Specialist Nurse – Sexual Health Intervention and Prevention (SHIP)

Job summary

Camberwell Sexual Health Service is seeking an enthusiastic and motivated Band 6 Specialist Nurse - Sexual Health Improvement (SHIP) to join our multidisciplinary team on a one-year fixed-term contract. This is an exciting opportunity to deliver high-quality sexual health, contraception and HIV prevention services to a diverse population across South East London.

As part of the Specialist Health Improvement Team, you will provide autonomous sexual health and contraceptive care, deliver behavioural interventions and health promotion, support safeguarding pathways, and contribute to HIV prevention, partner notification and health improvement programmes.

The successful applicant will hold a recognised contraception qualification (DFSRH or equivalent) and a Letter of Competence in Subdermal Implants (LoC SDI), with experience of implant insertion and removal. You will have a passion for sexual health nursing and supporting patients with vulnerabilities, safeguarding concerns and complex psychosocial needs.

You will be an excellent communicator with strong clinical decision-making skills, able to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team. A commitment to high-quality patient care, service development and reducing health inequalities is essential.

In return, we offer a supportive and inclusive working environment with opportunities for professional development, leadership experience and involvement in innovative service improvement projects.

Main duties of the job

• To contribute to the clinical leadership of the Specialist Health Improvement team within the Sexual Health and HIV services, demonstrating a supportive and flexible leadership approach and a proactive, responsible attitude so as to promote confidence in the team and the service.
• To provide nurse delivered sexual health and contraceptive care in accordance with current service protocol and competency framework.
• To support the senior nurses to ensure the service specification for intervention and prevention is implemented across the service.
• To contribute to and provide robust procedures and processes for partner notification, contact tracing, results management within Sexual Health and HIV services.
• To contribute to and provide robust procedures and processes for the provision of health promotion, risk management/reduction, behavioural interventions and focussed psychological support for patients attending Sexual Health and HIV Services.
• To support the senior nurses in exploring current practice, identifying areas for development, and contributing to service changes as required.

About us

The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. Transforming Healthcare is the vision at the heart of the King's Strategy - 2026 to 2031. Together, we are pursuing six strategic ambitions: delivering high-quality patient care; being a great place to work; leading pioneering research, innovation and education; building strong and successful partnerships; providing timely and efficient care; and ensuring long-term financial sustainability. Achieving these ambitions will require all of us to work as one Team King's, united by a shared commitment to our values of being caring, collaborative, inclusive and innovative. By living these values every day, we will transform healthcare for our patients, our communities and each other

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Job responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilities

• To provide health promotion, risk management/reduction, behavioural interventions and focussed psychological support for identified patients attending Sexual Health and HIV Services as directed by the senior nurses.
• To provide intermediate level, autonomous nursing care to patients with sexual health and contraceptive needs to include diagnosis and treatment of STIs and related conditions
• To provide autonomous nursing care to patients with contraceptive needs, using a recognised contraception qualification, and competence at supplying all methods of contraception, and insertion and removal on contraceptive implants
• To utilise specialist knowledge and skills and undertake procedures and practices such as cryotherapy, microscopy, speculum examination, bimanual examination, testicular examination, proctoscopy, contraceptive implant insertion and removal, cervical cytology and specialist follow up clinics
• To take referrals to support the safeguarding process from within the sexual health teams and external sources as required to provide enhanced expertise and support to patients with identified vulnerabilities or increased sexual health risk factors including inpatients as required
• To participate in specialist nurse delivered clinics as appropriate to the intervention and prevention needs of the service
• To adhere to robust procedures for enhanced partner notification in line with National Guidance
• To actively support and directly contribute to the delivery of positive results as required
• To ensure that all allocated patients are managed, and processes adhered to, to support a consistent and effective active recall procedure for patients at risk of STIs, HIV, unplanned pregnancy and repeat abortion
• To contribute to adult and child safeguarding processes and to ensure clinical staff are supported in managing complex cases
• To contribute to the pathway of patients presenting for Post-Exposure Prophylaxis for HIV (PEPSE)
• To contribute to the pathway for patients newly diagnosed with HIV to ensure rapid access to services, provide support as required and to ensure robust partner notification
• To contribute to the pathways for women diagnosed with STIs in pregnancy, in particular ante-natal syphilis

Person specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

• 1st level Registered General Nurse with active UK NMC registration.
• Further professional studies relevant to the clinical area.
• Completion of DFRSH (or equivalent).
• Completion of LOC Implant (insertion and removal) or complete within first 6 months in post.
• Cervical Cytology Course.

Desirable

• Degree in Nursing or Equivalent.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Advanced knowledge and substantial clinical experience in undertaking comprehensive sexual history-taking, sexual health screening, and sensitive clinical assessment and examination of male and female patients.
• Demonstrable clinical expertise, relevant to the area.

Skills and Competencies

Essential

• Communication skills - able to relate and communicate with patients and staff at all levels and from different professions. Adapts communication style as necessary and is able to work with and through others.
• Team building and working skills - able to lead a team to achieve results