Senior Sexual Health Nurse

Job overview

The post holder will work as part of the Central Sexual Health Services Team in Preston and its surrounding areas and will assess, plan, and provide sexual health advice, screening, and treatment (including contraception) to patients in a supportive confidential environment, recognising when to refer a problem onto a doctor or Specialist Nurse within the service.

The post holder will be responsible for co-ordinating with the support of the Nurse in Charge and Health Care Support Workers within the clinical area.

The Nurse will contribute to the continued development of nursing, including the supervision and support of junior nurses and support staff.

There will be an expectation that the post holder will work across all areas of Sexual Health Services including all outreach clinics as required.

Main duties of the job

To provide sexual health advice to patients following a positive sexually transmitted infection (STI) diagnosis, initiate treatments as per Patient Group Directions (PGDs) and implement partner notification measures as per local guidelines.

To have sound knowledge and experience to provide appropriate health advice and results management in line with BASHH guidelines.

To administer vaccinations and immunisations (e.g., Hepatitis A/B and HPV vaccines) in conjunction with clinical protocol and PGDs.

Perform testing and interpret specimens using bench microscopy as an aid to support diagnosis (or being willing to undertake training as required).

To provide sexual health information, advice, teaching, and support to patients, enabling them to select and use a method of contraception suited to their needs.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To independently undertake and be responsible for sexual health clinical sessions, assessing patients and taking a sexual history, formulating diagnoses, and where required initiating treatments using patient group directions and agreed protocols or utilising non-medical prescribing, where suitably qualified, in the management of patients under the care of Sexual Health Services for the treatment of conditions within the practitioner’s scope of competence.

To provide specialist nursing interventions to the clinical management of patients with sexual health problems, in collaboration with other health professionals.

Independently perform comprehensive male and female genital examinations and investigative procedures for patients including HIV testing and point of care HIV testing including cervical cytology sampling where appropriate.

To follow agreed clinic protocols and PGDs to supply emergency contraception, start and re-issue combined oral and progestogen only contraceptive methods and Depo-Provera injections (following a period on preceptorship/consolidation) along with being able to insert and remove contraceptive implants (or being willing to undertake training as required), and to take the relevant histories in relation to these methods.

To provide long-acting reversable contraception to clients (LARC), to be able to fit, remove and exchange sub-dermal implants, in line with Faculty guidelines.

Utilise non-medical prescribing, where suitably qualified, in the management of patients under the care of Sexual Health Services for the treatment of conditions within  the practitioner’s scope of competence.

Support the Nurse in Charge/CNS to maintain a high level of service to patients in the absence of a doctor, and referral to alternative clinics/agencies as appropriate.

Maintaining a high level of service to patients in the absence of a doctor and referral to alternative clinics/agencies as appropriate.

Be responsible for the continuity of patient care during their clinic visit.

To ensure excellent documentation of patient care in the electronic patient records.