About the Centre
The NHS National Genetics Education and Development Centre is working with a range of groups throughout the UK to facilitate the integration of education in genetics and genomics into all levels of education and training for NHS health professionals.
Key aims of the Centre
- Providing leadership in genetics education
- Helping to raise awareness of genetics and genomics
- Involving patients and their families in informing all aspects of our work
- Identifying the genetics knowledge, skills and attitudes which are useful for clinical roles
- Developing a framework for competence in genetics
- Facilitating the integration of genetics into curricula and courses
- Identifying and developing resources appropriate to the needs of health professionals (and their trainers)
- Supporting and disseminating learning from service development initiatives in genetics
Working with healthcare professionals, educators and trainers
Using sound educational theory and practice to underpin our work, the NHS National Genetics Education and Development Centre believes that understanding the views and needs of healthcare professional groups regarding genetics is of prime importance. The Centre has been identifying the learning needs and skill requirements with the following NHS healthcare professional groups:
- Dietitians
- Medical Practitioners
- Non-genetics healthcare professionals
- Nursing professions
- Pharmacogenetics / Pharmacogenomics
- Patient and Public Involvement
- Service Development Projects
Evaluation
The Centre recognises that evaluation is an integral part of educational initiatives. We continually assess our working processes so that they can be adapted and improved accordingly and assess the outcomes and impact of our work.
Background of the Centre
The Centre is funded by the Department of Health as one of the major initiatives of the 2003 Genetics White Paper. Our Inheritance, Our Future - Realising the potential of genetics in the NHS which set out the Government's strategy for ensuring that the potential benefits of genetics are realised by the NHS. A major aspect of this plan is to improve the understanding of genetics among all health professionals and its role in modern healthcare.
The Centre holds seminars and conferences on genetic education to promote and disseminate good practice from around the UK. Read Supporting genetics education for health: An overview of the work of the Centre for more information about the Centre's work and achievements.