235190 Senior Sexual Health Practitioner (KA)

Job Description

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.

Please note: we anticipate a high level of interest in this position and may close the vacancy early once a sufficient amount of applications are received. Therefore, please make sure you complete and submit your application at an early stage.

We will fully support disabled candidates, and candidates with long term conditions or who are neurodivergent by making reasonable adjustments to our recruitment policy and practices.

To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigration Service. Further information on what NHS Scotland Boards are required to do to check this as well as what your responsibilities include can be found in the further information for this vacancy.

This post requires the post holder to have a PVG Scheme membership/record. If the post holder is not a current PVG member for the required regulatory group (i.e. child and/or adult) then an application will need to be made to Disclosure Scotland and deemed satisfactory before they can begin in post.

Please note: As this post is part time, the salary will be pro rata.

The use of the term “Senior” or “Junior” in this post refers only to the level of experience and responsibility required for this post rather than age. As such, applications from people of all ages are welcomed, subject to meeting the relevant criteria.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced nurse or midwife to work as part of a team delivering abortion assessment and treatment. The ‘Choices’ clinic, which includes provision of Early Medical Abortion at Home, is embedded within Lothian Sexual and Reproductive Health Services (LSRHS) located in Chalmers Sexual Health Centre. Hours of work are Monday to Friday 08.00 – 16.30 with the possibility of long days (covering 16.30 – 20.00) in some circumstances.

Over 4,000 women attend for abortion advice, assessment, treatment and support in NHS Lothian each year. The Choices team work in collaboration with the obstetric, reproductive and gynaecology teams in St John’s Hospital and The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and the post holder will be expected to maintain good links with these and third sector providers of care to women and pregnant people with an unplanned/unwanted pregnancy. The post holder would be expected to participate in the care of individuals undertaking abortion and to refer on to the appropriate service for surgical or medical abortion at later gestations within the limits of the law. There will be opportunities to work with the wider SRH team and learn skills relevant to the holistic care of those attending the Choices Clinic, including provision of contraception.

The post holder will have the opportunity to work with a diverse range of clients across a variety of clinics within LSRHS including provision of genitourinary medicine, long acting reversible contraception, working within our young people’s service as well as with outreach teams and covering local clinics.

The post holder will be expected to share in the management and leadership of the nursing team.

Essential Criteria

• First level registered nurse or midwife with current NMC registration
• Post registration qualification in sexual and reproductive health
• Two years post registration experience in sexual health or related area e.g. Gynaecology
• Non judgemental, person centred approach, ability to use initiative and work independently
• Effective communication skills
• Highly developed clinical consultation skills

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of working in an abortion service
• Evidence of teamwork and leadership
• Competence in contraceptive implant insertion and removal
• Experience of working with vulnerable patient groups and use of interpreting services
• Independent non medical prescribing qualification or willingness to work towards this
• Willingness to work unsocial hours and travel independently throughout Lothian

The post is Band 6 on the Agenda for Change Payscale.

Job opportunity for an experienced nurse/midwife, experienced in providing abortion care – Part time Band 6 post in the Choices Team; NHS Lothian Sexual and Reproductive Health Service.

For further information on what is included in the role and what skills/experience are being looked for, click on the links at the bottom of the screen to the job description and person specification. If after reading this information you have any questions, please contact Seonaid Boyle,