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Location

Hayes, Hillingdon, Greater London | United Kingdom

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Job description

We are pleased to announce an exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic, experienced Senior sexual Health Advisor to join our integrated team at LNWHT. The post is a 37.5 hour position and you will be expected to provide cover across the four ISRH sites within LNWH (Hillingdon, Ealing, Brent and Harrow). The LNWH integrated sexual health and reproductive service provides sexual health management for men and women, STI screening, treatments, risk reduction and counselling for patients, HIV services, PEP/PREP, vaccinations, contraception and dedicated young person clinics.

We are looking for someone who has experience in managing their own patient case load and ideally also has experience managing junior staff. they need to have excellent interpersonal and communication skills along with the ability to work with a complex patient within a sexual health setting and play a key role in risk reduction, offering psychological support to those patients and be a part of safeguarding young/ vulnerable patients within the multi-disciplinary team.

The post holder will work in partnership with the multi-disciplinary healthcare team to provide specialist health advisor support to facilitate safe and effective sexual and reproductive healthcare for the diverse population of North West London.

The post holder will provide advice, information, education and counselling to patients diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections including HIV and Hepatitis; and will co-ordinate the process of partner notification to encourage and facilitate the attendance and treatment of sexual contacts.

The post holder will manage appropriate follow up / recalls and provide ongoing support and counselling for those with emerging issues including sexual assault, termination of pregnancy, as well as sexual identity, relationship and psychosexual issues.

The post holder will provide pre-test and post-test HIV discussion and/or counselling as appropriate and will provide follow up counselling/support for HIV positive patients.

The post holder will participate in the development of the health advising service and will be expected to work within a variety of hospital and community based healthcare settings across the LNWHT Integrated Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare Service.

The Post Holder will line-manage Band 5/6 Health advisors and support them with their appraisals, sick leave, annual leave, professional development etc.

The post holder will be required to work evenings and weekends to facilitate an accessible service.

London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust (LNWH) cares for the people of Brent, Ealing, Harrow and beyond.

Our team of more than 8,200 clinical and support staff serve a diverse population of almost one million people.

We run major acute services at:
• Northwick Park Hospital: home to one of the busiest emergency departments (A&E) in the country. The hospital provides a full range of services including the country’s top-rated hyper-acute stroke unit and one of only three hyper-acute rehabilitation units in the UK
• St Mark’s Hospital: an internationally renowned specialist centre for bowel disease
• Ealing Hospital: a busy district general hospital providing a range of clinical services, as well as 24/7 emergency department and urgent care centre, and specialist care at Meadow House Hospice
• Central Middlesex Hospital: our planned care site, hosting a range of surgical and outpatient services and collocated with an urgent care centre.

We are a university teaching NHS trust, in recognition of the important role we play in training clinicians of the future and bringing the benefits of research to the public.

Clinical Responsibilities

• Offer a high standard of confidential, sensitive and non-judgemental sexual health support/care within the clinical setting, while respecting the cultural beliefs and practices of the local population

• Be aware of the confidential nature of the clinic and the work undertaken, ensuring adherence to trust policy and all related legislation

• Interpret and discuss STI results with patients and participate in the results management process

• Provide information to patients diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection delivering specific information related to how they are acquired, transmitted and treated

• Provide patients with counselling and support related to STI risk reduction strategies

• Impart distressing and difficult news to patients and their partners in a sensitive and professional manner

• Be able to deliver HIV positive and/or equivocal results, providing initial counselling for those diagnosed with HIV, in both outpatients and inpatients settings. Where appropriate provide counselling and support to partners, significant others, and family members.

• Promote good sexual health and wellbeing with HIV positive patients and encourage engagement with the ISRH Service

• Promote, support and offer advice on the use of PEP/PrEP to patients and partners as appropriate

• Promote health education within the clinical area and be able to advise patients, family members and others in health promotion issues.

• Lead on health promotion events e.g. World Aids Day

• Instigate and co-ordinate outreach work as appropriate

• Act as an advocate for the patient through effective communication and support enabling them to make choices and decisions concerning treatment and care

• Co-ordinate and provide effective partner notification

• Liaise with health advisers within LNWHT ISRH Service to facilitate partner notification across the service.

• Co-ordinate enquiries and referral from the wider LNWHT organisation and other organisations across the health and social care network.

• Provide comprehensive assessment of patients’ social, emotional and sexual health needs and to initiate follow up and/or referral as appropriate.

• Provide an empathetic and supportive service for young people and be aware of issues in relation to child sexual exploitation and children’s safeguarding.

• Be competent in discussing/recording/cascading issues related to FGM, including children’s and adults safeguarding. Referring appropriately where applicable.

• Work within their boundaries of practice at all times.

• Take the lead in the clinic of managing difficult and aggressive clients

• Continually monitor standards of care, audit and challenge poor practice.

• Undertake clinical skills including; venepuncture, sexual history taking, and male and female STI screening

• Work with the multidisciplinary team to develop and implement change within the ISRH service.

• Be punctual and contribute to the smooth running of the clinic.

• Be able to work flexible hours including weekends and evenings, covering clinics across LNWHT Integrated Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare Service when and where required.

Supervisory / Managerial Responsibilities

• Will be responsible for managing Band 5/6 staff within the LNWH integrated health advising team and will support them through the appraisal and personal professional development processes.

• Be clinically visible in department demonstrating clinical credibility

• Have a progressive attitude and work with the senior leadership team towards the improvement and development of the service

• Set and maintain standards of practice, conduct and decision making, and challenge those who do not follow or meet the standards, ensuring action is taken and clearly explains reporting mechanisms.

• Work collaboratively with the senior Health Advising team across Harrow, Brent, Ealing and Hillingdon

• Contribute to the business objectives and promote cost improvement programmes.

• Identify potential service improvements and innovations, and contribute to the business planning process

• To monitor and identify new services pressures, and assist in devising, developing new ways of working and services within the department enabling to meet such challenges.

• Identify areas of service development and act as a lead change agent in implementing change at a departmental level

• Attend local management meetings.

Professional Responsibilities

• Work at all times within the framework of the NMC Code for Nurses and to participate in the process of NMC revalidation and registration.

• Manage individual case load and prioritise workload to ensure effectiveness and streamlined service delivery.

• Update personal knowledge in relation to health advising and sexual and reproductive healthcare to ensure evidence based practice.

• Recognises legal implications of Health Adviser interventions, and seek advice appropriately.

• Work within national and local guidelines when providing patient care, including but are not exclusive too, SHAA, BASHH and BHIVA.

• Participate in all aspects of clinical governance, quality assurance, standard setting, audit and appraisal.

• Maintain and develop good working relationships with members of the multidisciplinary healthcare team.

• Attend departmental meetings.

• Adhere to LNWHT and relevant national policies and guidelines at all times.

• Demonstrate professionalism and act as a role model within the service, supporting and junior members of the team

• Demonstrate appropriate behaviour in stressful and difficult situations, recognising and manage areas of conflict to promote a healthy working environment.

Administrative Responsibilities

• Maintain detailed and accurate documentation, in line with trust policy.

• Have an awareness of objectives and strategies at local and national level, monitoring and completing statistical returns and/or written reports when required.

• Participate in research and audit as required.

• Have an understanding of and monitor all IT and communication systems within the ISRH service.

Teaching/ Audit Responsibilities

• Establish an active learning environment for all grades of staff within the department, allowing staff to develop to their full potential

• Act as an effective assessor / mentor and support other staff in performing this role

• To lead on and offer teaching and training to nursing, medical and allied professionals within LNWHT; this may include partners in local universities and non-government organisation.

• To lead on and provide training on sexual health and HIV to members of the multidisciplinary team and community groups.

• To embrace new ideas and facilitate change for the benefit of patient care.

• Encourage innovation from within the team and lead on the areas of development within the service.

• Be willing to undertake any other training and duties as the post develops and to initiate and participate in the change management process.

• Critically appraise and evaluate practice through audit and continually strive to improve patient experiences.

Professional Development

• To participate in the process of appraisal and personal professional development.

• To participate in internal and external training specific to health advising and sexual and reproductive healthcare

• Participate in self-appraisal and reflection, identifying self -development needs

• To ensure compliance with regards to LNWHT mandatory training and professional development requirements.

This advert closes on Monday 19 Feb 2024

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