County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
Nurse Practitioner

The closing date is 03 December 2026

Job summary
We have an exciting opportunity for a full time, experienced Band 6 sexual health nurse to join the community sexual health team in CDDFT. The successful candidate will work as part of a multi-disciplinary sexual health team in an integrated role across contraception and GUM within the community Sexual Health Service, providing comprehensive, evidence based, patient focused contraception and sexual health care.

The post holder will be a 1st Level Registered Nurse with previous experience in Contraception and Sexual Health. The successful candidate will be responsible for making professional, autonomous decisions for patients presenting in the clinics who need contraception and/or sexual health screening or problems. They will be accountable for assessing patients needing contraception and safely issuing all methods of contraception, including LARCs using Patient Group Directions/ Non-medical prescribing.

The successful candidate will work within the designated community sexual health team across various venues.

Main duties of the job
The post-holder is responsible for the comprehensive care of patients, assessing, implementing and evaluating care plans within an integrated model of sexual health. The post holder will be expected to support the delivery of local sexual health improvement strategies and provide a high level of clinical service.

The post holder will be responsible for making professionally autonomous decisions, for which they are accountable, assessing patients who may present with both undifferentiated and undiagnosed problems, as well as for follow up routine care.

The post holder will work within a designated team but will be responsible for providing this level of cover when required across any other locality and will also liaise closely with the Advanced Nurse Practitioner/Sexual Health Hub Manager.

About us
If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager.
You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks.
We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.
We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented.
Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents.
Over reliance on AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of success.
For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.
Please note that we may close any vacancy early once a sufficient number of applications have been received.

Details
Date posted: 12 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year per annum / pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: C9439-2627-RP-N502
Job locations: Bishop Auckland Hospital, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, DL14 6AD, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

• Competent in undertaking telephone and face to face consultations independently, in a variety of clinical settings. Following a comprehensive Sexual Health assessment of males and females, the practitioner will be clinically responsible and accountable for total episodes of patient care
• To independently initiate and/or review both routine and emergency contraception medication, according to Non-Medical Prescribing/ Patient Group Directions for a wide range of contraceptive choices, including Long Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC). To independently insert and remove sub-dermal contraceptive implants, as part of the contraceptive offer (training would be provided). Work within own limitations and scope of practice referring patients presenting with complex needs or medical contraindications, to senior clinical staff.
• To undertake genital examination, testing and treatment of asymptomatic and/or symptomatic patients. Independently initiate and/or review the treatment of patients according to PGDs, for a number of uncomplicated STIs and/or genital conditions; work within own limitations and scope of practice referring patients presenting with complex symptoms or with abnormal findings to senior clinical staff. Undertake Partner Notification discussion/negotiation to prevent onward transmission.
• Undertake minor surgical procedures (i.e. implant insertion), or applying local genital treatment, practitioners will be required to use highly advanced fine motor and physical skills, as well as highly developed hand-eye co-ordination and accuracy.
• Competent to undertake microscopy as appropriate (training provided)
• Undertake cervical cytology
• To routinely offer sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening to males and females, provide treatment to index patients and implement partner notification.
• To provide specialist advice and support in relation to pregnancy decision making, onward referral into services (e.g. termination of pregnancy, Maternity or other sexual health colleagues).
• Provide specialist advice and information regarding a full range of contraception and STI/genital conditions
• Provide information regarding harm minimisation with alcohol and drug use and undertake brief interventions relevant to sexual risk taking and alcohol/drug use
• Provide general telephone advice for patients, other health care workers and stakeholders.
• Assessment and referral of patients with safeguarding issues
• Deliver a highly specialist sexual health outreach service, to extremely vulnerable and hard to reach patients, advocating for patients either directly or in an advisory role to other workers and professionals. To provide and receive complex and sensitive contentious information, such as disclosures of sexual abuse or other similar safeguarding issues, or requests for advice and support regarding termination of pregnancy.
• Promote and support best practice in sex & relationships education to young people, across a comprehensive range of formal as well as informal educational and outreach settings and deliver sexual health promotion across a range of venues, e.g. workplaces, community venues; using a variety of methods.
• Provide condoms lubricant and safer sex supplies through the c card scheme for 13-25 year olds, working within the relevant professional and legal frameworks.
• Ensure a high standard of record keeping is achieved in line with CDDFT and professional standards including activity and service monitoring data collection
• As required, act as a line manager for identified staff managing their performance, appraisal and planned/unplanned leave, carrying out one to ones and monitoring compliance to mandatory training.
• To assist in the planning, development, implementation and evaluation of learning packages, for newly appointed staff and students/learners
• To maintain personal and professional standards to ensure professional credibility.
• Support the delivery of all areas of the sexual health specification as demand dictates

Person Specification
Statutory Registration
Essential: 1st level Registered Nurse
Desirable: Non-Medical Prescriber

Special Requirements

• Essential: The ability to work in a flexible way, to meet the needs of the service, including evening and weekend work
• Essential: Ability to travel to different sites independently to fulfil the requirements of the post
• Essential: Willingness to undertake further training and development

Qualifications

• Essential: Degree in Health Related subject (or equivalent qualification/experience)
• Essential: Accredited Contraception qualification, incorporating LARC fitting and removal and / or completion of Sexual Health Integrated Pathway (or equivalent) incorporating health advising/STI management or willingness to undertake the required training courses
• Desirable: Cervical cytology

Experience

• Essential: Registered General Nurse with experience in sexual health or other relevant field.
• Desirable: Experience of working with PGDs
• Desirable: Experience of working with young people delivering care in outreach and/or domiciliary settings for vulnerable groups

Special Skills & Knowledge

• Essential: Knowledge of national strategies/policy drivers and legislation in relation to sexual health and contraception
• Essential: General sexual health, contraception and STI knowledge and/or skills - both clinical and theoretical
• Essential: Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Essential: Competent use of IT
• Essential: Adaptable to different work environments unpredictable work pattern
• Essential: Self-starter, able to work independently, on own initiative and to deadlines
• Essential: Ability to plan and organise workload to ensure safe service provision
• Desirable: Knowledge of policies and procedures surrounding care of young people under 16
• Desirable: Knowledge of local services and areas of deprivation

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details
Employer name: County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Bishop Auckland Hospital, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, DL14 6AD, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.cddft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Advanced Nurse Practitioner Madeleine Denning, m.denning@nhs.net, 07825865689

Supporting documents
Library knowledge and learning centre services; CDDFT; Credit union; Cycle to Work Link; Pension Scheme; Privacy notice: County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)