Sexual Health Assistant Outreach Practitioner Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

This post will support the activity and productivity of outreach staff delivering targeted work with vulnerable groups at risk of sexual ill-health. The principal target groups that Sexual Health Outreach provides services to are:

• Commercial Sex Workers
• Homeless Clients
• Drug Users
• Men who have sex with men
• BMEA communities
• Students and young people

The post holder will also be required to work as an accountable practitioner working on their own in community settings, making decisions according to policy and protocol. Hours of work will be flexible to include evenings and weekends across the axess regional footprint as required. The role will be mainly East Cheshire based covering our Macclesfield and Crewe sites.

Utilising Trust policies and protocols, under the proximal supervision of the clinical practitioner, the assistant practitioner will:

• Undertake asymptomatic screening and be able to order routine bloods/investigations and have a basic understanding of normal and altered values.
• Undertake a designated range of patient assessments such as reviewing a medical history and reporting any changes to the clinical team.
• Utilise clinical skills appropriately to enhance the delivery of patient care e.g. Venepuncture, immunisation and provision of medication under direction of Patient Specific Directions (PSD’s).
• Manage and maintain own treatment lists for Chlamydia and a range of routine contraceptives, with use of PSD’s.
• Manage and administer cryotherapy treatment to relevant and appropriate patients.
• Undertake partner notification (PN) and/or support patients to use online ‘e-PN’.
• Assess those patients with special needs such as those under 16 and discuss with clinical team where appropriate and according to Trust guidelines.
• Manage recall of patients such as Hepatitis A/B & HPV vaccinations, repeat Chlamydia testing and Depo Provera injection.
• Function as an effective member of the multi-disciplinary team.
• Organise and prioritise time effectively.
• Promote and value the rights, responsibilities and diversity of people.

Clinical responsibilities include:

• Undertaking clinical audits for example infection control audits.
• Undertaking pregnancy testing according to clinical protocols liaising with clinical team where appropriate according to clinical guidelines.
• Outreach work in the community as appropriate.
• Recognising the need for referral and undertaking appropriate referrals to clinical practitioners and/or services within the NHS, independent & voluntary sectors.
• Undertaking, monitoring & recording basic observations – temperature, blood pressure, pulse and respiration.

Team working involves:

• Coordinating a team of support workers in care delivery and where appropriate other students.
• Working effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary team recognising the contribution of all team members in meeting patients’ needs.
• Actively participating in team development and making suggestions to the team on service improvements.

Educational Responsibilities:

• To develop and maintain own clinical skills and knowledge using a competency framework to ensure effective care delivery.
• To ensure compliance with mandatory training and personal development plans.
• Demonstrating procedures to and supervising unqualified staff.
• Contributing to the learning environment within the service and team mentoring at an optimum level.
• Supervising, assessing and mentoring Trainee Healthcare Support workers, Trainee Assistant Practitioners, assisting in the supervision and learning of other students with the exception of their assessment.
• Promoting and participating in Health Education both personally and with all patients and relatives as appropriate.

Professional responsibilities include:

• Exhibiting professional behaviour and attitude at all times, and demonstrating excellent customer care skills.
• Recognising the level of competence to ensure safe practice.
• Being familiar with and abiding by Trust policies and procedures to ensure optimum patient care and safety of patients and staff.
• Adhering to trust uniform policy.
• Taking personal responsibility for keeping up to date with new developments and participating in research/clinical audit.
• Acting as a role model by upholding and implementing good practice in the workplace, always ensuring the highest standards of evidenced based care.
• Taking every reasonable opportunity to sustain and improve knowledge.
• Identifying objectives within a PDP that support the delivery of high standards of clinical care.

Communication involves:

• Providing verbal reports and maintaining written reports on the patients’ condition for professionally qualified workers. Maintaining confidentiality at all times.
• Demonstrating excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to adapt communication style to the situation/person.
• Communicating effectively with patients, staff and relatives.
• Reporting all accidents and incidents involving self, patients, staff or visitors according to procedure.
• Participating in multi-disciplinary meetings.

*The post holder shall as necessary provide cover for and undertake duties of absent colleagues.*
*The post holder shall follow all the policies and procedures of the organisation.*