The Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP) Integrated Sexual Health and HIV Specialty Training Curriculum 2019 (revised 2021)
The ACP curriculum has been developed as a joint project between the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH), the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH) and the National HIV Nurses Association (NHIVNA) as a Health Education England (HEE)-supported project to standardise practice in integrated sexual health and HIV services. The curriculum has just received endorsement from the Royal College of Nursing and the British HIV Association.
The aim of the ACP Integrated Sexual Health and HIV curriculum is to provide a clear and comprehensive guide to the expected level and breadth of practice for advanced clinical practitioners working in integrated sexual health and HIV. It has been designed to support practitioners, managers, higher education institutions and commissioners.
In addition to having a masters level award, ACPs will be independent non-medical prescribers, and be able to undertake advanced clinical assessments. For ACPs in Integrated Sexual Health area specific clinical training is likely to include STIFAdvanced competency for STI and related conditions, Diploma of the Faculty of Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare, and Letters of Competence in Sub Dermal Implants and Intrauterine techniques for contraception. While for ACPs working in HIV, NHIVNA-STIF HIV Advanced competencies.
There are three clinical pathways:
- Integrated Sexual health
- HIV
- Integrated Sexual Health & HIV
What does the curriculum cover?
The curriculum provides clear, comprehensive guidance on the knowledge, skills and attributes needed for practitioners working within integrated sexual health and HIV services. It is based on the medical curricula for GUM/HIV and Sexual & Reproductive Health, and has been mapped to the four pillars of advanced clinical practice (clinical practice, leadership & management, education, and research) core capabilities as outlined in the HEE multi-professional framework for advanced clinical practice.
It will help practitioners, managers, employers, Higher Education Institutions and commissioners, to better understand the role of nurses working in specialist integrated sexual health services.
What are the core ACP curriculum learning outcomes?
As part of the requirements for the curriculum, all Advanced Clinical Practitioners will be expected to complete the following four pillars and associated knowledge, skills and behaviours:
- Leadership and management
- Education research
- Clinical practice: basis for practice / HIV (part 1)
Then there are specific learning outcomes depending on which clinical pathway you undertake:
- STIs and related conditions
- Contraception and gynaecology
- HIV part 2
How do I access the curriculum?
The curriculum is free to access and endorsed by Health Education England.