Healthcare Support Worker - Sexual Health

Job summary

We are looking for an enthusiastic, dynamic, motivated and flexible Healthcare Support Worker to join our integrated sexual health service. We provide screening and treatment of sexually transmitted infections, HIV care and contraception to a diverse population of clients.

This vacancy is for 22.5 hours - The main base will be Crown Heights in Basingstoke, but there will be a requirement to cover other clinics in the North locality as and when required ( Aldershot, Andover and Eastleigh).

In return you will become a valued member of a team known for its innovation and high standard of care. You will be supported to complete in house training by a line manager and HCSW 'mentor'. You will have regular one to one meetings and appraisals to monitor your progress and development needs. In addition, the service offers regular education sessions and clinical supervision.

For this post, you will need to be able to travel between sites.

The successful candidate may have some previous experience working as a Healthcare Support Worker or in a sexual health environment but this is not essential. People skills and a willingness to learn are paramount.

You will be expected to work in sexual health clinics across North Hampshire and on occasion, and dependent on the needs of the service, we may ask you to support other clinics across our Hampshire sites.

Main duties, tasks & skills required

• Collect and process a variety of specimens.
• Perform venepuncture
• Undertake basic observations of patients, including blood pressure.
• Manage asymptomatic patients.
• Able to assist the Clinician during IUD fittings
• Processes routine samples by labelling, recording, and storing appropriately
• Performs light microscopy for sexually transmitted infections
• Maintains stock levels and orders stock as necessary
• Travels to spoke clinics or other locations within Sexual Health
• Administrative duties as required, including reception tasks
• Develop rapport with patients and treat all patients, carers and staff with dignity and respect
• Frequently use interpersonal and communication skills to de-escalate and reduce aggressive behaviour if encountered from patients and carers
• Implement agreed standards of care provision in line with local Ward/Unit/community and Trust policies, Adhere to all Trust Policies and Procedures
• Be aware of own limitations, seek support when the need arises, maintain professional boundaries at all times
• Acts as patients chaperone, when required, for doctors and nurses during examinations and procedures providing privacy and dignity
• Observes patients right to confidentiality specifically in relation to contraception & sexual health
• Aware of the specific confidentiality rights of patients aged under 18, attending the service

About us

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a newly established organisation, bringing together expertise from across mental health, learning disabilities, community, and physical health services. We are dedicated to delivering compassionate, high-quality, and accessible care to the diverse communities of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

With over 13,000 dedicated staff working across more than 300 sites, we place patients and staff at the centre of everything we do. Our goal is to create an integrated healthcare system that improves accessibility and ensures more consistent care for patients. By working together, we aim to improve patient outcomes, drive innovation, and meet the unique needs of the populations we serve.

Our Trust unites services from Southern Health, Solent NHS Trust, Isle of Wight NHS Trusts community and mental health teams, as well as Hampshire CAMHS, originally part of Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. This transformation enables us to deliver more seamless care across the region, ensuring that patients receive the right support, in the right place, at the right time.

Join us as we embark on this exciting journey to shape the future of healthcare across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. We are deeply committed to our CARE values of compassion, accountability, respect, and excellence, and offer outstanding opportunities for career development, training, and collaborative working.

Job description

Further information about the Trust and this role can be found on the Job Description and Person Specification document attached. It is important to us that we ensure our recruitment processes are accessible and inclusive to everyone - if as a potential candidate you are concerned a person specification may prevent or restrict your application for employment as a result of unintentional barriers on the grounds of your sex, race, age, sexual orientation, religion/belief or disability please initially contact the Trust's Recruitment team - detailed in the advert. The Trust will seek to resolve this issue wherever possible.

We are happy to talk Flexible Working - all requests for flexible working options can be discussed as part of the interview process.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential

Healthcare qualification Level 2, 3 or working towards gaining equivalent level

Good basic education or GSCE in English and maths

Experience

Essential

Experience in either a hospital or community setting

Working within a multidisciplinary team

Desirable

Experience working in Sexual Health 

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.

For help with your application, contact: 

Emma Wells 

emma.wells49@nhs.net