HIV Health Adviser

St George's University Hospitals; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in South West London is seeking a Health Adviser to support patients living with HIV by providing counselling, health education, and advocacy. You will work in both outpatient and inpatient settings, forming part of a dedicated team that plays a critical role in the care of patients. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in HIV or sexual health, possess strong counselling skills, and contribute to our multi-disciplinary team. Flexible working arrangements are available.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Supportive team environment

Qualifications

• Significant experience working as a Health Adviser in either a HIV or sexual health setting.
• Ability to provide emotional support to patients and their families.
• Experience in multi-disciplinary team collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Provide counselling support and health education to patients.
• Assess and refer patients to in-house psychology services.
• Play a key role in monthly MDT meetings.

Skills

Counselling skills

Health education

Crisis intervention

Motivational interviewing

Risk assessment

Education

Experience in HIV or sexual health settings

Job description

The main components of the role of the Health Adviser are counselling, health education, partner notification, advocacy and safeguarding. The Health Adviser team work closely as part of the wider MDT and with other agencies to help co-ordinate the care for our cohort of people living with HIV. The role encompasses the out-patient based service, the in-patient ward, and other departments within the hospital. The post holder will need to have had significant experience working as a Health Adviser in either a HIV or sexual health setting. The Health Advisers work as part of a small, supportive, and effective team, and are a highly valued part of the service.

Responsibilities

• To provide counselling support and health education to patients attending the HIV clinic and to those who are in-patient on the ward in relation to any aspect of their HIV care, including attending ward rounds.
• To provide crisis intervention and ongoing support as appropriate.
• To assess and refer appropriate patients to our in-house psychology service.
• To identify patient risk, working with patients in promoting a healthier lifestyles approach, using evidence based motivational and risk reduction techniques.
• To work with local services to support patients facing challenges around their alcohol/drug use.
• To provide support, where appropriate, to partners, significant others and family members.
• To provide emotional support to in-patients under the Infection Care Group.

Patient Safeguarding

• To play a key role in our monthly MDT meeting and attend relevant internal and external safeguarding meetings as required by the service.
• To complete safeguarding referrals to adult and children services and other organisations as necessary.
• To ensure all potential vertical HIV transmission cases are handled according to national guidelines.

At gesh we are committed to supporting flexible working arrangements. Applicants are encouraged to discuss any flexibility they may need during the recruitment process.

St George's, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group cares for a population of four million people in South West London and North East Surrey. Our sites include St George's Hospital, one of 11 major trauma centres in the UK and the largest healthcare provider and major teaching hospital in the area; St Helier Hospital, home to the South West Thames Renal and Transplantation Unit and Queen Mary's Hospital for Children; and Epsom Hospital, home to the South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre (SWLEOC).

After years of collaboration, our two Trusts became a hospitals group in 2021. While remaining as two separate Trusts, being a hospitals group will help us to collaborate more closely on research, and the development, education, and training of our 17,000-strong workforce.