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State of Washington Classified Job Specification

GENETICS COUNSELOR LEAD

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GENETICS COUNSELOR LEAD
Class Code: 360G
Category: Social Services


Definition

Lead staff engaged in providing professional genetic counseling services. Evaluate family history and genetic test results and participate in health sciences research, clinical care activities, and/or health sciences teaching activities.

Distinguishing Characteristics

Regularly assign, instruct and check the work of others. 

Under general direction, lead counseling staff engaged in evaluating information in complex genetics cases, providing genetic counseling services to patients and/or families, and participating in health sciences research, clinical care activities and/or health sciences teaching activities.

Typical Work

Train and orient new staff; assist in the preparation of written instructions for clinic/program procedures; 

Provide specialty consultation to other health care staff including community physicians and other primary care providers; 

Compile complete family history; obtain and review medical records; assess risk of genetic disease and provide grief and crisis counseling to individuals and/or families; 

Recommend specialized genetic testing; identify additional family members to be tested;  

Assist medical geneticist in identifying differential diagnosis and determining patient management needs; 

Discuss prognosis and management options with patient and primary caregiver and develop patient management plan; 

Educate patients regarding their genetic risks/options; explain disease signs and symptoms, probability of recurrence, prognosis, diagnostic methods/procedures, alternative courses of action and available options; 

Provide follow-up patient care; 

Coordinate patient services with social services, clergy, health care providers and other resources based upon evaluation of individual patient needs; 

Participate in teaching health care professionals, health sciences students and the general community; 

Assist principal investigator in developing and implementing investigative approaches; 

Develop procedures for data collection; review services and make recommendations for services and/or program changes; 

Participate in the development of educational programs; 

Perform the duties of Genetics Counselor 2; 

Perform related duties as required.

Legal Requirement(s)

Accreditation Requirement:  Certification by a national certification board for medical genetics personnel as a Genetics Counselor. 

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.

Desirable Qualifications

A Master's Degree in genetics counseling or a related field from a program accredited by a national certification board for medical genetics personnel 

AND 

One year of experience as a Genetics Counselor 2.

Class Specification History

New Class: 6-4-93
Revised new class code: (formerly 6187) effective July 1, 2007