Job overview
Luton Sexual Health is seeking a Consultant to join the well-established Luton Sexual Health Service as an addition to the existing team of four Consultants and one Specialty doctor. The appointee will need to demonstrate wide experience in all aspects of sexual health including HIV inpatient and outpatient management, Genito-Urinary Medicine and contraception provision. There will be opportunity for the appointee to develop a subspecialist interest and to support the further development of the Luton Sexual Health service.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will, in conjunction with the existing consultants, have responsibilities for providing advice, screening, diagnosis and treatment of patients with STIs including HIV infection and specialist contraception services including LARC. They will be committed to the continued development of integrated sexual health services in line with national policy, local commissioning arrangements and evidence-based best practice. The post holder will have the opportunity to help with innovations and service developments designed to achieve local/national targets, develop/expand outreach service, increase access and optimise cost efficiency of the service. The appointee will also be expected to work alongside the other consultants in providing clinical supervision for the multidisciplinary team. The appointee will have opportunity to take an active part in Undergraduate and Postgraduate teaching, including the training of specialty trainees and nursing staff.
The post holder will share equitable responsibilities with their professional colleagues and will contribute to the governance arrangements of the department. The post holder will be expected to provide cover for inpatient referrals and on call cover in the form of telephone advice to support Saturday clinics (on a 1:4 basis). The post holders will be required to cover for colleagues during periods of absence, and will have continuing responsibility for patient care and the proper functioning of the Department.
Working for our organisation
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
Our values
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
A 10 PA week consists of 8.5 PAs direct clinical care and 1.5 PA for Supporting Professional Activity (SPA).
The post holder may be required to attend the regional audit and speciality group meetings and local network meetings virtually as core members or cover as appropriate.
Job planning will be used to reflect the needs of the department, ensuring that contracted work is appropriately remunerated. An initial job plan review will be undertaken by the Clinical Director after 3 months and annually thereafter, or if the work pattern changes. Any additional PAs contracted by the Trust will be agreed as a separate part of the job plan by mutual consent.
In addition to the fixed clinical sessions necessary to provide continuous cover in the clinical area, flexible sessions that include time for teaching, administration, management and clinical governance will be discussed and agreed.
This appointment will be for 10 Programmed Activities per week. There will be an allocation of 8.5 Direct Clinical Care (DCC) and 1.5 Supporting Professional Activities (SPA). There will be an average of 3 outpatient clinics per week in the contracted Programmed Activities. This includes 2 integrated sexual health clinics (including LARC procedures) and 1 HIV clinic. The remaining PAs will be for patient related administration, CME/CPD, audit, clinical governance, and teaching and training.
Out of hours availability for telephone advice will be required on Saturdays from 9-5pm on a 1:4 basis. Provision of cover for the Saturday Sexual Health clinics may be required on occasion.
Luton & Dunstable University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust was awarded the contract to provide Sexual Health services for Luton Borough in October 2015. Luton Sexual Health was launched in April 2016 to deliver a fully integrated, comprehensive, high quality innovative sexual health service for the whole of our local community. In order to better serve the community Luton Sexual Health moved to the new community services hub in central Luton in May 2018. A new contract was awarded and commenced April 2023, for a minimum term of 5 years.
Luton Sexual Health is a busy integrated sexual health, HIV, contraception and outreach service providing care in both acute and community settings across Luton Borough. The service is based at Arndale House in Luton town centre. The service offers both face-to-face and telephone appointments on an open-access basis, with approximately 15,000 attendances in a year. Alongside offering clinical services, Luton Sexual Health offers training and education opportunities both internally and externally.
1.Job Purpose
·Maintenance of the highest clinical standards in the management of all patients presenting to the Luton & Dunstable University Hospital NHS FT.
·To share with colleagues in Luton Sexual Health the management of all patients presenting to the service.
·Teaching and training of intermediate grade and junior medical staff, healthcare professionals working in primary care, nursing staff and medical students.
·To actively participate in both departmental and Trust matters concerning Clinical Governance and audit.
·To have responsibility for and actively participate in continuing professional development (CPD).
The Trust is part of the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Health and Care Partnership (Integrated Care System) and within this the Bedfordshire Care Alliance. As a result of this, the successful candidate may be required to adapt their job plan in the future to work across more than one site within the area; this may also include delivering aspects of care in community settings which supports the Trust’s vertical integration strategy.
The post holder will be encouraged to develop a special interest in line with the Departmental policy to expand its range of specialist services.
The post holder may be required to attend the regional audit and speciality group meetings and local network meetings virtually as core members or cover as appropriate.
The Consultant will be expected to work with the local managers, general practitioners and other medical and professional clinical colleagues in the efficient running of the service.
Participation in audit and other governance activities will be encouraged. Where possible the postholder will be encouraged to develop a research interest compatible with the focus of the service and existing team.
The successful candidate will work according to the terms and conditions of the new consultant contract.
All staff employed by the Trust are expected to comply with the Trust’s Health and Safety policies.
Closing Date: 06.02.2026
Assessment Date: TBC
Interview Date: 13.04.2026
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. Medical Degree
2. Relevant postgraduate qualification MRCP, MRCS etc
3. Diploma in Genito-Urinary Medicine.
4. Diploma in HIV Medicine
5. Letter of Competence Sub–dermal Contraceptive Implant techniques
6. Holder of Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT/CESR) GUM
Desirable criteria
7. MD or equivalent Higher Degree or evidence of relevant research
8. Interest in Psychosexual Medicine
9. FSRH Faculty Registered Trainer Letter of Competence in Intra-Uterine Techniques
10. STIF Trainer
Registration
Essential criteria
11. Full GMC Registration (GMC Licence to Practice is mandatory before employment commences)
12. Entry onto the GMC Specialist Register: -CCT (or within 6 months of receipt of CCT at time of interview); CESR - portfolio pathway (must be on Specialist Register at time of applying
Clinical Experience
Essential criteria
13. Excellent all round experience of DGH work
14. Evidence of thorough and broad training and experience in all aspects of Genito-Urinary Medicine, contraception and HIV.
15. Relevant clinical expertise level 3 contraception
16. Able to take full and independent responsibility for clinical work and delivering service without direct supervision.
Desirable criteria
17. Participation in relevant national audits
Clinical Effectiveness
Essential criteria
18. Understanding of clinical governance and ability to demonstrate ongoing CPD
19. Experience of guideline appraisal
20. Participation in relevant local audits
21. Ability to interpret and apply clinical research
Desirable criteria
22. Participation in relevant national audits
Teaching
Essential criteria
23. Knowledge and ability to teach all grades of trainees and medical students
Desirable criteria
24. Has attended Teaching the Teachers or similar course
25. Experience of arranging teaching programmes e.g. Course of 5 for DFSRH, STIF courses
Personal Skills
Essential criteria
26. Ability to co-operate in a democratic team environment
27. Flexible attitude, team player with good management skills
28. Leadership Skills
Personal Skills
Essential criteria
29. Ability to co-operate in a democratic team environment
30. Flexible attitude, team player with good management skills
31. Leadership Skills
Clinical Governance
Essential criteria
32. Able to demonstrate a broad understanding of the principles and elements of clinical governance.
Personal Circumstances
Essential criteria
33. Fit to undertake the role with satisfactory Occupational Health clearance
34. Satisfactory DBS clearance
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.