ACCOUNTABLE TO:Clinical
Issues to the Consultant in GUM/ HIV
MANAGERIALLY RESPONSIBLE
TO:Principal Health Adviser where they are in post or a relevant senior member of staff
e.g. a directorate manager
JOB SUMMARY
To
manage, supervise and develop the HA service to ensure provision of:
Advice, information, education and counselling to patients
diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea, herpes,
syphilis and hepatitis B & C. To carry out partner notification, to ensure the
attendance and treatment of contacts. To provide ongoing support and counselling for
those with associated concerns e.g. rape, termination of pregnancy, sexual identity,
relationship and psychosexual issues etc.
To provide pre test HIV discussion and post test discussion
and/ or counselling. To provide follow up counselling and psychosocial care for HIV
antibody positive patients as required.
CLINICAL
RESPONSIBILITIES
1. To provide information to
patients diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection: how they are acquired,
transmitted and treated.
2. To provide education and
counselling on preventing or minimizing the risk of infection.
3. To provide effective partner
notification to ensure contact(s)’ attendance and treatment by index (patient)
referral as detailed in the SHASTD PN policy
4. To stress the importance of
medical treatment and follow-up.
5. To discuss HIV with patients
who may have been at risk or are worried.
6. To provide pre HIV test
discussion and post HIV test counselling.
7. To provide initial post-test
HIV counselling for newly diagnosed patients, their partners, significant others and offer
ongoing counselling and psychosocial care dependant on the health advisers training,
experience and supervision.
8. To provide a safe environment
whereby patients can discuss their concerns and ask questions.
9. To provide comprehensive
assessment of patients’ other social, emotional or sexual difficulties and to follow
up or refer on as appropriate.
10. To record interventions accurately and concisely in
patient files.
11. To ensure patients are followed up adequately if they need
to reattend for results treatment or counselling by letter, phone, or home visit, or
through GP, FHSA or other means.
12. To keep confidential records for the purpose of partner
notification.
13. To take a lead in sexual health promotion work within the
clinic and community.
14. To keep statistics on all patient contacts and interviews
to enable audit and evaluation of services
15. To liaise with other health advisers in GUM and exchange
relevant information in order to facilitate partner notification.
16. To liaise with other local or national agencies as
appropriate.
17. To establish good working relationships with medical,
nursing, and administration staff within the clinic, as well as with professionals from
other departments e.g. Accident and Emergency, Gynaecology, Psychiatry.
18. To take part in teaching programs as required for nursing
staff, medical students or other statutory or voluntary bodies.
19. To continue professional development and training by
attendance and contribution at relevant clinic/ Trust/ regional/ national meetings,
seminars, workshops and conferences.
20. To participate in regular supervision and staff appraisal.
21. To be aware of the confidential nature of the clinic and
work within the legal responsibilities as laid down in the Venereal Diseases Regulations
1974 and the NHS Trust Act 1991
22. To work within SHASTD guidance e.g. Code of Ethics, Code
of Conduct, Guidelines for Good Practice, PN Policy
MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES
1. To supervise and develop the
health adviser service, to ensure the provision of their key duties which are: partner
notification, pre and post test discussion/ counselling, sexual health promotion,
counselling and administrative duties i.e. recall of patients.
2. To coordinate and supervise
the health advisers rota and ensure continuous provision of a health
adviser service
3. To recruit new health
advisers to the service. To provide an induction, orientation and training programme
for new staff.
4. To implement a system of
appraisal incorporating individual performance reviews for all health advisers.
5. To provide regular ongoing
management supervision of health advisers, to promote and encourage their professional
development.
6. To coordinate the clinical
supervision of the health advisers.
7. To act as a first line
manager to health adviser(s) i.e.-coordinate annual leave, rotas, statistical returns.
8. To attend, promote and
represent health advisers at all multidisciplinary, departmental and other appropriate
meetings.
9. To initiate coordinate,
implement and evaluate health advising policies, protocols through research and audit.
10. To develop and maintain close working relationships with
the appropriate medical and nursing staff within the clinic/ Trust.
11. Liaise with other principal/ senior health advisers within
the region/ nationally in order to standardise the quality of the health adviser service.
12. To develop and maintain links with related health, social
and educational services available in the area and to liaise as necessary with statutory
and voluntary agencies.
13. To set up, coordinate the appropriate teaching/ training
for other health professionals as required e.g. for nursing staff, medical students or
other statutory or voluntary bodies i.e. school teachers or pupils.
14. To manage health adviser community led projects/ services.
15. To ensure the effective use of resources within the HA
team.
16. To ensure staff work within the legal responsibilities as
laid down in the Venereal Diseases Regulations 1974 and the NHS Trust Act 1991.
17. To ensure staff work within SHASTD guidance e.g. Code of
Ethics, Code of Conduct, Guidelines for Good Practice, PN Policy
