Identify the knowledge, skills and behaviours that healthcare professionals need to support patients through genomic testing

The way that genomic testing will be accessed in the NHS is changing, with the implementation of a Genomic Medicine Service (GMS). This includes a national genomic test directory, which outlines the tests that are commissioned by NHS England and NHS Improvement. 

This has resulted in a requirement for workforce development to ensure that all healthcare professionals who access genomic testing are competent to do so, and are able to address the unique considerations of genomics, including the uncertainty of genomic information, complexity of results and impact on the wider family.

In response, the Genomic Education Programme is developing a collection of competency frameworks, available below, to support the development of the workforce who will be supporting patients through genomic testing.