Sexual Health Adviser

Job overview

We are a modern, innovative and expanding online sexual health service and work with services users across London.

You will need to have excellent time management skills to manage a range of worklists during your working days. The successful candidate will manage a range of STI and HIV results over the telephone and online and be responsible for appropriately managing service users who trigger a safeguarding call back and referring for support into ongoing care.

We are looking for someone who can work independently and  is able to multi-task and use multiple contact methods including texting, calling and emails.  They need to possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills along with the ability to work with a diverse range of clients in an innovative sexual health setting.

We work remotely and in the office at the Chelsea and Westminster site. The post holder will need to ensure that they provide a patient-focused service at all times. The post is mainly online working and non-patient facing.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be working independently -within a team of junior and senior health advisers- as the initial point of telephone contact for patients diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections through the e-Service that require management, treatment and follow up.

To confidently and appropriately manage service users (SU's} who trigger a safeguarding call back, and facilitate SU's in accessing any support they require, including any child or adult safeguarding referrals, and be aware of when to escalate a concern as urgent, such as a recent sexual assault.

To effectively provide telephone based pre and post HIV test counselling, including managing reactive HIV results. In addition, the post holder will also manage any other blood borne virus results and provide the information and guidance required by the SU to ensure they are managed safely and appropriately into on-going care.

To oversee the e-service recall system in partnership with the HA team and manning the HA phone line during their working  day.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• 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 Health clinics as necessary.
• Provide initial crisis intervention, assessment and appropriate referral for those clients contacting the service with associated problems, e.g. Sexual identity, sexual assault, substance misuse etc.
• Offer information and support, to deal with enquiries from both the general public and health professionals about Sexually Transmitted Infections, including HIV and managing clients who present
• with health anxiety; assessing and referring as appropriate. The role does also incorporate some occasional customer service duties such as re-setting passwords or answering Fresh desk ticketingqueries.
• To be competent in the management of safeguarding issues surrounding under 16 year olds (including Fraser guidelines), young people, and vulnerable adults and liaise with the multi-disciplinary team & Child Protection Services as appropriate, including referrals to social services when appropriate.
• To take sexual histories from clients as appropriate and refer on to relevant individuals in the multi professional team as part of the care pathway. This may also require you to order the occasional asymptomatic tests on behalf of ASU.
• Provide HIV post-test discussion/support for those clients who have a reactive HIV test result, ensuring they are linked into HIV outpatient services and facilitating onward referral where necessary to other appropriate services.
• Where appropriate, supporting partners, significant others, and immediate family of those newly diagnosed with HIV, including facilitating partner notification, testing and disclosure.
• Maintain accurate client records, ensuring all entries are dated, signed and designation recorded as in accordance with the Trusts policies and procedures.
• Attend multi-professional team meetings as necessary.