Build practical confidence in cancer genomics and mainstream genetic testing within your service.
This bespoke one-day educational course has been created for Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialists across Kent & Medway. The day will take you step-by-step through the essentials of cancer genomics and the real-world application of testing, helping you feel confident in both clinical understanding and patient-facing conversations.
Book your free place to take one day out for expert-led learning, case-study discussion and scenario workshops that will support you to embed genomics testing and interpretation into everyday cancer care.
Places are only open to the Trusts within the Kent & Medway Cancer Alliance.
Cancer CNS educational course
A unique opportunity for expert guidance, case-study based learning and peer support
Genomics is transforming cancer pathways — from diagnosis and risk management through to targeted therapies and precision oncology. Oncology nurses and CNS teams are central to delivering mainstream testing safely and consistently, and to supporting patients and families through complex decisions.
Take one day out to ensure you can navigate testing processes with confidence, communicate clearly with patients, and understand the wider considerations that shape genomics-informed care. Join colleagues from across Kent & Medway and refocus on:
- Establishing a clear understanding of cancer genomics, key terminology and clinical application
- Distinguishing germline and somatic variants and why this matters for care pathways
- Exploring testing pathways and how genomics impacts diagnosis, treatment and follow-up
- Understanding the CNS role in mainstreaming genetic testing — eligibility, consent and samples
- Building confidence in sensitive conversations with patients and families about testing
- Navigating ethical, cultural and psychological considerations in genomics-informed care
- Strengthening onward referral and signposting to clinical genetics and specialist services
- Developing an action plan to embed testing and interpretation into daily practice
Key benefits of attending
Take away useful techniques and practical approaches for mainstreaming genomic testing
This course has been expertly designed to boost your confidence and strengthen practical competencies in genomics-informed cancer care. You will benefit from:
- Interactive benchmarking discussion to explore current awareness and practice across teams
- Nurse-focused guidance on eligibility, consent and sample processes for mainstream testing
- Scenario-based workshops to rehearse real-world communication challenges
- Case studies exploring the ethical, cultural and psychological impacts of testing
- Peer networking to share solutions, barriers and service-level learning
- Action planning to help you implement improvements immediately back in practice
Exclusive opportunity
This event is free to attend for Trusts within Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance
Learning & development
Oncology National Networking Forums are pleased to be featured as part of the ACCEND Framework
The ePortfolio platform is available via the Greater Manchester Cancer Academy and supports professional development in cancer care.
This forum and all of our events are mapped to the ACCEND Framework and can be recorded in the ACCEND ePortfolio to help you evidence your learning, reflections and competencies.
To find out more, click on the ACCEND tab.
| 9:30 |
Registration, technical support and networking opportunity
|
| 10:00 |
Introduction, instructions and course leader’s opening remarks
|
| Introduction to genomics | |
| 10:10 |
Establishing an understanding of cancer genomics and its application
|
| 10:40 |
Questions and answers
|
| 10:50 |
Interactive discussion: Benchmark your awareness and knowledge of genomics
|
| 11:20 |
Networking break
|
| Mainstreaming genetic testing | |
| 11:40 |
Establishing the role of oncology nurses in mainstreaming genomic testing
|
| 12:10 |
Questions and answers
|
| 12:20 |
Networking lunch
|
| Supporting patients and their families | |
| 1:20 |
Building confidence and improving communication around genomics to support patients
|
| 1:50 |
Scenario workshop: Applying your knowledge in practice
|
| 2:20 |
Networking break
|
| Navigating genomics-informed care | |
| 2:40 |
Case studies: Exploring ethical, culture and psychological considerations for genomics in care
|
| Onward referral following genetic testing | |
| 3:10 |
Effective referral and signposting to onward specialist services
|
| 3:40 |
Final questions and answers
|
| Build an action plan | |
| 3:50 |
Interactive discussion: Embedding genomics testing and interpretation into your daily practice
|
| 4:20 |
Close of day
|
Course funding
Kent & Medway Cancer Alliance has fully funded this course, enabling eligible healthcare professionals from East Kent Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, Medway NHS Foundation Trust, and Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust to attend at no cost.
Our education commitment
Kent & Medway Cancer Alliance is committed to working with high-quality education partners to strengthen and upskill our cancer workforce. Our aim is to equip professionals with the knowledge and confidence needed to meet the needs of our local population and deliver the ambitions of the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan and the national Cancer Plan.
Building genomics capacity
Training in key areas such as genomics and telephone triage is central to this, supporting earlier diagnosis, personalised care, safe decision-making and improved patient experience. All development we commission is aligned to the ACCEND framework, and our workforce evidences their learning through the Greater Manchester ePortfolio, ensuring capability is recognised, portable and embedded into practice.
Partnering for impact
By partnering with SBK, we are able to offer high-impact, relevant education that directly supports our services today and prepares our teams for the personalised, digitally enabled cancer care of tomorrow.
Your expert speakers
Your course leader will deliver in co-ordination with contributors from genomics, oncology nursing, and clinical genetics services from Kent & Medway.
Course leader to be announced.
Your confirmed speakers to-date:
Vickie Gadd
Lead CNS for Gynae Oncology, Genetics and Family History
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
Suzannah Fitzgerald
Macmillan Breast CNS family history and mainstream genomic practitioner
East Kent Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Free to attend
This course is free for eligible cancer CNS and oncology nurses working within Kent & Medway cancer services.
Please note:
- Places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis
- Bookings from outside eligible Kent & Medway services may not be accepted
Places at the forum are free to attend however, if you book a place and find yourself no longer able to attend, please email the bookings@sbk-healthcare.co.uk with at least 5 working days notice, so that we can reallocate your place. Failure to attend without prior written cancellation will result in a charge of £50+VAT.
Venue
The Village Hotel, Maidstone
Address: Castle View, Forstal Road, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 3AQ
Telephone: 01622 235 170
By car
- The hotel is just off the M20, Junction 6 (Maidstone East). visitmaidstone.com+1
- From the M20, exit at J6 and follow signs for Aylesford / A229.
- Continue toward Forstal Road / Sandling — the hotel is located shortly after the roundabout on the left-hand side. Visit South East England
- Free on-site parking is available
By train, taxi, bus
- The nearest stations are Maidstone East and Maidstone Barracks (both a short taxi ride away)
- Local buses from Maidstone town centre / Maidstone East area stop near the hotel; routes serving the area include 29, 101, 150, 529, X3. Nearby stops include Malta Inn, The Running Horse, and Footbridge
What happens once you have made your booking?
Once you have booked your place, SBK Healthcare will correspond with you using the email address you provided at the time of booking and you will be sent a formal confirmation. If you have not received this within 48 hours of making your booking please check your junk folder and then email bookings@sbk-healthcare.co.uk or call 01732 897788.
Approximately one week prior to the conference you will be sent an email which will include all the final details for attendance on the day, including a final agenda and venue information.
Please inform us by writing to bookings@sbk-healthcare.co.uk if you have any special dietary or other requirements.
Terms and conditions
Registrations and cancellations
Places at the forum are free to attend however, if you book a place and find yourself no longer able to attend, please email the bookings@sbk-healthcare.co.uk with at least 5 working days notice, so that we can reallocate your place. Failure to attend without prior written cancellation will result in a charge of £50+VAT.
Modify registration
To let us know if your details are not correct when you have already registered, please email bookings@sbk-healthcare.co.uk.
Substitutions
Substitution attendees for delegates unable to attend after registering are acceptable at any time.
Conference changes
It may be necessary for reasons beyond the control of the conference organisers to alter the content, speakers or the timing of the programme. We will endeavour to keep you abreast of such changes. We do not accept any liability for any incurred costs resulting from a postponement or cancellation.
Certificate of attendance
A certificate for Continuing Professional Development will be given to every attendee, as a record of continuing professional training and development.
Privacy notice
To view the details on how your data is being collected and used, please view our Privacy policy
Who should attend?
A bespoke CNS-focused day to strengthen genomics practice locally
This educational course has been designed specifically for cancer CNS and oncology nurses across Kent & Medway who are involved in testing, treatment pathways, follow-up and patient support. The content is practical, nurse-led and implementation-focused, ensuring you leave with clearer knowledge, stronger confidence in communication, and a realistic plan to advance mainstream genomic testing in your own service.
Eligible Trusts to attend are:
- East Kent Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
- Medway NHS Foundation Trust
- Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Past attendee feedback
Our focused online forums have received excellent feedback – but don’t take our word for it!
About the ACCEND Framework
The ACCEND Framework is designed to enhance cancer care by providing a structured approach to education and professional development for healthcare professionals.
- It defines the essential Cancer Capabilities in Practice (CiPs) and offers a tailored educational structure to support progression at every stage of a cancer care career.
- Launched in January 2023, the framework aims to transform career pathways and improve training and development opportunities across the cancer workforce.
- It provides access to the education and training needed to meet role-specific competencies and includes dedicated resources for nurses, allied health professionals and those in cancer-related support roles.
- The ACCEND Framework delivers a nationally agreed career and education structure underpinned by clearly defined capabilities in practice.
Map Your Learning to the ACCEND Framework
All Oncology National Networking Forum courses listed on the Greater Manchester Cancer Academy’s ACCEND ePortfolio are fully aligned with the ACCEND Framework.
You can easily log your attendance and map your learning to the Cancer Capabilities in Practice (CiPs) through the ACCEND ePortfolio.
To do this:
- Register and log in to the ePortfolio
- Click ‘Add Entry’
- Select 'Choose an item from the library'
- Change the provider to Oncology National Networking Forums
- Choose the relevant event you have attended (or plan to attend)
This tool offers a central space to track your professional development, reflections and achievements - supporting your ongoing career in cancer care.
Click here to access the ePortfolio
