Sexual Health Adviser

Job overview

Sexual Health Adviser – Band 6 -  12 Month fixed term contract

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 be able to provide specialist sexual health advice, information, education and counselling to patients diagnosed with STIs including HIV, providing effective partner notification for STIs and HIV. Work also includes initial assessment and support and referral of those who disclose eg Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault . 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

Main duties of the job

• 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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical 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 Health clinics as necessary.
• 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.