Sexual Health Adviser

Job overview

56 Dean Street is an award winning HIV and Sexual Health service based in Soho in the heart of London’s West End. We are looking for a skilled and dynamic Health Adviser to join our team.  You must be able to offer skilled compassionate advice and care to our service users and be able to work in a busy environment.

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.
• To undertake PEP assessments, offer sexual health screening (including venepuncture) and issue PEP and PrEP under a PSD.
• 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 Practise

• 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 work for clients specifically around risk reduction and behavior change, using evidenced based tools such as Motivational Interviewing and Behavioral Change models. 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, substance misuse and sexual dysfunction.
• 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.
• To be competent in the management of under 16 year olds and vulnerable adults working within Fraser Guidelines and liaising with the multi-disciplinary team & Child Protection Services as 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.
• To undertake training as per Trust guidelines on dispensing Azithromycin for those patients with Chlamydia as part of the care pathway where appropriate and participate with Pharmacy in regularly auditing this.
• Provide HIV pre-test discussion for clients requesting an HIV test attending the department and where necessary for inpatients requesting the test in either the Chelsea & Westminster Hospital or Charing Cross Hospital.
• To act as a point of referral and offer advice regarding HIV antibody testing to other hospital departments and community agencies.
• Provide HIV post-test discussion/support for those clients who have a reactive or positive HIV test result, ensuring they are linked in to 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.
• To be able to perform Point of Care HIV testing in accordance with Directorate guidelines.
• To perform phlebotomy as required in accordance with Trust and Departmental guidelines.
• 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 ward rounds as necessary.

Management

• Induct and supervise new Sexual Health Advisers under the direction of the Senior Health Adviser.
• To be able to demonstrate effective leadership and management skills in the supervision and development of junior staff.
• Assist in maintaining high standards of care through creating a caring and therapeutic Environment.
• Manage patient complaints, accidents, incidents and losses as necessary and ensure the correct procedures are followed.
• Be involved in any quality assurance initiatives within the clinic and ensure that all actions are carried out within the Trusts policies and procedures.
• Be able to work independently in outreach settings.
• Deputise for the Senior Health Adviser in their absence.
• Participate in creating, writing and managing the rota.

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