The STIF Diploma - Advanced Competency is a 30 credit equivalent, level 7, clinical training package designed for Specialist Sexual Health Professionals who are working towards independent practice and have already reached the level of STIF Intermediate Competency. 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.
STI Foundation Advanced Competency
- aims to develop the knowledge, skills, experience and competence of healthcare professionals to diagnose and manage sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
- provides a framework to ensure that sufficient experience is gained to practise at an advanced level.
- is suitable for specialist sexual health professionals working towards independent practice and for those planning to lead and deliver Level 2 standard sexual health services.
- certification at Advanced level enables the successful trainee to register as a STIF Competency Trainer
Training is provided by Registered STI Foundation Competency Trainers.
Registration criteria
The prospective trainee is required to hold a valid STI Foundation Intermediate Competency Certificate issued on or after 1 August 2020. It is the responsibility of the Registered STI Foundation Competency Trainer to determine that the trainee has the appropriate level of knowledge and practical clinical experience to undertake the STI Foundation Advanced Competency training and assessments within the specified training period of 24 months from the date of the first assessment.
Accessing STIF Advanced via APEL (Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning)
A new Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) route is now available towards STIF Advanced competency, designed for experienced health professionals who are already practising at an advanced level.
Previously, access to the Advanced competency required completion of STIF Intermediate - this new pathway recognises the valuable knowledge, skills, and specialist training many professionals have already gained through their practice and previous education by submitting a portfolio of evidence demonstrating achievement of the required competency elements for STIF Advanced Competency.
Click here (or the button on the right) to register for APEL into Advanced.
Click here for further information on the APEL Portfolio pathway.
STI Foundation Advanced Competency registration
- £545
- £745 via APEL route
STI Foundation Advanced E-learning (eHIV-STI)
You do not need to be registered on the STI Foundation Advanced programme to undertake the e-learning. It is highly recommended that you complete 50% of the e-learning before commencing your training and assessments.
Non-NHS staff (including those working outside the UK)
This group of users will need to pay for access to eHIV-STI.
Go to https://www.eintegrity.org/ for more information.
Time frame for completion of training
Trainee will have 24 months to complete. Normally this would be plenty of time, however STI Foundation recognises that a variety of factors can cause disruption to training.
The timeframe remains unchanged; training extensions as result of the pandemic are given.
A training extension request form needs to be completed prospectively, not retrospectively.
On successful completion of the training and assessment programme, a Diploma of STI Foundation (D-STIF) Advanced Competency is awarded. The Diploma needs to be revalidated every five years.
Microscopy
Microscopy is carried out by health care professionals across a wide range of roles. We do not include microscopy as a core element within the competencies due to the variety of approaches to this area of work across Sexual Health Clinics. BASHH’s Bacterial Special Interest Group (BSIG) have developed an eLearning package to develop the knowledge required for microscopy. The eLearning is accompanied by a set of competency checklists that support the assessment and recording of the core competencies, which can be signed off by a senior microscopist with relevant experience.
The eLearning is free for BASHH members and costs £16.50 +VAT for a year’s access for non-members. Click here for more information.
University Credits
To find out more about University of Greenwich Credits select this link.