Competency Programme Overview

BASHH's STI Foundation competency programme provides nationally recognised workplace training qualifications. The qualifications assess the skills of healthcare professionals working in Sexual Health and start at entry level, progressing onto enhanced level STIF Certificates (STIF Cert) and advanced level STIF diplomas (STIF Dip).

Unsure which competency is right for you? See our 'choosing your competency' guide at this link.

Entry level competencies

STI Foundation Gateway Competency

The STI Foundation Gateway Competency is a workplace-based qualification assessing the competence of those in ‘Healthcare Assistant / Clinic Support Worker’ roles (or similar). It includes assessments relating to the role in assisting more senior staff, setting up clinic rooms and safe management of cryotherapy. It involves tailored one-to-one clinical training and assessment by specialists within a sexual health clinic setting.

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STI Foundation Gateway Plus Competency

The STI Foundation Gateway Plus Competency is a workplace-based qualification assessing the competence of newly qualified nurses or nurses new to sexual health. It includes assessments relating to the role in assisting more senior staff, setting up clinic rooms and safe management of cryotherapy as well as female genital exam (speculum), administering cryotherapy and giving injections (immunisations and antibiotics). It involves tailored one-to-one clinical training and assessment by specialists within a sexual health clinic setting.

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Enhanced level competencies

STIF Cert - Intermediate Competency

STIF Integrated (Contraception) Bolt-On

The STIF Integrated Bolt-On builds on STIF Intermediate with additional work place assessments in contraceptive care, assessing the knowledge and competence of healthcare professionals in the management of contraception in Integrated Sexual Health settings.

STIF Integrated can be completed at the same time as STIF Intermediate (see STIF Combined) or can follow on from successful STIF Cert - Intermediate Competency certification. STIF Integrated is not a standalone contraceptive qualification.

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STIF Cert - Sexual Health Advising Competency

The STIF Cert -Sexual Health Advising Competency is a 15 credit equivalent, level 6, work-based qualification assessing the skills of sexual health advisers and nurses with significant health advising roles. It involves tailored one-to-one training and assessment by specialists within a sexual health clinic. This is a standalone module, however, those who have already completed STIF Cert - Intermediate will be exempt from repeating elements that overlap.

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STIF-NHIVNA Cert - Intermediate Competency

The STIF-NHIVNA Cert - Intermediate competency is a 30 credit equivalent, level 6, work-based qualification assessing the knowledge and competence of nurses working in HIV services. This competency involves tailored one-to-one clinical training and work-place assessment and is suitable for nurses working in a Specialist HIV Medicine setting (Out-patient) or an Integrated GUM/HIV or ID/HIV setting. The National HIV Nurses Association (NHIVNA) and BASHH's STI Foundation have co-produced this qualification.

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STIF Combined: Intermediate Competency with Integrated (Contraception) Bolt-On

Advanced level competencies

STIF Diploma - Advanced Competency (including APEL)

The STIF Diploma - Advanced Competency is a 30 credit equivalent, level 7, work-based qualification designed for Specialist Sexual Health Professionals who are working towards independent practice and have already reached the level of STIF Intermediate Competency or (via the APEL route) can provide a portfolio of evidence demonstrating achievement of the required competency elements from prior learning.

The training and assessment is delivered in a Level 3 Integrated Sexual Health service and comprises a minimum of 50 clinical sessions including reflective writing, formal assessment of competence using assessment tools (mini-CEX forms and case-based discussion) and the completion of an audit. It is highly suitable for SAS doctors working in GU Medicine who do not wish to take the Dip GUM exam.

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STIF-NHIVNA Diploma - Advanced Competency (including via APEL)

The STIF-NHIVNA Diploma - Advanced competency is a 30 credit equivalent, level 7, work-based qualification assessing the knowledge and competence of nurses working at an advanced level, or physician associates and SAS doctors working in HIV medicine who do not wish to take the DipHIV exam. This competency involves tailored one-to-one clinical training and work-place assessment and is suitable for HCPs working in a Specialist HIV Medicine setting (Out-patient) or an Integrated GUM/HIV or ID/HIV setting. The National HIV Nurses Association (NHIVNA) and BASHH's STI Foundation have co-produced this qualification.

Access can also be provided by the APEL route, by providing a portfolio of evidence demonstrating achievement of the required competency elements from prior learning.

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Complete Competencies: Certificate with Diploma

STIF Complete: STIF Intermediate Competency with STIF Advanced Competency

STI Foundation Complete Competency is designed for experienced sexual healthcare professionals who can complete STIF Intermediate and Advanced Competency training in one pathway, saving costs on the overall training. STIF Complete is suitable for specialist sexual health nurses working towards independent and advanced clinical practice and for those planning to lead and deliver Level 2 standard sexual health services.

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STIF-NHIVNA Complete: STIF-NHIVNA Intermediate with STIF-NHIVNA Advanced

STIF-NHIVNA Complete Competency is designed for experienced healthcare professionals who can complete STIF-NHIVNA Intermediate and Advanced Competency training in one pathway, saving costs on the overall training. STIF-NHIVNA Complete is suitable for specialist healthcare professionals working in HIV medicine who are working towards independent and advanced clinical practice in HIV services or in Integrated GUM/HIV and/or ID/HIV services. The National HIV Nurses Association (NHIVNA) and the STI Foundation (BASHH) have co-produced these work-based assessment programmes.

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University Credits

The School of Health Sciences of the University of Greenwich recognises the STIF Competency STIF Cert and STIF Dip qualifications for academic credits at levels six and seven. These credits can contribute to BSc (Hons), PG Dip, and MA level qualifications.

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