Sexual Health and Contraception Nurse

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Sexual Health and Contraception Nurse

The closing date is 07 October 2025

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.

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.

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

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 directly hiring Internationally Qualified Nurses.

About us

At UHSussex (UHSx), diversity is our strength, & we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness & experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, & can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We/'re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) & a Veteran Aware Trust.

We treat our patients & staff with the same compassion & empathy we expect for ourselves. We/'re here for them when they need us, and we go above & beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our candidate information pack & wellbeing programme, for staff which is extensive & designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching & training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us & throughout your career we will help you to grow & develop. We hope that in choosing UHSx you are choosing a long & happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make & feel valued for all that you do.

We look forward to receiving your application & the start of your journey with UHSx.

Job 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 patients 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.

Person Specification

Experience and Qualifications

- Registered General Nurse (level 1)
- Undertaking study at degree level / equivalent level of knowledge, with significant post-registration experience
- Evidence of post-graduate experience and recognised qualifications within the specialist area to include contraception (CaSH), GUM, HIV or equivalent experience at Band 5 level
- Certificate in teaching and assessing/ mentorship

Skills

- Extensive post-graduate experience within sexual health providing GUM and contraceptive care
- Excellent in depth skills and knowledge base
- Ability to run nurse only provided clinics
- Competent in utilisation of contraception knowledge and skills
- Undertake patient care autonomously within agreed policies and procedures, and using patient group directives (PGDs) or working as an independent nurse prescriber
- Competent in diagnostic Microscopy Proven ability to build and maintain professional relationships with the multi-disciplinary team members.
- Demonstrate advanced communication skills to support patients and their carers and convey difficult and sensitive information, overcoming barriers to communication
- Knowledge and ability to apply Fraser competencies for those aged 16 and under
- Competent in HPV ablative therapies
- Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team
- Experience in HIV triage and care including a working knowledge of ARVs including short and long term side effects
- Competent in insertion and removal of contraception implants
- Competent in insertion and removal of IUCD's
- Competent in bimanual examinations
- Proven ability to deliver training sessions to patients and staff

People Management and Development

- Able to plan and organise workload for self and others on a day to day basis
- Proven understanding of clinical governance with risk management, its importance and its application
- Knowledge around the safe use of relevant equipment
- Knowledge and awareness of documents and initiatives relevant to sexual health both locally and nationally
- Evidence of continuing professional development
- Excellent understanding of Infection control practices and policies
- Maintain good working relationships with colleagues and professionals from other agencies, as appropriate
- Management Experience Experience of supervising junior staff and students
- Involvement in carrying out clinical audit including co-ordination, evaluation and service development

Specific Requirments

- Able to plan and prioritise a complex and unpredictable caseload efficiently
- Manage the conflicting demands of team leader and clinical responsibilities
- Excellent time management and organisational skills
- Computer skills including use of Electronic Patient Records (EPR), databases, spreadsheets, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other clinical support systems
- Experience of planning workload of other team members to ensure service delivery
- Ability to perform venepuncture and use a microscope accurately
- Good hand/eye co-ordination for insertion and removal of implants
- Able to operate all other relevant equipment
- Able to work shifts as defined by staff rota and service needs
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a team Positive and enthusiastic Reliable
- Well motivated to learn and develop new skills
- Experience of change management and introducing service improvements.

Freedom to Act

- Work within codes of practice and according to professional standards and guidelines.
- Take responsibility for assessing service requirements and delegate work as appropriate in response to changing demands

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

- Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
- Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum pro rata

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