Case studies

Can you briefly describe your career steps in sexual health, from your entry point to where you are now?

I started at band 5 in 2013 on a development pathway. Trained and obtained a postgraduate certificate in sexual health and contraception from De Montfort University. Interviewed and got a job as a band six sexual health specialist nurse. While working as a specialist nurse in an integrated sexual health service, a job opportunity arose for the post of a nurse practitioner. I was interviewed for the job with a successful outcome. Included in the package for a sexual health nurse practitioner were STIF qualifications. This was obtained through a mixed model of inhouse clinical practice training with a STIF trainer and independent learning through E-Learning for healthcare workers. There were other learning opportunities sought externally.

What training have you done to support your career development?

In the STIF Pathway I developed in STIF foundation Theory, STIF intermediate, STIF Sexual Health Adviser and STIF Advanced which was complemented with an independent nurse prescribing course to be able to practice effectively as a STIF Advanced Practitioner. I have also obtained a national certificate in leadership – The Mary Seacole Programme from the NHS Leadership Academy. Currently I am Studying patient safety at master’s level in the University.

How has your STI Foundation training supported your development?

STI Foundation training as given me the knowledge and capabilities to work effectively, competently and confidently in sexual health clinical practice.

Are there any other factors that have been helpful in your development?

Having a collaborative supportive team to work with is very important to keep going as a learner and as a practitioner.

What advice would you give to someone new to working in sexual health?

Self-motivation is very important to sustain someone in sexual health practice. Aspire to be the best you can be.

Is there anything else you would like to say about working in sexual health?

Employers should be encouraged to support learning, and commissioners should also include staff development in their priority list.

I am dual-trained in both GUM and contraception. I currently see patients for consultation/examination/testing/treatment as needed in our clinical setting.

What setting do you work in?

Level 3 sexual health service.

Can you briefly describe your career steps in sexual health, from your entry point to where you are now?

I joined the team in 2018 and underwent training for the STIF intermediate. After a maternity break in 2020/2021, I returned to work and underwent STIF advanced training, as well as contraception training.

What training have you done to support your career development?

STIF Intermediate, STIF Advanced, DFSRH in contraception. I also recently completed the NMP programme.

How has your STI Foundation training supported your development?

It has been very helpful, especially when trying to learn the basics and then when it came to doing the advanced course, it helped to consolidate everything I had learned since completing the intermediate level.

Are there any other factors that have been helpful in your development?

Frequent clinical supervision with colleagues, consolidating knowledge in clinics after the training.

What advice would you give to someone new to working in sexual health?

Study the BASHH guidelines; they are very helpful! Come into the speciality with a very open mind too.

Is there anything else you would like to say about working in sexual health?

It has helped me to identify wider issues with the sexually active population. One of those things is the health literacy and sexual health knowledge of the adult population. Despite there being information widely available online at the fingertips of almost everyone, there is a lot they don’t know or understand. My long-term goal is to find ways of reaching out to adults to improve their understanding. Additionally, people do still find it very difficult to TALK about sex – despite it being everywhere, so again, I’d love to find a way to reduce that stigma/embarrassment.

What setting do you work in?

Sexual health clinic in Plymouth, SHiP

Can you briefly describe your career steps in sexual health, from your entry point to where you are now?

I studied Paediatric Nursing for my BSc, and in my third year, I was offered the MNurs (Master's) in Adult Nursing to complete in my fourth year. I am now a dual qualified nurse. In my second year of university, I became a volunteer at a tertiary service called ‘The Zone’, where I supported under-25s with mental health and sexual health services. I did this job role for nearly two years, which included providing sexual health education in secondary schools.

In my last placement in my adult nursing year, I was placed in SHiP as a student, where I gained a wide range of experience in sexual health and contraception as a student. Once I graduated, I was offered an interview at the clinic once a post was available. I applied, believing it would be a good interview experience, but ended up getting the job!

Due to being newly qualified, it was decided that I start with the Gateway Plus for one year to establish my role as a newly qualified nurse. Once completed, I then started my Intermediate BASHH Foundation course, which I completed in April this year.

What training have you done to support your career development?

• Paediatric and Adult Nursing Minors degree (4 years) and also Voluntary experience and placements as a student.
• Gateway Plus BASHH Foundation Course (1 year).
• Integrated BASHH Foundation Course (1 year).
• Future progression; Integrated BASHH Foundation, STIF Advanced, working towards becoming NMP.

I am also planning to join Open University to study psychology and counselling, as I would like to become a sexual health and relationship therapist in the future.

How has your STI Foundation training supported your development?

• Completing the Gateway Plus created a great foundation for when I completed my Intermediate BASHH foundation course. There were clear steps in progression between the two courses.
• There was an informative booklet on how to complete foundation courses and what is expected to achieve.
• Clear competencies and what is required to be signed off on.
• Useful meetings with the BASHH team and access to contact the team when required.

Are there any other factors that have been helpful in your development?

The Bacterial Special Interest Group for microscopy.

What advice would you give to someone new to working in sexual health?

Sexual health research and medication is constantly changing. It is important to keep updated with guidelines, treatments and knowledge of STIs. This job role also includes caring for patients who have been victims of a sexual assault, supporting those through present or past abuse, motivational interviewing in health promotion in safer risk reducing sex, pregnancy prevention and providing factual and up-to-date education about sexual health. Working with young adolescents and vulnerable adults opens the doors to safeguarding and ensuring, as a practitioner, these needs are also met, and patients are safeguarded appropriately.

Is there anything else you would like to say about working in sexual health?

Sexual health is not only about physical health but also about having a holistic approach to care. Being a good motivational interviewer/ informant allows for effective health promotion within sexual health, which in turn reduces sexual risk.

Can you briefly describe your career steps in sexual health, from your entry point to where you are now?

I began working in sexual health in 2011, following 10 years in gynaecology and women’s health within an acute hospital setting. During this first decade, alongside ward duties, I completed a BSc degree in Sexual Health, which included a contraception module. This was a requirement for providing care for women undergoing termination of pregnancy.

During this period of study, I became interested in learning more about sexual health and HIV. This was also inspired by my university professor/mentor and other lecturers, who helped to shape my interest in this speciality. With this in mind, I explored the opportunity to move away from the hospital, where I was the contraception lead in a community clinic. The service evolved into an integrated sexual health model; this broadened my clinical experience.

Over 14 years, I’ve had the opportunity to work across a variety of settings and take on different responsibilities, all of which have helped enhance my skills, knowledge, and experience. I’m now in the final months of the trainee ACP programme. This is a new position within our service model, and I’m proud to be one of the first two ACPs stepping into this opportunity, covering HIV, contraception and sexual health.

What training have you done to support your career development?

I initially completed a BSc with honours in sexual health at Nottingham University in 2009, followed by NMP at Lincoln University in 2016. I also completed STIF Intermediate in 2018.

I completed the DFSRH, with letters of competence (LOC) in Intrauterine techniques and Subdermal Contraception Contraceptive Implant techniques insertion and removal in 2019.

I was interested in developing education and training within our service, so to support this, I completed a PG Cert in Health Professions Education (HPE) in 2022 via Lincoln University.

In 2023, I embarked on the STIF Advanced Competency programme, which coincided with the beginning of an MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice at Sheffield Hallam University.

I completed STIF Advanced in 2024.

With the aid of the PG Cert in HPE, I am now registered as a STIF and FRT trainer supporting staff within the service.

I have also recently completed the NHINVA Intermediate and am working through NHIVNA Advanced.

How has your STI Foundation training supported your development?

As sexual health is such a niche speciality, there is very little training available via higher education institutes. Therefore, the STI Foundation training has been invaluable in supporting my career development and has provided structure throughout.

Are there any other factors that have been helpful in your development?

Supportive mentors and trainers; not all people I have worked with have believed that this training is required, but I have continually championed the available education programmes. As part of the PG Cert in HPE, my future practice plan was to incorporate the STI Foundation training. I referenced the RCN Sexual and Reproductive Health – Education, Training and Career Progression in Nursing and Midwifery and developed the service training trajectory, which is now used for all staff.

The joint curriculum for advanced clinical practice has been essential and has shaped the last three years of my career and supported the introduction of ACPs to our service.

What advice would you give to someone new to working in sexual health?

Network with your peers, link in with teams across the speciality to learn from each other. Follow the STIF Foundation pathway and take opportunities to learn as they arise. If you don’t understand something, ask, and repeat the eLearning as many times as you need to. No question is silly.

Is there anything else you would like to say about working in sexual health?

I love it! There is always something new to learn, we can truly make a difference to our patients, and we also save lives.