Sexual Health and Contraception Nurse

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the busy and dynamic team working within the Sexual Health and Contraception Service in Brighton. This integrated service operates across three sites within the city, with outreach to other parts. We are a multi-professional progressive team providing a comprehensive, evidence based and patient focused service for Contraception and Sexual Health.

We are looking for an experienced registered nurse to fill the role of Band 6 Sexual Health and Contraception Nurse. The successful candidate will contribute to the delivery of an effective and efficient service in a professional and sensitive manner, and it is essential that the post holder has a recognised qualification and experience in the provision of contraception as well as qualification/experience in sexual health care.

Experience within safeguarding and working with vulnerable young people is essential. A letter of competence in the insertion and removal of subdermal implants (or working towards) would be desirable, as would a recognised post graduate basic teaching qualification. Excellent communication and team working skills are imperative. Flexibility in working hours is expected including weekend & evening working.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be able to:

• Support patients with distressing, sensitive and personal information in a skilled and knowledgeable manner, utilising well developed communication skills of listening, responding, engaging and empathising.
• Deliver bad news, including positive sexually transmitted infection results and pregnancy test results.
• Discuss sensitive sexual health issues with patients to support decision making including condom use, unexpected or unplanned pregnancies, sexual practices, sexuality issues, sexual assault and infections such as hepatitis, syphilis and HIV.
• Work within cross agency agreements to provide access to emergency contraception for young people within secondary schools across Brighton and Hove.
• Ensure through good practice that patient care initiatives are continuously improved and sustained;
• Be committed to a team approach to service provision and patient management.
• Liaise effectively with other key staff within the service.
• Demonstrate, through thoughts and actions, commitment to the Trust Core Values

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will assess, plan and implement and evaluate ‘packages’ of care to provide holistic sexual and reproductive health care to patients attending the service in relation to their sexual health. The post holder is required to be clinically competent to:

• Works autonomously as an independent practitioner to manage a patient episode of care within a team framework.
• Assess patient’s level of understanding and factors impacting on ability to consent to care (including HIV testing, clinical examination and treatment); Able to effectively support junior members of the team to manage patients with complex needs where appropriate.
• Identifies high risk patients including, safeguarding, vulnerable adults, sexual risk taking, those in abusive relationships or victims of past or current assault. Able to assess needs, negotiate care and make sensitive ongoing referral.
• Support young people, including those aged under 16 years of age, with support from other members of the multi-disciplinary team. Participate in safeguarding and young people themed training and educational opportunities
• Assess and appropriately respond to risk of / experience of sexual exploitation and abuse.
• Assess contraceptive needs, negotiates individual care plans, initiate and change methods of practice, provide appropriate patient education and assess and initiate any ongoing support required.
• Undertake patient assessment and triage.

Manage episodes of patient care, including history taking, care planning, examination (including genital examination), specimen collection (including venepuncture and cervical cytology), vaccination in patients

Please see the attached Job description for full details.

We welcome applications from those who currently hold a UK NMC registration. If you currently hold an overseas nursing qualification and require sponsorship we are not currently direct hiring Internationally Qualified Nurses.

This role is eligible for visa sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. Sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements set by UKVI, including the relevant skill and salary thresholds, and any role-specific criteria. For example, applicants for the Senior HCA role must be able to evidence a minimum of 2 years’ experience in the same role to qualify for sponsorship.

If you are applying using a Graduate visa as your right to work, you must have a minimum of 18 months remaining on your visa at time of application.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.