PG Cert Genomics

Background

The Genomics Education Programme (GEP) was established in 2014 following an initial investment from the Department of Health to pump prime genomic education and training activity to support the delivery of the 100,000 Genomes Project. At the beginning of financial year 2018/19 the GEP became part of business as usual within Health Education England (HEE) and in collaboration with NHS England (NHSE) continues to support the newly launched NHS Genomic Medicine Service (GMS).

As the GMS evolves the GEP has a role in the education and training required to upskill and support the healthcare workforce in the delivery of the new service. Beyond this there is also scope to provide the same for the wider NHS workforce. As nursing is one of the largest groups within the NHS it is imperative, we ensure they have the right knowledge, skills and behaviours to deliver the service.

In 2020 the GEP funded 30 nurses to undertake an online CPD course which ran over a 15-week period, designed for nurses with little-to-no previous knowledge of genomics, the success of this course led to a HEE GEP funding the course to run for a further 3 years.

The GEP would now like to provide a higher-level qualification for Nurses and Midwives to build on foundation knowledge. The GEP are seeking bids from suitable providers to deliver a 60 credit, level 7, PGCert for professional development in Genomics for Nurses and Midwives provided over an 18-month period.

Scope of the Contract

The GEP want to provide the opportunity for nurses to obtain a higher-level qualification in Genomics. The Authority is inviting quotations for the provision of an innovative, post-graduate blended learning course in Genomics for a funded cohort of nurses at Clinical Nurse Specialist or equivalent level.

A contract would cover 18 months (with the option to extend for a further 18 months dependent on GEP budget allocation).