Senior Health Promotion Officer

With responsibility for Outreach and Rapid HIV testing

Full Time, Fixed-Term Contract

Originally founded in 1987, as Cork AIDS Alliance, to provide support to people living with HIV, the Sexual Health Centre is now a leading organisation supporting and promoting sexual health in Ireland.

The Sexual Health Centre is now seeking an exceptional positive individual to join our Sexual Health Promotion team as a Senior Health Promotion Officer with responsibility for Outreach and Rapid HIV testing. This role will respond to the sexual health needs of gay, bisexual and Men who have Sex with Men (gbMSM). The programme will aim to support people accessing prevention, testing, early diagnosis and treatment opportunities. We recognise that furnishing individuals with the skills to effectively respond to their sexual health is crucial to their overall wellbeing. The purpose of this position is to establish and develop a role that responds and supports equitable and innovative access to sexual health services for the target population.

The Sexual Health Centre has an ambitious programme for a future where sexual health is recognised as an integral part of life, barriers to access sexual health services are removed, social stigma and discrimination are challenged, each individual feels safe to express their sexuality, and people make informed decisions regarding their sexual wellbeing and treat each other’s life choices with the utmost respect. Our services provide free and confidential information, counselling and support to help people make positive, healthy lifestyle choices to improve their wellbeing. In this role, you will have the opportunity to make a significant contribution to the overall strategy of the Sexual Health Centre.

If you are a strategic and driven professional with strong planning, community development and outreach experience, this could be the ideal role for you. This project focuses on delivering additional outreach to the gbMSM population who engage in public sex environments (cruising sites) or online geo-location dating apps as well as delivering Rapid HIV testing programme. This is a full time, fixed-term contract until February 2024. This will be extended subject to funding.

Responsibilities of your role will include:

  • Create an empowering, non-judgemental, positive and welcoming atmosphere, emphasising self-determination and assisting people to make plans and decisions in relation to their sexual health

  • Devise, co-ordinate and implement a strategy for engagement in the programme gay, bisexual or Men who have sex with Men with a particular focus on public sex environments (cruising sites) and geo-location dating apps

  • Proactively source opportunities to communicate and advertise the project to drive overall stakeholder and client engagement

  • Co-ordinate, including volunteers, testing facilities in the Sexual Health Centre including but not limited to Rapid HIV testing, Hep C testing and STI testing services • Incorporate an evidence based approach to health promotion and testing within public sex environments

  • Continuously seeking suitable locations or areas for this outreach work while also identifying and collaborating with new partnerships across all sectors of society

  • Disseminating information and respond to queries on TasP, PrEP and PEP, as well as providing professional lead Rapid HIV testing in the community to ensure a confidential testing experience for MSM who may not identify as gay or bisexual or individuals who do not regularly attend ‘traditional’ testing services

  • Provide sexual health advice, brief interventions, support sessions and campaigns that encourage subsequent behavioural change

  • Create and facilitate opportunities to dispense and stock condoms for distribution

  • Incorporate the use of dating and geo-social apps in the delivery of the project

  • Ensure relevant documentation, such as permits, are in place for service delivery

  • Undertake comprehensive risk assessments and ensure relevant policies, procedures, protocols and guidelines are devised under the guidance of the management team • Ensure a healthy and safe working environment for clients and other staff

  • Implement a strategy of quality improvement to monitor the project, ensuring client engagement and involvement is central to service delivery encouraging feedback loops to enhance client participation

  • Create an awareness of the Sexual Health Centre and its services to relevant stakeholders, clients and service users

  • Co-ordinate and deliver events and campaigns in relation to the area of work

  • Support the delivery of one-to-one interventions, drop-in services, condom demonstrations, condom distribution and helpline calls within the organisation

  • Establish and maintain an excellent rapport with partners and stakeholders • Provide day-to-day office and administrative duties as required

  • Monitor and evaluate work as required, keeping secure written and statistical records of work undertaken and providing reports as required

  • Represent the Sexual Health Centre at events, conferences, meetings etc.

  • Achieve volume, activity and income targets as agreed with the Centre Manager and in line with funder requirements

  • Support the co-ordination of the Health Promotion Team

  • Ensure that Community Employment staff are supported in their integration in the workplace and assist in their training and development under the guidance of the Centre Manager

  • Adhere to the goals and targets of the Strategic Plan for The Sexual Health Centre

  • Deliver a service which is accessible and inclusive to all in line with Sexual Health Centre Policies, Protocols, Procedures and Guidelines

  • Perform other duties commensurate with the nature of the post. It is important that all members of staff be prepared to take on additional duties or relinquish existing duties in order to maintain efficient running of the organisation. All roles will develop and the Sexual Health Centre may change the role scope in consultation with the post holder

Education / Professional Qualifications:

  • A relevant qualification in health promotion, health care, social care, community development or other relevant area

  • Excellent communication and project development skills, with the ability to collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders

  • Excellent IT skills, proficiency in Microsoft Office

  • Suitable experience in developing, evaluating and managing projects Requirements

  • Relevant experience in the area of health promotion

  • Experience in the areas of sexual health and/or Rapid Testing is desirable

  • An understanding of the health and social issues that affect the LGBTI+ community

  • An ability to work with people from a wide range of backgrounds in a variety of settings

  • The ability to work as part of a team and in partnership with other organisations and individuals

  • Flexible working style and the ability to respond effectively to emerging/unexpected needs

  • Innovative thinking and project planning is essential

  • A full clean driving licence is essential

Terms and Conditions

Salary: Salary will be commensurate with the experience of the candidate.
Contract: Part-time, fixed term contract until February 2025
Hours: Full-time contract, 5 days per week, Monday to Thursday 9am to 5:30pm and Friday 9am to 2pm. Due to the nature of the post, evening or weekend work will be required.
Holidays: 24 Days annual leave pro rata
Garda Vetting: please note that any offer of employment will be subject to Garda Vetting.

The Senior Health Promotion Officer will report to the Centre Manager.

CV and accompanying cover letter can be directed to Catherine Kennedy, Centre Manager: catherine@sexualhealthcentre.com Applications will not be accepted after 1pm Friday, December 1st, 2023

Sexual Health Centre is an equal opportunities employer.