JOB DESCRIPTION 1. JOB IDENTIFICATION Job Title: Department(s): Community Nurse Specialist in Sexual Health Borders Sexual Health Job Holder Reference: PCS1002 No of Job Holders: 3 2. JOB PURPOSE The post holder will work within the multidisciplinary team to provide specialist sexual and reproductive health care to clients based on a social model of health care. The post holder will work as an independent practitioner, have knowledge skills and competence to manage individual patient consultations within a legal and ethical framework and within agreed boundaries and protocols in line with clinical governance and professional accountability 3. ORGANISATIONAL POSITION General Manager P&CS and Acute GUM Consultant Service Manager, Sexual Health Clinical Lead Family Planning CSW/Receptionists Community Nurse Specialists LeadNurse/Sexual Health Adviser Systems Administrator/ PA
4. SCOPE AND RANGE Borders Sexual Health has bases are in Galashiels, Hawick, Duns, Peebles, Eyemouth, Earlston, Jedburgh and Kelso. The post holder may be required to work in all departments within the Sexual and Reproductive Health Service, including outreach services and will be a member of the specialist nursing team As a member of the multidisciplinary team the Sexual Health Nurse will see clients on an individual basis and will be able to assess clients needs, plan, implement and evaluate a programme of care which is evidence based, utilising all available resources taking into consideration lifestyle, race, gender and cultural background and ensure involvement with the client, family, carers and significant others. The post holder will act as an expert practitioner and nurse independent prescriber in the prioritisation and management of contraceptive provision and sexually transmitted infections and blood borne viruses, demonstrating advanced clinical skills and knowledge to clients and professional staff ensuring all health interventions are based on scientific rationale, evidence based standards of care and practice guidelines. They will be responsible for initiating appropriate and timely consultation and/or referral when the problem exceeds the nursing scope of practice and/or expertise. The post holder will have a predominantly clinical role, with responsibility for the day to day delivery of clinics, ensuring adherence to NHS Borders Policies: e.g. Health and Safety, Infection Control and following local guidelines and protocols. The post holder will be responsible for the ordering and maintaining of stock levels of pharmacy and have knowledge of NHS Borders policies for the safe handling, storage and administration of medicines. The post holder will provide mentorship and support to students learning within the service and mentorship, support and supervision to junior staff and colleagues. The post holder will participate in clinical supervision and clinical support as required. The post holder will have the ability to work independently in a range of settings and be responsible for the delivery of specialist clinics. The post holder will deputise for the Lead Nurse in their absence, providing leadership, allocation of clinics and immediate absence management. 5. MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES The post holder will: 1. Demonstrate an understanding of the complexity of sexual and reproductive health issues and have the ability to provide sensitive care to all clients. 2. Implement a programme of clinical care on an individual basis to a defined group of patients presenting with issues relating to sexual and reproductive health. 3. Demonstrate a knowledge of the social model of health and apply it to client care. 4. Demonstrate competence and sensitivity in undertaking a detailed sexual and social history to establish the need of the individual client and manage as appropriate, referring on where necessary.
5. Demonstrate competence to manage and respond to telephone enquiries from clients and professionals and provide telephone triage and signpost appropriately. 6. Demonstrate competence at triage within a walk-in clinic, identifying patients who fit within the priority groups for the service, and redirecting other as appropriate. 7. Demonstrate competence in the principles of specimen collection and management and have knowledge of the Borders Laboratory procedures. 8. Demonstrate competence in the full range of screening and testing procedures in sexual and reproductive health and carry out screening and testing as indicated, ensuring understanding and consent of the client 9. Have specialist skills and knowledge to undertake genital examination, to screen for sexually transmitted infections and to test for and diagnose both sexually transmitted infections and non-sexually transmitted genital condition, selecting an appropriate treatment option in consultation with local protocols and in discussion with colleagues where necessary. 10. Demonstrate knowledge of the clinical findings of patient results and interpret results within the scope of their knowledge and experience. Implement management and/or treatment decisions based on clinical findings or make referrals as appropriate. 11. Have specialist knowledge and understanding of the full range of contraceptive methods available, knowing risks, side effects, mode of action and effectiveness of facilitate informed patient choice, to be able to teach client method of choice and to supply method either prescribing or following Patient Group Directions and contraceptive treatment plans. This knowledge will be underpinned by a recognised qualification in Family Planning. 12. Demonstrate competence in diagnosing pregnancy, supporting clients with pre-pregnancy planning, undertaking the management and referral process for termination of pregnancy 13. Undertake addition specialist training, as required, to develop skills and knowledge enabling autonomous delivery of specialist clinics e.g. Non Medical Prescribing, Implanon fitting./removal HIV training 14. Demonstrate knowledge of public health issues in sexual health including HIV and carry out simple partner notification and refer to Lead Nurse for high risk counselling and complex partner notification. 15. Demonstrate an ability to undertake targeted sexual health promotion to promote safer sex for sexual well-being and prepare, implement and evaluate health promotion interventions on an individual client/group basis. 16. Demonstrate competence in counselling clients prior to clinical procedures, assist at minor operations and care for clients during and post procedures. 17. Have the knowledge and skills to undertake CPR and management of anaphylaxis. 18. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of child protection issues and apply to clinical practice, following NHS Borders policy 19. Maintain accurate and up-to-date clinical records and treatment plans in accordance with NMC standards for records and record keeping. Ensure compliance with Data Protection and Freedom of Information Acts. Comply with NHS Borders Information Governance policies.
20. Undertake clinical audit, self audit of clinical practice: e.g., cervical cytology and the supply and administration of medicines, and contribute to nursing research. 21. Comply with all NMC standards and follow NHS Borders Policies and other relevant guidelines and protocols. 22. Participate in appraisal system, taking responsibility for own professional and personal development. 23. Provide mentorship and support to nurses undertaking training within the service, support and supervision to junior staff, and support and preceptorship for newly appointed staff. 24. Develop and demonstrate a leadership role within the service and provide day to day coordination of the clinics in support of the Lead nurse 25. Ensure own Mandatory Training is up to date in line with Health and Safety Policy.. Teaching and Development Provide formal and informal teaching on STIs and contraception to GPs, school nurses, practice nurses and others in the community. Develop new clinical services, including specialist drop-in clinics, youth services and nurse-led clinics according to local need. To keep up-to-date with changes in the delivery of care and implement appropriate changes and provide evidence of lifelong learning Management responsibilities To provide induction, orientation and training for new staff To ensure that services are delivered according to BASHH (British Association for Sexual Health and HIV) and Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health care guidance and other relevant local and national policies. 6. SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT The post holder will be competent in the use of, and have the ability to assess, all policies, procedures. Guidelines and protocols required to fulfil the role of this post. The post holder will be competent to all general office equipment, IT systems and software in use by NHS Borders. And Borders Sexual Health The post holder will have knowledge and expertise of equipment required to carry out duties within all SRH sites, which require a high degree of manual dexterity. The post holder will be competent in the use of emergency equipment 7. DECISIONS AND JUDGEMENTS Decisions are made using professional judgement and based on a range of complex information, including the client history and microscopy and laboratory results. These may be related to any aspect of sexual and reproductive health, and should be made in conjunction with relevant policies, guidelines and protocols. Treatments should be issued through independent prescribing or by following Patient Group Directions. The post holder is accountable for their professional actions and must be able to justify decisions based on the assessment of the client, family, carer and environment as appropriate.
The post holder must be aware of their scope of practice and will work without direct supervision carrying out episodes of clinical care. When skills or knowledge outwith the post holder s area of competence are required, the post holder will refer to a doctor or nursing colleague who has the necessary skills. 8. COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS The post holder will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills and will function effectively within the nursing, multidisciplinary and multi-agency team receiving and communicating information regarding client care. The post holder will have the ability to communicate complex and sensitive information in an understandable form to patients. This may include giving positive results which would have an impact on health, lifestyle and relationships. The post holder will communicate to ensure a level of understanding to obtain consent for examination and treatment from patients where there are emotional, mental or cultural barriers. This could include patients with a learning disability, or asylum seekers where communication or sensitive sexual health issues is mainly through an interpreter or advocate and where there may also be disclosure of abuse, rape or physical violence. The post holder will be involved in organisational development, service meetings and clinical supervision. The post holder will develop key working relationships with all agencies such as Pharmacy Department, Laboratories, Social Work (Child Protection), Education (communicating with groups of young people or Teachers regarding sex education), General Practitioners, Practice Nurses, Treatment Room Nurses and voluntary agencies. If clinics are located in community settings staff will develop working relationships with partner organisations win CHPs. The post holder will develop telephone communication skills and will be required to communicate sensitive and comprehensive information; i.e., test results on telephone helpline and will receive complex sensitive information 9. PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB Physical effort Requires walking, standing and sitting repetitively during clinical session. A high degree of precision and good vision is required for genital examination, cervical sampling and for all clinical procedures. Mental effort Working conditions are variable with a variety of drop-in clinics, specialist clinics where complex procedures are carried out, counselling clinics and young people s services. The work pattern is unpredictable, particularly in the drop-in clinics where work is unscheduled. The role requires frequent high levels of concentration, taking and recording social, sexual, medical and contraceptive histories where there may be barriers to understanding.
Decisions are made by the post holder on a course of clinical intervention or referral for medical advice. Unpredictable interruptions occur when another clinician requests support or the patient being seen by the post holder requests a chaperone. Emotional demands Frequent exposure to highly emotionally distressed patients presenting with sensitive sexual abuse issues including, but not exclusively, sexual abuse, sexual assault, termination of pregnancy, psychosexual and gender issues, relationship problems and also dealing with young people aged 16 years and under. Working conditions Frequent exposure to high risk body fluids through invasive examination and specimen collection (previous entitlement STD lead). Some exposure to COSHH substances: i.e., staining of specimens, pathology specimens, liquid nitrogen for cryotherapy. 10. MOST CHALLENGING ASPECTS OF THE JOB Emotional challenge in dealing with distressed patients presenting with complex issues. Keeping up to date with organisational change. Prioritising unpredictable workload within a busy walk-in clinic. Clinical emergency. Prioritising and balancing the capacity of the service with the needs of those presenting the service. 11. KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED TO DO THE JOB See following page
Employee Specification for the Post of: Community Nurse Specialist, Sexual Health Categories Experience or Qualities for this Post Essential Desirable 1 Physical Health No restrictions which would affect ability to carry out duties of the job 2 Training (including Qualifications) 1 st level nursing qualification STI foundation course Educated to degree level/actively working towards this Post registration qualification in SRH Certificate in sub dermal implant fitting and removal Willingness and ability undertake the Non-Medical Prescribing qualification Non-Medical Prescribing qualification 3 Previous Experience ( Paid and Voluntary work) Up to date Child Protection training and CPD Relevant post registration experience Relevant years clinical experience in sexual health Experience of nurse led services or community clinics for young people 4 Skills and Abilities Evidence of self management Evidence of an interest in sexual health/family planning and genitourinary medicine Evidence of sound knowledge and skills in Information Technology Prepared to undertake further development to achieve clinical competencies if required 5 Other Requirements Flexibility able to cover for holiday study leave and evening clinics Open minded, approachable Genuine interest in client group Full Driving licence
TERMS AND CONDITIONS Grade and salary: Band 6: 26,041-34,876 per annum pro rata Permanent Hours of work: 30 hrs per week Annual leave: 27 days per annum pro rata Details of other types of leave entitlement (such as sick leave) are set out in the Agenda for Change handbooks. Public Holidays: 8 days per annum pro rata on days designated by NHS Borders Details of other types of leave entitlement (such as sick leave) are set out in the Agenda for Change handbook. Superannuation: The post-holder is entitled to join the NHS superannuation pension scheme. If Unsuccessful: If you have NOT heard from us within 4 WEEKS of the closing date, then we regret that your application has not been successful on this occasion. However, we appreciate your interest in working with NHS Borders and your time and effort in completing the application form. We would welcome your application for future posts. Equal Opportunities: In NHS Borders, we believe that all staff should be treated equally in employment. We will not discriminate against any member of staff, or job applicant, on grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion and belief, sex and sexual orientation. Trade Union membership. Disclosure checks: We carry out criminal record checks on new staff who fall within certain staff groups within NHS Borders, through Disclosure Scotland. We send out Disclosure Forms to all shortlisted candidates for these staff groups, and ask for these to be completed and returned at interview. If a successful-at-interview candidate forgets to bring their completed form to interview, then they will be required to return the form (and proofs of identity) within 7 days, otherwise the provisional job offer will be withdrawn. Unsuccessful candidates forms will be shredded. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act does not apply to this post. Tobacco policy: We have a Tobacco policy in place. When selecting staff, we do not discriminate against applicants who smoke, but staff must observe our policy on smoking.
Hepatitis B: We offer Hepatitis B immunisation through our Occupational Health Service (OHS). If you think you may be at risk of contracting Hepatitis B through your job, you should ask for this immunisation at OHS. If your work involves exposure-prone procedures, you must keep to the document Protecting Health Care Workers and Patients from Hepatitis B, and the NHSiS Management Executive Directive on this issue. You must be immune to Hepatitis B, and if you cannot prove that you are immune, OHS will investigate to find out whether you are Hepatitis B positive or not. Health and Safety at Work: You must look after the health and safety of yourself and anyone else who may be affected by what you do at work. You must also co-operate with us to make sure that we keep to legal and organisational safety regulations. You can get more information from the NHS Borders Health & Safety Adviser. The closing date for completed application forms is: 5pm Wednesday 4 March 2015