Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Read the FAQs

Summary of what SSHA get asked the most and what this page contains. 

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Conference

SSHA Conference 2026 – Frequently Asked Questions

  • Friday, November 6th, 2026
  • 9.00 – 16.30

Although it is aimed at Sexual Health Advisers and nurses, we welcome anyone from sexual health or related fields.

We have decided to hold the conference online because it means that people can attend from anywhere in the UK (or the World!) without having travel to London. Depending on feedback, we may look at having a future conference in-person.

  • SSHA/BASHH Members: £75
  • Non-members £140

Some bursaries are available – please see link for details.

It is a fantastic opportunity to:

  • Learn more about the changing role of Sexual Health Advisers
  • Attend sessions on Motivational Interviewing and Vicarious Trauma
  • Hear the views and experiences of colleagues nationwide

Role of the SHA

The Role of the Sexual Health Adviser – Frequently Asked Questions

A Sexual Health Adviser is a specialist practitioner working within NHS-commissioned sexual health services, delivering public-health interventions, counselling, partner notification, safeguarding, and health promotion, in line with BASHH standards, UKHSA guidance, and local authority service specifications.

Sexual Health Advisers lead and coordinate partner notification in accordance with BASHH/SSHA partner notification standards, ensuring:

  • A non-judgemental, patient-centred approach
  • Use of provider, patient, or contract referral pathways
  • Documentation and outcome monitoring
  • Contribution to public-health surveillance and infection control

Safeguarding is integral to the SHA role. Advisers:

  • Conduct routine and targeted safeguarding risk assessments
  • Identify risks such as coercion, exploitation, domestic abuse, or vulnerability
  • Work within local safeguarding boards, NHS safeguarding policies, and statutory guidance
  • Escalate concerns appropriately while maintaining patient trust

In alignment with UKHSA priorities, SHAs:

  • Contribute to infection prevention and control
  • Support surveillance through accurate documentation
  • Deliver targeted interventions to higher-risk populations
  • Engage in outbreak response and health protection activity when required

Health promotion is a core function, including:

  • Education on prevention and wellbeing
  • Outreach to underserved or high-risk communities
  • Supporting behaviour change using recognised counselling approaches

This reflects NHS and local authority expectations for preventive, population-focused sexual health services.

Sexual Health Advisers work to:

  • Reduce barriers to care
  • Provide culturally competent, inclusive services
  • Address stigma and discrimination
  • Support individuals with complex social needs

This supports national priorities to reduce health inequalities across sexual health services.

Typically, SHAs have:

  • A healthcare or relevant professional background (e.g. nursing, health advising, public health, social work)
  • Specialist sexual health training
  • Ongoing competency-based professional development
  • Mandatory safeguarding, information governance, and equality training

This aligns with NHS workforce and governance standards.

Sexual Health Advisers are core members of MDTs, collaborating with:

  • Doctors and nurses
  • Psychologists and counsellors
  • Social care and safeguarding leads
  • Public health professionals

This ensures holistic, patient-centred care, consistent with NHS integrated care principles.

Sexual Health Advisers manage:

  • Increasing service demand
  • Complex safeguarding presentations
  • Psychosocial needs alongside clinical priorities
  • Public-health pressures, including outbreaks and inequalities

The SHA role underpins:

  • Effective infection control
  • Safeguarding and risk reduction
  • Patient engagement and retention
  • Public-health outcomes and prevention

Without this role, services would struggle to meet UK sexual health service standards and population-health goals.