Job summary
- Main area
- Genetics
- Grade
- Band 8a
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 273-DC-7363061
- Employer
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Moorfields Eye Hospital
- Town
- London
- Salary
- £64,156 - £71,148 Per Annum, Inclusive of HCAS
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 24/08/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Principal Genetic Counsellor
Band 8a
YOU MAKE US MORE
Join Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
At Moorfields, people’s sight matters—and so do the people who make it possible.
For over 200 years, Moorfields has been at the forefront of ophthalmic care, research, and education. With more than 2,300 dedicated team members and over 700,000 patients seen annually across our City Road site and 22 networked sites, we are proud to be a global centre of excellence.
We're also a vibrant community where kindness, equity and excellence shape every aspect of our work. Whether it’s pioneering research through our partnership with UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Biomedical Research Centre or training the next generation of global eye care leaders, we’re united by one mission—delivering world-class eye health, sustainably and at scale.
And we’re just getting started.
Construction is well underway on our groundbreaking new centre in Camden, a joint initiative between Moorfields Eye Hospital, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Charity This modern, flexible facility will bring together eye care, research, and education under one roof—enabling transformative innovation and collaboration like never before.
Could you be part of this future? Make us more.
Job overview
As Principal Genetic Counsellor, the post holder will support the Head of the Genetic Service to provide professional leadership to the genetic counsellors and wider genetics team to ensure the provision of genetic counselling duties and of a comprehensive genetic service to adult and paediatric patients with a wide range of ophthalmic inherited disorders within the Genetics Service of Moorfields Eye Hospital.
The post holder will contribute to the organisation and development of the department specifically within the genetic counselling team helping to deliver key strategic, research and national objectives and act as a significant educational resource, both to the wider care system and trainees in genetic ophthalmology and genetic counselling. The role will include line management of pre-registration genetic counsellors and clinical support roles such as genomic associates, as well as student placements. Additionally, the postholder will apply advanced genetic counselling skills to undertake professional duties consistent with those of a registered genetic counsellor.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will carry out the duties and responsibilities of a genetic counsellor with the aim of helping patients and families:
· comprehend the medical facts, including the diagnosis, probable course of the disorder and the available management.
· appreciate the way heredity contributes to the disorder, and the risk of recurrence in specified relatives.
· understand the options (including genetic testing) for dealing with the risk.
· choose the course of action most appropriate for them.
· make the best possible adjustment to the disorder/risk of the disorder.
Working for our organisation
What’s in it for You?
At Moorfields, we invest in you—your growth, your wellbeing, your future.
You’ll join a flexible, supportive organisation offering:
• Competitive salary (including high-cost area supplement)
• Membership of the NHS Pension Scheme
• 24/7 independent counselling support
• Career-long learning and development opportunities
• Excellent transport connections
• Access to NHS and Blue Light discount schemes
• Free Pilates classes
• Full support and training to develop your skills
And so much more! To see the full range of benefits we offer please view our Moorfields benefits leaflet.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To be the lead genetic counsellor in the genetics department for the Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust:
Lead and supervise the genetic counselling team and other genetic support staff, in co-ordinating a flexible timetable to cover the clinical requirements of the Genetic Service as efficiently as possible.
In association with the head of genetic services, lead the development and delivery of training and development programmes within genetic counselling service and lead on research and practice development within the genetic counselling service.
To lead in developing an increase in service provision and quality of care within the genetic counselling services.
Provide specialist advice to colleagues and other health professionals.
Act as an on-going point of contact for the patients, families and other health professionals.
Work in partnership with other support services to develop a strategic approach for the provision of specialist genetic counselling services.
Deliver professional leadership and consultancy, setting standards and promoting best practice.
Work autonomously and be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of own professional activities.
Provide expert genetic counselling and management of complex cases, demonstrating advanced knowledge and skills, including the integration of research evidence into practice by expert clinical reasoning and decision-making.
Order genetic tests as clinically appropriate and according to agreed guidelines.
Endeavour to achieve for all families seen a good understanding of the genetic information and the best possible adjustment to the presence of genetic disease in their family.
Refer patients to relevant patient-led organisations, and other support services.
Develop specialised programmes of care and provide highly specialist clinical services. This includes arranging appropriate specialist screening and testing programmes, interpreting diagnostic test results, and advising accordingly.
Develop and design care pathways for referral of genetics patients in conjunction with other multi-disciplinary team members.
Direct and use the results of specialist investigations (e.g. array CGH and next generation sequencing) to assist formulation of diagnoses and plan patient management.
Provide expert advice and second opinion to health care professionals, including when views may differ or conflict. This includes the formulation of accurate assessment and recommendation of best practice.
Demonstrate expert ability to elicit and communicate highly complex, sensitive, or contentious information to patients, carers and other staff.
Expertly communicate highly sensitive and potentially distressing information to patients and relatives about their genetic status with implications for biological and social family relationships.
Advise on factors that can influence risk.
Communicate with, and support, patients who are recently bereaved including parents after the loss of a child or termination of pregnancy for abnormality
Use counselling skills to facilitate decision-making and promote adjustment in patients and family members.
Use specialised counselling skills to communicate sensitively in the presence of language, cultural or ethical issues.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- MSc Genetic Counselling or STP Clinical Scientist (Genomic Counsellor) training or Equivalence or Professional qualification (e.g. RGN, social work) and relevant first degree or MSc in related field
- Genetic Counsellor Registration Board Registration or Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) Clinical Scientist (Genomic Counselling) registration
Desirable criteria
- Relevant PhD
- Managerial or Leadership Qualification
- Teaching Qualification
Knowledge and Experience
Essential criteria
- Significant professional experience as a Genetic Counsellor
- Extensive experience in a specialist genetics service
- Experience of working in the NHS and understanding of professional and current issues related to genetics, the NHS, and relevant fields
- Experience of communicating highly complex and sensitive information to patients
- Experience of working across a diverse group of staff and skill mix
- Experience of active involvement with innovative practice and service developments and evidence of significant achievements gained
- Experience of training and mentoring junior staff
- Experience of teaching other health professionals about genomics
- Experience of supporting the mainstreaming of genomic medicine
- Experience of leadership within a clinical setting
Desirable criteria
- Experience of audit and service improvement
- Experience of a managerial role or responsibilities (such as line management, staff appraisals, managing annual leave/staff sickness)
- Experience in staff recruitment
Skills
Essential criteria
- Ability to work autonomously and manage a clinical caseload
- Ability to offer expert clinical opinion on a range of inherited diseases and genetic issues
- Ability to take responsibility for the clinical care of patients
- Ability to line manage staff including performing staff appraisals
- Ability to work effectively as part of a team in a multi-disciplinary environment
- Computer literacy
- Ability to apply research outcomes to clinical problems
Desirable criteria
- Ability to use patient administration database- Openeyes and Electronic Records System
Employer certification / accreditation badges
.jpg "RNIB")
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Mariya Moosajee
- Job title
- Genetics Service Director
- Email address
- [email protected]
If you have problems applying, contact
- Address
-
Any
- Telephone
- [email protected]
List jobs with Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in Health Science Services or all sectors