Sexual Health Adviser

Job overview

Sexual Health Adviser – Band 6 -

10 Hammersmith Broadway are looking for someone who is motivated, enthusiastic and has excellent interpersonal, communication and organizational skills along with the ability to work with a complex range of clients in an busy and innovative sexual health setting.

You will assess patients for PEP and PrEP and issue medications and work as an autonomous practitioner, which involves managing a caseload of patients, providing health education, support and behavioural change interventions. We see all under 18s who attend the clinic for assessment/safeguarding checks, so you will be familiar with care pathways for young people and vulnerable adults and be able to liaise and referral to appropriate statutory organisations such as social services and voluntary external agencies.

You will possess either a degree in Psychology, Health Promotion or another relevant health related degree. Or be an RGN/RMN (1st level) or have a CQSW qualification, and have previous experience as a Sexual Health Adviser in a GUM clinic or equivalent setting within the UK

• To see clients diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections including HIV, for information, health education, partner notification, health promotion and risk reduction.
• Initial support/assessment/referral for those disclosing eg Domestic Violence/Sexual assault/substance use
• Provide pre and post-test discussion for HIV where appropriate.
• To see clients in a Sexual Health setting for time limited 1:1 work specifically around risk reduction and behaviour change.
• To provide time limited support for clients newly diagnosed with HIV.
• To take on specific project work as negotiated with the senior sexual health adviser.

Working for our organisation

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of England's top-performing and safest trusts. We operate two main acute hospital sites—Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital—along with award-winning clinics across North West London.

Our nearly 7,500 staff care for a diverse population of 1.5 million, providing full clinical services, including maternity, A&E, and children’s services, plus specialist HIV and sexual health clinics. The Care Quality Commission rates us 'Good' in safety, effectiveness, care, and responsiveness, and 'Outstanding' in leadership and resource use.

We continually invest in our facilities, including a £30m expansion of critical care at Chelsea and Westminster and an £80m Ambulatory Diagnostic Centre at West Middlesex.

We value the unique perspectives and experiences that diverse teams bring and are committed to creating an environment where all voices are heard, respected, and empowered to succeed."

If you haven’t heard from us within three weeks of the closing date, your application was likely unsuccessful. Employment is subject to a six-month probationary period.

Some roles may require weekend shifts at multiple sites.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Provide information and health education for clients diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, providing support and onward referral as required.
• To manage the process of partner notification/management for these clients in order to encourage, with the client’s consent, the attendance of all potentially infected sexual contacts to a Sexual Health clinic.
• To provide time limited 1:1 work for clients specifically around risk reduction and behaviour change, using evidenced based tools such as Motivational Interviewing and Behavioural Change models.
• Where appropriate and agreed, provide psychosexual work within registered scope of practice.
• Assessing all factors which might negatively affect a client’s sexual health and referring to appropriate specialist services e.g. Psychology/Psychiatry & Alcohol & Drug services.
• Ensure at all times that the client’s identity and the confidential nature of the information obtained is respected in accordance with the Sexually Transmitted Disease Regulations of 1974 and the NHS VD directive of 1991, within clinic, outreach and off site services.
• Facilitate the recall of clients with untreated infections or those in need of follow-up and/or test of cure by letter, telephone or visit. To exchange relevant information about clients and contacts with other Sexual

• Provide initial crisis intervention, assessment and appropriate referral for those clients attending the clinic with associated problems, e.g. termination of pregnancy, sexual identity, sexual assault, domestic violence, substance misuse and sexual dysfunction.

Please see attached job description and person specification to this advert for further details.

Person specification

Education and Qualifications

• Relevant degree qualification and/or Nursing Qualification (RGN/RMN) and/or Social Work (eg CQSW) qualification

• Accredited Counselling qualification
• Evidence of further education in the field of Sexual or Reproductive health
• Evidence of further study/qualifications in the field of Risk reduction or Behaviour Change or Public Health
• Recognised psychosexual qualification
• Phlebotomy qualification STIF Course

Experience

• Previous experience of working as a Sexual Health Adviser in a UK Sexual Health clinic or in other relevant sexual health/HIV specific settings
• Experience in Partner Notification
• Previous experience of 1:1 work with clients in a Sexual Health/Health promotion context

• Experience of working in a reproductive health setting
• Experience of working in a Public Health context
• Experience of working in Health promotion
• Experience of using models of Risk reduction/Behaviour change with clients either in 1:1 or n groups
• Previous experience of undertaking Clinical

Skills and knowledge

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Must have the ability to communicate with people on sensitive subjects in a non-judgemental way
• To have a good clinical knowledge of STI’s and HIV
• Good knowledge of the principles and practice around Partner Notification
• To have knowledge/experience of Health Promotion and Risk reduction models
• Excellent IT skills including Outlook, Word Excel
• Evidence of effective team working within the local team and wider multi-professional working
• Promotion Risk reduction models

• The closing date given is a guide only. There may be some occasions when we have to close a vacancy once sufficient applications have been received. You are therefore advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
• Please check your emails regularly as this is how we will communicate with you throughout the recruitment process.
• If you have not heard from us within 3 weeks after the closing date, we regret that this usually means your application was not successful.
• In submitting an application, you authorise the Trust to confirm any previous NHS service details via the Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process, should you be appointed to the post.
• During the recruitment process your identity documentation (ie passport, driving licence, visa etc) will be scanned using a device which recognises UV, infrared and machine-readable zone security features of the documents provided.
• Employment at the Trust is offered subject to successful completion of a six month probationary period.