and community experts within the field, evaluating clinical practice, and participating in professional development activities to improve care through new practices.

Maintains a variety of records such as workload statistics by methods such as recording information into approved formats, collating data, analyzing trends, accounting for variances, recommending an action plan and forwarding to supervisor for review.

Attends a variety of committees as directed to facilitate the resolution of issues, provide input and act as an advocate in the achievement of the goals and objectives of the program, and to promote the optimal support of the client group throughout the continuum of inpatient, outpatient, and community care. Leads and/or attends meetings, family conferences, in-services, and corporate initiatives by methods such as presenting relevant materials/ topics. Remains informed of departmental/practice activities and contributes to hospital initiatives.

Participates in the academic and clinical training of genetic counseling students, and academic training of medical students and residents through methods such as giving lectures, leading small group sessions, teaching counseling skills, and providing information and guidance and the opportunity to observe and take an active role in the counseling of suitable clients.

Sets measurable goals and objectives within a team or individual environment, incorporating the organization's vision and values, goals and corporate plan, through methods such as maintaining and updating own knowledge of clinical and professional development within area of practice and developing plan in collaboration with the Operations Leader(s). Reviews progress to ensure that goals are achieved within established time frames.

Maintains an awareness of developments in cardiogenetic services (through literature reviews, internet sources, participation in journal club, patient review, and other means) and, as appropriate, keeps health professional and patients informed of new information via lectures, in-services, phone consultations and correspondence.

Assists and contributes in the design of patient focused cardiogenetics research, especially with a focus on genetic counseling.

Develops research ideas to generate abstracts, case reports and manuscripts for educational meetings and publications in the scientific literature in collaboration with the clinical team.

Carries out responsibilities in accordance with health and safety requirements. Immediately reports unsafe situations by notifying supervisor or other appropriate personnel.

Performs other related duties as assigned.