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A Toolkit for Developing Services Involving Genetics

This information is for those who are developing services for patients with or at risk of genetic conditions. 

Please note that this Toolkit is based on the collected experiences of service development initiatives in genetics and is not intended to be a complete guide to service development; you may also want to consult generic service development resources and expertise within your own organisation.

 

Working with Genetics Departments

The experiences of the pilot projects showed that it is important for those developing new roles and services to liaise with their regional genetics centre at an early stage so that involvement and financial implications can be discussed.

  1. Clinical support
  2. Information support
  3. Educational support

 

1. Regional genetics centres (RGCs) may be able to provide clinical support for staff in new roles or genetics roles outside RGCs

A formal time commitment from the genetics department may be required, for example for: 

  • regular meetings to provide clinical support e.g. the opportunity to discuss clinical cases.
  • supervision of clinical work.
  • assessing clinical competence of newly trained staff.

Staff may benefit from attending clinical meetings and seminars in the genetics department. Named support (management and clinical) should be considered.

 

2. Regional genetics centres may be able to provide information support

Patient information leaflets may be available from RGCs. RGCs may be able to provide specialist genetics input to the development of information resources such as websites for health professionals.

 

3. Regional genetics centres may be able to provide educational support

RGC staff may be able to provide genetics education for staff in new roles, such as providing tutorials and advice on reading and materials for self study. RGC staff may also be able to provide educational sessions for other health professionals.

 

Examples of resources

  • The resources page provides examples of resources from previous service development initiatives.

 

 

Last updated: 13 October 2011

Genetics in Practice